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Volunteer Focus

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December 2007

Exciting News from the Volunteer Centre

Excellence in Volunteer Management logo

Training Information

Rose Parker Volunteer Centre Wycombe District, Joy Johns Voluntary Centre (Chiltern and South Bucks) and Chris Hodgetts Vale volunteers Aylesbury Vale, have now completed Excellence in Volunteer Management training with Volunteering England.  This now means they are fully licensed trainers and are able to deliver training that is fully endorsed by this lead organisation for volunteering.

EVM is a ‘blended-learning’ programme, designed to enable managers of volunteers to take charge of their own learning. It provides multiple options to suit specific learning needs and preferences EVM provides managers of volunteers with the opportunity to:

  • choose from a wealth of learning resources
  • join a network of like-minded managers of volunteers.

EVM aims to motivate and empower managers of volunteers to improve their skills and confidence in unprecedented numbers at an affordable cost. Managers of volunteers can do as little or as much as they want and have the opportunity to achieve an endorsed award on the way. With training delivered through a network of licensed training providers, EVM will build capacity throughout the sector. It has the potential to make an enormous impact, reaching thousands of managers of volunteers and, in turn, help millions of volunteers to contribute more and get more from their involvement.

Background

The EVM research, conducted in 2006, was funded by the Volunteering Hub, as part of the National Strategy for Volunteer Managers (NTS). The research provided managers of volunteers with the opportunity to tell us about their learning needs and preferences.

In brief, Volunteering England found that managers of volunteers have unique learning needs that vary greatly, depending on the individual’s learning styles, experience and existing knowledge. Highlights from the research are summarised below:

  • 91% highlighted ‘a trainer who engages the group’ and 82% ‘sharing experiences’ as ingredients of an effective training session.
  • 86% believe it is important or very important that volunteer management training is accredited.
  • 99% use the Internet to research information to support them in their role as a manager of volunteers.
  • 80% would make use of online ‘how to’ guides.
  • 60% would make use of learning modules on different aspects of volunteer management.
  • 57% would choose classroom training if it was available.

Volunteering England listened to the stated preferences and set to work to develop a new, flexible programme that will meet the varying learning needs of managers of volunteers.

The Pick ‘n’ Mix Pathway to Excellence in Volunteer Management

EVM is designed to enable managers of volunteers to pick from an array of online and classroom-based learning opportunities to design their own learning path. Volunteer managers can choose to complete a full 60-hour programme to gain an award or managers can simply pick ‘n’ mix from the bite-sized learning opportunities to top-up existing knowledge and learn in a manner that suits his/her preferred learning style.

EVM encompasses:

  • Training Modules, accessed via licensed training providers, either through eLearning or face to face delivery
  • An ILM endorsed award
  • Learning Loops
  • The Management Development Programme for Volunteer Centre Managers
  • A variety of learning tools, including eLearning, a good practice bank, information sheets, publications and the Investing in Volunteers toolkit (IiV)

One of the aims of the programme is to bring together opportunities that are not available elsewhere in the sector, which explains why EVM covers the following topics:
  • Managing Yourself
  • Managing People
  • Managing Resources
  • Managing in the Community.

Next Steps in this area

The Volunteer Centres will be conducting a needs analysis to establish the priorities for volunteer managers in Bucks, so that we can plan a programme to suit this area.

For more information please contact your local volunteer centre.

Joy Johns Chiltern and South Bucks:

Tel: 01895 837545 Email:

Chris Hodgetts Aylesbury vale

Tel: 01296 337456 Email:

Rose Parker Wycombe District

Tel: 01494 451700 Email:

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