General Networking Discussion

Thursday 23 January 2025

Thank you to our network members who joined in this lively conversation that covered volunteer strategies, safeguarding and driver services.

Volunteer Strategies

A network member is starting work on a strategy from scratch and would like to make sure that the right message was incorporated along with good KPI’s.

If you are doing something similar, to help you get started there are some good examples of strategies on the Helpforce website. Go to Resources by Topic and choose the Business Cases, Funding & Strategy bar.

Advice and comments from the group:

• It can be difficult to develop a strategy due to changing government objectives.

• A strategy needs to suit a full age range of volunteers.

• The cost of living is having an impact on people volunteering in some areas.

• There are a good number of people who would like ad hoc volunteering opportunities.

• Look at mutual objectives and what their priorities are.

• Look at strengthening third sector working partnerships.

Safeguarding

The question asked to the group was ‘How do you safeguard volunteers that provide a 24/7 helpline out of normal working hours.’

Advice and comments from the group:

• An MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) should be drawn up to help everyone understand the scope of the practice.

• A signposting mechanism should be in place and probably include details of how to contact a social worker on call.

• Any safeguarding concerns should be escalated as soon as it is realistically possible. If there is a risk to life it should be escalated to a 999 call.

NVCO Safeguarding guidance for volunteer managers

Driver Services

An organisation is setting up a Driver Service for their cancer patients. The question was around ‘How do you assess volunteer drivers?’

There are a number of successful driver services around the country including North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust who are very fortunate to have a volunteer who is an ex-police driver to do their assessments. The evaluation report of their service can be found here Volunteer Drivers Evaluation Report

If you have any advice for our network members on this service, please use this thread on the Forum.

Recommended websites pages

Volunteer drivers | Royal Voluntary Service

Transport Services | Community Transport | Royal Voluntary Service

NVCO Volunteer Drivers and the Law