VOLUNTEER STRATEGY POLICY
| Ratified No |
| Status Draft |
| Issued January 2023 |
| Approved By Trustees No |
| Consultation None |
| Equality Impact Assessment Completed No |
| Distribution: To trustees and all individual members and group members’ representative of the charity |
| Implementation Date To be decided |
| Planned Review Date To be decided |
| Version 1.0 |
| Author Helen Pettman (Chair of Friends of Evington) |
| Friends of Evington’s Safeguarding officer: formerly Mr. Paul Archdeacon |
| Policy Validity Statement Policy users should ensure that they are consulting the currently valid version of the documentation. This document will be reviewed one year from its issue date. |
1. To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment in the Evington suburb of Leicester and the surrounding area.
2. To promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of Evington and the surrounding area the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the condition of life of the said inhabitants.
VALUES:
· Act within the governing document and the law – being aware of the contents of the organisation’s governing document and the law as it applies to that organisation.
· Act in the best interest of the organisation as a whole – considering what is best for the organisation and its beneficiaries and avoiding bringing it into disrepute.
· Manage conflicts of interest effectively – registering, declaring and resolving conflicts of interest. Not gaining materially or financially unless specifically authorised to do so.
· Respect confidentiality – understanding what confidentiality means in practice for an organisation, its board and the individuals involved.
· Have a sound and up to date knowledge of the organisation and its environment – understanding how the organisation works and the environment within which it operates.
· Attend meetings and other appointments or give apologies – engaging in discussions and decision-making processes.
· Prepare fully for meetings and all work for the organisation – reading papers, querying unclear or difficult things and thinking through issues in good time before meetings.
· Actively engage in respectful discussion, debate and voting in meetings – contributing positively, listening carefully, challenging sensitively and avoiding conflict.
· Act jointly and accept a majority decision – making decisions collectively, standing by them and not acting individually unless specifically authorised to do so.
· Work considerately and respectfully with all – respecting diversity, different roles and boundaries, and avoiding giving offence.
OUR OBJECTIVES:
1. Deliver a community newspaper six times a year to Evington residents to inform them of groups and activities that are working towards the vision.
2.
How we want to do it:
1. Through Evington in Bloom’s partnership working with the umbrella organisation, The Royal Horticultural Society / East Midlands in Bloom and the It’s Your Neighbourhood groups and other environmental groups. (ENVIRONMENTAL WORK)
2. Through the Evington Echo’s magazine (MEDIA PROMOTION)
3. Through promoting more facilities in Evington for the benefit of the residents
4. Be ready for opportunities and new partnerships.
PARTNERSHIP WORKING
To develop partnerships with other organisations and to agree terms and conditions. See appendix 1.
OUR PLANS:
To work with Voluntary Action Leicester for help with getting the Roles and Responsibilities of Trustees agreed and understood by all Trustees.
To work with Voluntary Action Leicester for operating a review of all our policies including safeguarding our volunteers who work with Evington in Bloom and the Evington Echo
To work to identify skills on the Trustee board and missing skills (Skills audit).
To identify projects for Friends of Evington and partnerships needed.
To identify grants and/or fundraising for a project or projects.
MONITORING AND REVIEW
Monitoring and review of Evington in Bloom will be carried out by Judges from the Royal Horticultural Society / Britain in Bloom noting the partnership Evington in Bloom has with Leicester City Council (LEV (Leicester Environmental Volunteers) Department.
Monitoring and review of the Evington Echo is likely to take place through new partnerships yet to be agreed.
End of Volunteer Strategy
Friends of Evington 