This is fundamental to all volunteering. Volunteer Scotland’s good practice guide: 'Recognising and valuing your volunteers’ outlines the essential elements of this.
Valuing and evaluating the impact of volunteers
The impact made by volunteers has to be evaluated in order to be valued.
CLD activity and its impact is evaluated for many reasons including:
· Letting volunteers and staff know their work makes a difference
· Confirming that the intended outcomes of CLD activity are being achieved
· to evidence to funders the value of their investment
· to demonstrate the quality of practice
· to improve practice and its outcomes
All CLD activity, including delivery by volunteers, is subject to inspection by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIe).
The current model of inspection (2018) includes a focus on impact on staff and volunteers, specifically the extent to which they ‘reflect on and improve practice through regular access to relevant high quality learning and development and are developing leadership capacity.’ CLD inspectors will expect to meet with volunteers during the ‘place based’ element of the inspection.
The lead for CLD in a local authority area is asked to provide information on the number of staff and volunteers practising CLD in that area and to complete a return indicating the numbers of staff and volunteers who are members of associate members of the Standards Council.
The role of volunteers in collecting evidence of impact
A CLD volunteer’s role in collecting evidence of impact should be made clear at the outset of their involvement, ideally at induction. Many of the methods used by paid staff to monitor and measure impact can also be used by volunteers. We hope to build up a bank of volunteer specific examples as this theme develops. These are likely to include:
· Impact statements
· Progress on the literacies/social practice wheel
· Progress on a richter type scale
· Pre/interim/post assessments
Recognising and celebrating the impact of volunteers
Examples to be added
· Communicating directly with volunteers - newsletters
An example of a newsletter produced for Volunteers Week in Inverclyde
Ongoing informal recognition via discussions with group tutors and learners
· Inclusion in consultations, planning and review activities
· Saying thank you at special events such as part of Volunteers Week celebrations
· Formal recognition when volunteers leave, including holding an ‘exit interview’ and providing a reference when appropriate