Volunteers’ Week runs from 1-7 June every year and is an excellent opportunity to recognise and thank your volunteers.  It is a national campaign! However, you can recognise your volunteers at any time throughout the year and organisations do this in many ways – having Pizza and Prosecco nights, awards ceremonies, in house recognition events and the sending of thank you cards to your volunteers with a personal message.  Many of our Councils also hold recognition events for volunteers and organisations and will accept nominations.  We encourage you to ask your volunteers how they would like to be recognised for their commitment and enthusiasm.  You might be surprised by the response!!  If you have young volunteers under the age of 25 you can also recognise them through the Millennium Volunteers programme.

You should have policies and procedures in place to support the volunteer but also to support the organisation.  These procedures should be followed in order to make sure that both the organisation and volunteer is treated fairly throughout.  Guidance and training is available to help, or contact Volunteer Now on info@volunteernow.co.uk

We recommend that you have a role description outlining the key role that you would like the volunteer to undertake along with the skills that they require to undertake the role.  We also recommend that you have a formal/informal interview, planned induction and training programme and someone dedicated to support the volunteer throughout their trial period.

The need for police record checks will be determined by the role to be carried out by volunteers. For eligibility of checks through the Access NI service see Disclosure and Barring in NI – Children, and Disclosure and Barring in NI – Adults. More information on good practice for safeguarding can be found at Keeping Children Safe: Our Duty to Care and Keeping Adults Safe: A Shared Responsibility.

Click ‘I forgot my password‘ to reset your login details.

If your organisation already has an account listed on our volunteering platform, log in at www.volunteernow.co.uk/volunteer-management

If you don’t have an account set up, click ‘register now’ using the link above – you will be asked to set up your personal page and then you can add your group details.  If you need any assistance either setting up your account or adding your opportunities, please contact Volunteer Now