IMPACT Inclusive Volunteering Project
CSP: Derbyshire
Volunteer Management Workshop Helps Local Clubs
Report by: Rachael Dyer
In June 2016 Amber Valley CVS delivered the first 'Effective Volunteer Management: a practical guide to working with disabled volunteers' workshop in Derbyshire. The workshop has been developed in partnership with Sport Nottinghamshire through the IMPACT project.
Kirsty Barker who delivered the workshop along with from Amber Valley CVS commented that it helped to break the volunteer management process down to clearly understand.
Kirsty said: "Our first IMPACT workshop was very well received, it helped our participants think clearly about every stage of the volunteering process and let us break everything down in to bite size pieces for them”.
"Growing groups can find the prospect of taking on the responsibility of volunteers very daunting, but this workshop shows them that there is nothing to worry about at all, we can provide them with all of the tools they need."
Putting it into practice
Jill Gaskell from Belper Hammers Volleyball Club attended the workshop. Jill is Volunteer Coordinator at the club and has found that she has been able to put what she learnt into practice:
"The workshop provided useful insight into how to welcome and introduce new volunteers to the club. Based on this learning I have written a volunteer policy for the club”.
"We have recently recruited some new volunteers from within the club so I will be able to use the policy and put the lessons learnt from the workshop to good use."
The workshop was a great opportunity for local clubs to understand how exactly their local CVS (Centre for Voluntary Services) can help them.
Jill said: "The workshop provided useful suggestions for where to advertise volunteering roles such as the Amber Valley CVS. As well as helping clubs to promote their volunteering opportunities, they also provide support to set up new groups and assisting with the development of existing groups”.
Kirsty went on to say that: "The session also helped to show that taking on volunteers with disabilities is really no different from taking on anyone else it, it is all about looking at what each individual can do and what is going to suit them and the group. The process that we share through the Impact training is equally relevant to any volunteer, so it is well worth coming on the training whether or not you have individuals with disabilities looking to get involved at the moment. This training in an excellent tool to help us demystify the volunteering process and we hope many more groups will access the sessions moving forwards."