Inclusive Volunteering - a Toolkit for Organisations
"All people in the world should have the right to freely offer their time, talent and energy to others and to their communities"
Universal Declaration on Volunteering (International Association of Volunteer Effort, 2001)
We believe that volunteering should be made accessible to all and we aim to smash stereotypes about who can volunteer. Not only does everyone have the right to volunteer; everyone has something to contribute as a volunteer.
Broadening access to Volunteering Opportunities
If your organisation is seeking new volunteers why not try involving someone from a different culture or someone with a disability. You'll be amazed what someone new may have to offer.
A wide variety of resources are available to support organisations wishing to make their volunteering opportunities more inclusive or to enable organisations who currntly involve individuals with extra support needs to better support their volunteers. Some of these resources are available in the Volunteer Using Organisations section of our resource library. Click here to go direct to the library
For further help or answers to sepcific questions please contact the Volunteer Centre on 01983 539377 or e-mail volunteer@iwrcc.org.uk
Links:
RAISE have produced an Equalities toolkit providing knowledge and skills in Equalities, in its widest sense, for organisations, including definitions, legislation and advice on developing policies
www.raise-networks.org.uk/inform/docDisplay.cfm?iDocID=849
The Goldstar exemplar programme is a national initiative which aims to encourage and enable voluntary organisations and projects to relise the potential of volunteers from socially excluded or disadvantaged groups. It highlights good practice that already exists. It also provides useful material such as examples of posters, application packs and interview templates.
www.goldstar.org.uk/practice_guides.html
The Good Practice Bank at the Volunteering England website has a section on Equal Opportunities and Diversity and a specialist theme on Encouraging Diversity including information on Disabled People as Volunteers, Ex-offenders, Offenders and Prisoners as Volunteers and Supported Volunteering.
www.volunteering.org.uk/resources/goodpracticebank
'Can do volunteering' is a guide, produced by produced by the UK's two largest disability charities, Leonard Cheshire and Scope, for volunteer managers on how to involve young disabled people as volunteers.
www.timetogetequal.org.uk/page.asp?section=74§ionTitle=Volunteering