Volunteers may be the backbone of your organisation, or you may have a small team to bring diversity of skill and extra resource to your activities. However you are structured it is essential to establish a volunteer-friendly environment.

The role of volunteers can be extremely broad and unique to each organisation. It is therefore essential that you formally outline your expectations for a volunteer’s role from the start, to ensure you are offering the kind of opportunity that they want and also one which suits their skills.

Volunteer Agreement

Volunteer agreements can be used to set out both an organisation's commitment to its volunteers, and what it hopes for from its volunteers. Such agreements act as a reference point for the volunteers, and a reminder to the organisation that it should meet the standards of good practice that it has set itself.

Click here for Volunteering England’s recommended agreement format and suggested content About Volunteering England

About Volunteering England

Volunteering England is the national volunteer development agency for England and a membership organisation. We are a registered charity with approximately 1,000 member organisations and individuals coming from the private, public, voluntary and community sectors. We are committed to our vision of a society where the potential and passion of people to transform lives and communities through volunteering is fully realised.

Our work links research, policy, innovation, good practice and grant making in the involvement of volunteers. Our members and partners range from national charities to voluntary agencies across the length and breadth of England, from NHS Trusts to arts organisations, from local community projects to government think tanks.

Join Volunteering England

If you would like more support with regard to volunteers you may wish to join Volunteering England

Why over 1,100 organisations across all sectors in England have joined us?

Our knowledge and expertise can help you to harness the power of your volunteers, whatever you are helping with, whether it’s gardening, running an event or fundraising. Membership entitles you to discounts on our publications, events and training along with regular information via the Member e bulletin.

Other key Membership benefits include:

• Dedicated Member's Information service and password protected area on our website

  We have launched a newly developed membership section on our website which allows you to keep up to date on volunteering legislation, policy changes, good practice and much more, all from one central location. Our information service is now for the exclusive use of members and our experts can be contacted via phone, email or post.

• Up to 4 events specifically for our members

  The first of these events took place in November and the topic covered was the changes to Vetting and Barring based on the new updates from ISA.

• Volunteering Magazine

  Published 10 times a year the online magazine provides up to the minute news and views from across the sector. Only members have full access to articles and magazine content.

For further information, visit: www.volunteering.org.uk/membershipbenefits