The Future of Volunteering: Action Plan

Skills for Volunteers Action Group

“Our vision is of a society in which we will be united by our common concern for the well being of others; a society in which we enrich our own
lives by enriching the lives of others through the giving of time.” (The Commission on the Future of Volunteering, 2008)

Action Group Aim

Appropriately trained and developed volunteers with their skills being recognised.

Commission Recommendations
4.2 We recommend that time spent in formal volunteering should be acknowledged as a legitimate and important
part of an individual’s curriculum vitae and career development path.
5.1 We recommend that government, volunteer-involving organisations and the volunteer infrastructure endorse
an explicit commitment to train (and be trained) for all formal volunteers up to an agreed basic level. Beyond
that, training must be made available, as appropriate to the individual circumstances and aspirations of the
volunteer and to the needs of volunteer-involving organisations.
5.2 We recommend that government, volunteer-involving organisations and the volunteering infrastructure work
closely with further education colleges, adult and community education centres and higher education institutions
to develop training, which must be valued, accredited and recognised within and beyond the context of
volunteering.
5.3 We recommend that government actively promotes and supports a coherent approach to accreditation and
training for volunteers and ensures that national standards for volunteer training are established.

Action Group Outcomes

• Those who use and support volunteers in the private, voluntary and public sector to train and develop their
volunteers and recognise their skills.
• Identify all relevant government funding and provide information, as well as influencing all opportunities for
funding.
• Volunteer managers being aware of the skills agenda and seeing developing volunteer skills as a key part of
their role - link with Skills for Volunteer Managers Group
1. Those who use and support volunteers in the private, voluntary and public sector to train and develop their volunteers and
recognise their skills

a. an increase in the numbers of volunteers accessing training

Action Resources Responsibility & Timescale Measure Progress
partners
1.1 Ensure the planned Time Volunteering March 09 Schemes take full Meetings with the private sector
meetings with the England account of skills complete; LGA Conference held in
private, voluntary and developed through April; voluntary sector summit held
public sector get the volunteering. in March. This message
message out that it is communicated.
vital to train and
develop volunteers as
well as staff and to
recognise the skills
developed through
volunteering
1.2 Work with the DWP to Time Volunteering March meeting DWP policy and Public Sector Action Group have
ensure the full England practice reflects worked with the DWP and
potential of volunteering as a route Jobcentre Plusto inform JCP staff.
volunteering as a to employment Meetings have been held and key
route into employment messages communicated. VE’s
is fulfilled Policy team have had significant
influence over Welfare Reform
Green Paper and VE have
influenced the £8 million DWP
investment in volunteering.
1.3 Revisit and explore Time Volunteering By June meeting Publication can be Discussions with the OTS resulted
getting a piece of England and v disseminated to show in a negative response. IVR have
 work funded to look at links between been commissioned to research
volunteering and volunteering and volunteering and employability –
employability – liaise employability this is due to be published in
with the OTS and August. V are also researching the
DWP on this. V and link between skills and volunteering
VE to continue to talk – this to be jointly communicated.
to government about
this.
1.4 Work with Jobcentre Time Volunteering At the next Public Jobcentre Plus staff Public Sector Action Group have
Plus to ensure their England Sector meeting understand how worked on this with VE’s Policy and
staff are encouraging (January) volunteering develops Information Team. An event was
people to volunteer skills which can be held by Jobcentre Plus to discuss
and understand the used in employment the volunteering and ensuring
benefits of advisors are giving out correct
volunteering and see information. Revised guidance has
it as a route to also been issued.
employment – work
with the Public Sector
Action Group on this
1.5 To target careers Time V (Tracey) and March meeting Careers Advisors Simon Surtees of Careers England
advisors to make sure Volunteering promote volunteering attended June meeting. Careers
they are encouraging England to people as a way of England to communicate with their
volunteering and see gaining skills. members about volunteering.
links with volunteering
and career
development.
1.6 VE to explore how the Time Volunteering March meeting The group can discuss Janet Fleming from the Skills for
Sector Skills Councils England sector skills councils at Managers Action Group has been
include volunteers the next meeting appointed interim director of the
and their skills. Third Sector skills body. The
relationship is ongoing. Final
 meeting with key messages about
skills and development for
volunteers in August.
1.7 Mike and Michelle to Time Mike Nussbaum March Mike to report on CEV Mike updated at June meeting.
discuss skills for meeting discussions at 2011 will be the European Year of
volunteers at the next next meeting the Volunteer.
CEV and explore the
possibility of the
European Year of the
Volunteer and funding
for possible Skills
work
1.8 Saskia/VE Policy Time VE (Saskia June meeting The group learns from The VE policy team has linked with
Team to speak to Daggett/Stephen the experiences of NCVO.
NCVO about their Brown) NCVO
European work
1.9 VE Policy Team to Time VE (Stephen June meeting The group can input The VE policy team (Stephen
investigate Brown) into the work of trade Brown) is working on a
approaching trade unions regarding memorandum of understanding
unions to discuss volunteering and with the trade unions due for
skills development employability consultation Summer 09.
and volunteering
1.10 Sophie to circulate Time VE (Sophie Pert) June meeting The group will have Complete
information on more information to
Employer Supported develop ways to
Volunteering to the evidence the benefits
group. of volunteering to
employers.
1.11 Sarah to send Reach Time Reach (Sarah May The case studies will Complete
case studies relating King) evidence how
to volunteering and volunteering
 employability to Suzi contributes to skills
development.
1.12 Develop ways to help Time All To discuss ideas at Volunteers can All to think about how the v impact
volunteers translate March meeting promote skills gained awards could be rolled out to the
and explain their through volunteering to rest of the volunteering community,
volunteering to employers. to think about if this should be
employers All to think accredited and how it would be
about how the v resourced and managed.
impact awards could Discussed at June meeting. VE to
be rolled out to the revise information for volunteers
rest of the accordingly.
volunteering
community, to think
about if this should be
accredited and how it
would be resourced
and managed.
1.13 Saskia to ensure Time VE (Saskia By June meeting The group influences Articles on volunteering have been
conversations with the Daggett) the way employers published in private sector press
CBI , IoD and view volunteering as a and the CBI are putting more
Chambers of form of career information about volunteering on
Commerce include the development their website.
role of volunteering in
career development
1.14 Matt to circulate the Time CBI (Matt By June meeting The group can use the Complete
CBI report on Sheldon) information to evidence
employability. The CBI how volunteering can
to explore with VE lead to better
how they can help to employment prospects
promote volunteering
as skills development
 to their members
1.15 VSO and Reach to Time VSO (Michelle), By March meeting The group can Ongoing communication set up
offer contacts and Reach (Sarah) communicate key between VSO, Reach and VE press
ideas for messages officers.
communications work
to get some of the key
messages picked up.
Communications work
to be equality
inclusive.
1.16 VE to get in touch with Time VE (Andrea August Careers Advisors
Prospects and the Rannard/Saskia receive up to date
Institute of Careers Daggett) information about
Guidance to find out volunteering
about information their
guidance to careers
advisors.
1.17 VE and v to work Time VE – v 24 July Volunteering is
together to respond to enshrined within the
the consultation on national curriculum
the curriculum. Simon
Surtees to send the
link to Saskia and
Andrea.

b. review all current volunteer training as well as skills/recognition schemes and see where the group can add value

Action Resources Responsibility & Timescale Measure Progress

partners
1.17 Do an exercise to Time, v Volunteering June meeting The group has a better Several skills identified at
 match the skills publication: England, v, CBI understanding of skills March meeting. Sophie
generally developed Discovering developed through prepared Employability
through volunteering Talent; volunteering and those Map.
with the skills Developing sought after by
needed by Skills employers.
employers – build on
v’s work here.
Decide what action
to take following this.
1.18 VE to ensure IiV Time Volunteering By March meeting IiV encourages Complete - IiV requires
encourages England organisations to train training and development of
organisations to train their volunteers volunteers.
their volunteers and
report at next
meeting
1.19 The Employers Time Volunteering At the next The group can be IiP representative attended
group to look at if IiP England employers group updated at the next February and June
covers the training meeting (February) meeting Employers meetings. The
and development of standard has been changed
volunteers its approach and
volunteering is now tied into
the award and is mentioned
specifically.
1.20 Dave to circulate Time ASDAN (Dave By March meeting The group have an Complete
case study of Brockington) example of
volunteering volunteering
accreditation at accreditation in HE.
Imperial College
1.21 Dave to circulate Time ASDAN (Dave By June meeting The group can discuss Complete
details of the Brockington) the Employability
Employability Award Award
2. Identify all relevant government funding and provide information, as well as influencing all opportunities for funding.

Action Resources Responsibility & Timescale Measure Progress

partners
2.1 Angela to liaise with Time All, LSC (Angela) By next meeting Greater take up of Train Saskia met with Jerry
the group about the to Gain in the voluntary Conway of the LSC. Notes
work to ensure the and community sector. circulated. Final meeting
voluntary sector is with the LSC, VE’s Policy
taking up Train to Team and Saskia due in
Gain where August 09. Ongoing
appropriate. The relationship with new skills
group to support bodies to be established.
Angela is this.
2.2 Angela to update the Time LSC (Angela) By next meeting The group is updated. VE (Student volunteering
group on progress team) to contact Jane Watts
made with the third or Rachel Hughes at NIACE
sector work and to to link up with the Third
circulate the third Sector Alliance.
sector guidance. VE
to link up with the
Third Sector Alliance
through NIACE to
ensure the groups
input has long term
impact.
2.3 The group to explore Time All After LSC research Greater take up of Train Meeting have taken place
further once the LSC is complete (March) to Gain with the LSC and one
work is done how to further meeting is planned
 promote and make for July. Any further
accessible Train to comments on barriers to
Gain to volunteers Train to Gain to be fed to
and the Saskia.
organisations which
involve them. The
group to feed in
written evidence of
the barriers groups
are facing in
accessing the Train
to Gain funds.
2.4 Dave to share with Time ASDAN (Dave By the March The group are updated Complete
LSC and the group Brockington) meeting
thoughts of Train to
Gain
2.5 Saskia to circulate Time VE (Saskia By June meeting The group are fully Complete
the notes of her Daggett) informed about the
meeting with Jerry meeting held between
Conway (LSC) to the VE and the LSC
group
2.6 Saskia to discuss Time VE (Saskia By June meeting The LSC can work to Complete
barriers to Train to Daggett) remove barriers to
Gain within the Third Train to Gain
Sector with the LSC
2.7 Tracey to liaise with Time v (Tracey) March meeting The group are updated Araba Webber (v) and
VE on the work with Andrea Rannard (VE)
NCCPE and to updated the group.
update the group at
the next meeting
3. Volunteer managers being aware of the skills agenda and seeing developing volunteer skills as a key part of their role - link with
Skills for Volunteer Managers Group

Action Resources Responsibility & Timescale Measure Progress

partners
3.1. VE to ensure links Time VE (Saskia Ongoing until end All action groups are All groups have factored in
are made with all Daggett, Sophie June aware of the need for the need for training and
action groups, in Pert) training and development of volunteers
particular the Skills development of into their work. Volunteer
for Volunteer volunteers. Managers Conference
Managers group covered the skills agenda.