Investing In Volunteers


National Award Recognising Commitment to High Quality Volunteer Involvement

Investing in Volunteers is the UK quality standard for all organisations which involve volunteers in their work. The Standard enables organisations to comprehensively review their volunteer management, and also publicly demonstrates their commitment to volunteering.  Some other quality frameworks include volunteer management, but none of them covers the management of volunteers in such comprehensive detail. Investing in Volunteers is the best tool to help organisations involving volunteers achieve this good practice, as well as receive recognition for it.

The Standard is managed in Scotland by Volunteer Development Scotland.

The standards are broken down into ten indicators covering four main areas of volunteer management;

  • Planning for Volunteer Involvement
  • Recruiting Volunteers
  • Selecting and Matching Volunteers
  • Supporting and Retaining Volunteers.

Volunteer Development Scotland offers, through our consultancy and learning and practice services, step by step training and advice on how to sign-up and maximise how your organisation can achieve this quality award. 

"Investing in Volunteers gives power to volunteering development so it's a great opportunity to promote the benefits of the good practice in volunteering to everyone in your organisation." Lead Scotland

 Organisations achieving the Award in Scotland include:

  • Children's Hospice Association Scotland
  • Leonard Cheshire
  • Home Link
  • Volunteer Centre West Lothian
  • Fresh Start
  • Pilton Elderly Project
  • Edinburgh Samaritans
  • Transition
  • Edinburgh Central Citizens Advice Bureau
  • Mayfield and Easthouses Youth 2000 Project

Attached are case studies from some of the other organisations who have achieved the Investing in Volunteers award:

www.investinginvolunteers.org.uk and/or vds@vds.org.uk has all the most up to date information about how organisations can become involved.

Are you an employer that supports employees to volunteer and that would benefit from a UK award to develop and recognise your work?

Investing in Volunteers for Employers is the UK award recognising commitment to best practice in employer supported volunteering.

See  The Investing in Volunteers Website 


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