London charity Hestia has been awarded the Investors in Volunteering accolade for good practice in volunteer management. The award recognises organisations that reach the UK quality standard through 9 indicators.

To receive the accolade the organisation must ensure that volunteers’ contribution has the maximum benefit to the organisation and that they have the best support from management.

Investors in People assessed the delivery of Hestia’s volunteering services and found the charity’s commitment to volunteers a two-way process that benefits both volunteer and the organisation. Volunteers identified several benefits that include overall wellbeing, improving skills and learning about new services they had little to no experience in. Volunteers also highlighted that their time with Hestia has helped build confidence with service users and found the experience to be aid their recovery.

Clare Carty, Volunteer and Partnerships Manager at Hestia said:

“Volunteering is a great opportunity to help individuals learn life changing skills and work with new people. For service users who have experienced significant trauma, having the confidence to meet new people can be challenging. We are delighted to offer our service users these opportunities to help their recovery and to rebuild their life.”  

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Notes to editor

About Hestia:

At Hestia, we support adults and children across London in times of crisis. Last year we worked with more than 9,000 people including women and children who have experienced domestic abuse, victims of modern slavery, young care leavers and older people. From giving someone a home to helping them to get the right mental health support, we support and enable people at the moment of crisis.

Hestia is also the home of UK SAYS NO MORE, a national campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse and sexual violence across the UK.

In the last year Hestia worked with 634 volunteers to help support nearly 10,000 adults and children in crisis across London. Of the 634 there were 68 (11%) service users receiving support by Hestia who volunteered in Hestia’s services.

Hestia.org | @Hestia1970

The Nine Indicators:

The nine indicators

The revised Investing in Volunteers standard is made up of nine indicators which are designed to cover all the aspects of volunteer management.

1. There is an expressed commitment to the involvement of volunteers, and recognition throughout the organisation that volunteering is a two-way process which benefits volunteers and the organisation.
   
   
2. The organisation commits appropriate resources to working with all volunteers, such as money, management, staff time and materials.
   
   
3. The organisation is open to involving volunteers who reflect the diversity of the local community and actively seeks to do this in accordance with its stated aims.
   
   
4. The organisation develops appropriate roles for volunteers in line with its aims and objectives, which are of value to the volunteers.
   
   
5. The organisation is committed to ensuring that, as far as possible, volunteers are protected from physical, financial and emotional harm arising from volunteering.
   
   
6. The organisation is committed to using fair, efficient and consistent recruitment procedures for all potential volunteers.
   
   
7. Clear procedures are put into action for introducing new volunteers to their role, the organisation, its work, policies, practices and relevant personnel.
   
   
8. The organisation takes account of the varying support and supervision needs of volunteers.
   
   
9. The whole organisation is aware of the need to give volunteers recognition.

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