SYMBOLS

What Do They Mean?

Each participating organisation featured on this directory has filled out a 'Best Practice Questionnaire' which enables them to gain certain symbols if they offer particular services.
For example if they have a Child Protection Policy, they gain the following symbol: .

You can find out what each symbol stands for by browsing through the following:

The organisation offers the following to gain the relevant symbol:

OPPORTUNITIES

• volunteering opportunties for young people
• opportunities are presented in an accessible and interesting manner.

ACCESS

• a young volunteer can bring a friend on their first visit to the organisation
• the organisation will respond to an enquiry within the first week
• a young person can obtain accessible information about the organisation
• the organisation pro-actively recruits young people between the ages of 15-25

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

• The organisation has an equal opportunities policy/statement of intent
• The organisation monitors its equal opportunties
• The organisation recruits under-represented groups

INTERVIEW

• The organisation has a clear selection procedure
• It tries to provide a form/telephone call or brief interview to determine the young person's preferences?
• It tries to:
  • Find out the skills of the volunteer
  • Find out the young person's commitment to the position
  • Answer any questions
  • Find out what motivates that person to volunteer
  • Find out what they hope to get out of the experience
  • Find out whether they would like to work on their own, in a group or with a partner and why
  • Establish their expectations
  • Establish their responsibilities as a volunteer
  • Ask non-directive questions (questions that cannot be answered by a simple 'yes' or 'no'
  • Establish what project/type of work the young person would prefer to work on

INDUCTION

• The organisation provides information with dates, times, staff names and office information?
• The organisation provides information (verbal or written) and makes their volunteers aware of the following:
  • Trade Union Membership
  • Health and Safety
  • Fire Regulations
  • Volunteer Participation in Decision Making
  • Training
  • Expenses
  • Grievance Procedures
• The organisation introduces volunteers to co-workers via an informal gathering or other event.
• The organisation provides a mentor/volunteer or staff member for a volunteer's first session.

SUPPORT

• The organisation ensures a named person or mentor is available for the young volunteer to contact.
• The organisation maintains regular contact with its young volunteers

INSURANCE

• The organisation provides public liability insurance.

EVALUATION

• The organisation provides volunteer evaluation through at least one of the following:
  • an informal chat
  • reviews
  • evaluation forms
  • another form of evaluation

INFORMAL ACCREDITATION

• The organisation provides the following informal accreditation through at least one of the following:
  • annual event
  • simple 'thank yous'
  • mention in bulletin
  • references
  • other

• This organisation provides one or more of the following for their volunteers:
  • NVQs
  • Open College Network Course
  • Other certificates
  • Some other form of formal accreditation

ROLE DESCRIPTION

• The organisation negotiates either a verbal or written role description with the volunteer.
• This could include the following:
  • It states an overall goal and suggested activities
  • It clearly states it is not a contract of employment
  • It is negotiable
  • It is flexible
  • It is clear
  • It is explained to the volunteer
  • It is reviewed and updated on a regular basis or when the work changes
  • It indicates training needed (if appropriate) and at what level
  • It states how long the role is likely to take place and at what level

PARTICIPATION

• A young person can participate in the decision making process within the voluntary organisation
  • By initially negotiating their role
  • Whilst undertaking their volunteering task

VOLUNTEERS WITH DISABILITIES

• The organisation provides wheelchair access in either
  • Their office OR
  • Places of voluntary work (if other than their office)
• Their voluntary opportunities are accessible to people with special needs.

POLICE CHECK

• The organisation police checks their volunteers for some of their voluntary placements.

SOCIAL SERVICES CHECK

• The organisation asks their volunteers to complete a Social Services Check before starting work in some of their voluntary placements.
  

TRAINING

• This organisation provides training for its volunteers

CHILD PROTECTION

• This organisation has a Child Protection Policy

EXPENSES
£

• The organisation provides expenses for at least two of the following:
  • Travel
  • Meals (if volunteers work over lunch-time)
  • Childcare
  • Dependent care
  • Protective clothing (if necessary)
  • other relevant equipment
  • Postage/telephone costs
  • Other

DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE
D

• This organisation has a clear written disciplinary procedure and makes its volunteers aware of this

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
G

• This organisation has a clear written grievance procedure and makes its volunteers aware of this.

INTERESTED?

Use contact details above or email Cambridge Volunteer Centre: [email protected]

Click here to get back to the main page and more opportunities!