Barclays and Leonard Cheshire Disability (LCD) have simultaneously achieved accreditation for their volunteering programme in a unique tripartite pilot project. As a result of the new initiative, subsidised by Volunteering England, the bank achieved the Investing in Volunteers for Employers quality mark at the same time as their charity partner being awarded Investing in Volunteers. Both parties worked with trained IiV assessors and were advised throughout the process by Volunteer Centre Westminster.
Ready to Start (RTS), helps disabled people who want to start their own businesses by pairing them with a business mentor or ‘buddy’.Launched in 2006, the scheme is on track to achieve its three-year target of supporting 600 successful new business ventures. It currently involves over 180 volunteers and has been so successful that one business mentor has entered into a business partnership with his mentee entrepreneur.
Alan Hands, Sponsorship and Donations Manager at Barclays said:
‘’Our research has found that people who volunteer are more likely to stay with the bank, rise through the ranks, and recommend working here to their friends. We also know volunteering is a great tool for retaining staff, and also improving their morale. So for us achieving the IiVE quality mark isn’t just a sign that we’re on the right track as an organisation, but shows we’re making an important investment in our organisation."
“It’s been a very positive exercise for us. It is useful for a large company to focus on a specific programme and to get feedback from a variety of sources. I’d definitely recommend that other companies go for it - it’s good to get that external feedback that you’re doing things well.”
Udeni Salmon, head of volunteer support at Leonard Cheshire Disability, said:
“It’s been really good to have a holistic view of our volunteer programme that we might not have achieved had we gone through IiV alone. I am confident it will enhance our funding bids, but more importantly, it acknowledges what a great job our volunteer coordinators are doing – it’s really improved their motivation.”
Sonet Geyer, Investing in Volunteers manager at Volunteering England, said:
“This pilot has proved to be an excellent way of providing evidence that employer-supported volunteers are well-managed by their charity partners. I’m delighted that both Barclays and Leonard Cheshire Disability have achieved their respective quality accreditation and can be reassured they are maximising their positive impact on their communities.
“I feel very encouraged by the success of this project and hope that other corporates and their chosen charity partners will decide that their volunteers are worth the investment in obtaining the quality standards.”
