Volunteer Bureau

Selection of Volunteers
If we are to find volunteers for your group, we need lots of information from you. To get the best out of our services please check the links below:-
1. Registering your need for volunteers

You need to complete an Organisation Registration Form (once)
and a Volunteer Opportunity Registration Form (for each opportunity you wish to register)

Call us on 01923 248304 and we will send you the Opportunity Registration Pack or email us at volunteering@watfordcvs.net and we will send you an electronic copy.

2. Update your organisations details

Its really important that the information we have on your voluntary opportunities is up to date. Please check them on line by following the steps below:-
• Click here to open the search screen of the National Volunteering Database (do-it) in a new browser window
• enter postcode
• enter organisation name
• then press submit
• brief details of all your voluntary opportunities will be seen
• check further by clicking on more information & contact details
• are the details correct? have we entered the right areas of interest?
• if any changes are needed please email Volunteer Centre Watford(volunteering@watfordcvs.net) and we will update asap

We need your input to ensure that the information we hold at Volunteer Centre (VC)Watford is current.

Promotion of your opportunity (volunteer needs).

The VC advertises for volunteers in a variety of ways :-
• national exposure for ALL opportunities at: www.do-it.org.uk
• weekly newspaper column – Time to Spare in the Watford free Observer
• Posters updated regulalry on public noticeboards at the Town Hall One Stop Shop, YMCA, CVS offices (these usually tie in with the newspaper promotion)
• Information on community noticeboards
• displays & exhibitions
• telephone directories

Information and training
If you are responsible for volunteers within your group and would like to check out your volunteer management, please contact Volunteer Centre Watford for a chat or to use our books and other reference materials.

We have two new publications which are available free of charge to our members:

"Get it Right from the Start - Guidelines for Good Volunteer Management"
"Turn your Organisation into a Volunteer Magnet"

Call us 01923 248304 or email us at volunteering@watfordcvs.net to obtain your copies.

Do you have a Volunteer Policy? If not and you would like to see sample documentation then contact us at the number/address above.

Volunteer Centre Watford, as part of Watford CVS supports the Compact Volunteers Charter:

Volunteers have both rights and responsibilities, which are embodied in the Volunteers Charter.

This is set out below, and is incorporated in both the Hertfordshire and Watford Compact Volunteering Codes of Good Practice.

Signatories to the Code(s) have adopted this Charter and will use it as a basis for developing good practice within their own organisations.

PRINCIPLES OF VOLUNTEERING

There are four fundamental principles to volunteering:

· Choice—Volunteering must be a choice freely made by each individual.

· Diversity—Volunteering should be open to all regardless of background, age, race, sexual orientation, faith etc. It is recognised that social exclusion barriers can be overcome by skills, experience, confidence and contacts gained while helping others.

· Reciprocity— Benefits that volunteers expect to gain include a sense of worthwhile achievement, useful skills, experience and contacts, sociability and fun, and inclusion in the life of the organisation and the wider community.

· Recognition—The value of volunteers’ contribution to the organisation, to the community, to the social economy and to wider social objectives is fundamental to the relationship between volunteers, organisations and statutory policy and practice.

Volunteers’ Rights

To be given a clear idea of their tasks and responsibilities within the organisation.
To be given the name of someone in the organisation who will look after their interests and who will offer them appropriate support and supervision on a regular basis.
To be assured that any information shared with the organisation is kept confidential.
To be given the same protection under health and safety regulations and public liability as paid employees.
To be offered opportunities for training and skills development, appropriate for the voluntary tasks involved.
To not be exploited - volunteers should not:-
- be used to replace paid workers
- have unfair demands made on their time
- be asked to do something which is against their principles or beliefs
To be given the chance to play a part in decision making within the organisation.
To not be out of pocket through doing voluntary work. Travel and other expenses should be offered by all funded organisations.

Volunteers’ Responsibilities

To accept the voluntary organisations’ aims & objectives.
To do what is reasonably requested of them, to the best of their ability.
To treat information obtained whilst volunteering in a confidential manner - this can be information about clients or other workers, paid and unpaid.
To recognise the right of the organisation to expect quality of service from all its staff, paid and unpaid.
To recognise that they represent the organisation and therefore need to act in an appropriate manner at all times.
To honour any commitment made to the best of their abilities, notifying the organisation in good time should they be unable to keep that commitment e.g. for holidays.
To be willing to undertake appropriate training with respect to Health & Safety issues, Insurance liability and general good practice as necessary for the voluntary work undertaken.
To share suggestions for changes in working practices with the Volunteer Organiser.