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Setting Volunteer Policies

Chapter 1:
Getting your organisation volunteer ready

Creating volunteer policies

Policies are principles and guidelines which guide decision-making and inform people of what to do.

Why do I need to write policies?

Implementing volunteer management policies in your organisation will:

  1. Demonstrate your organisation’s commitment to your volunteers

  2. Clarify volunteer roles and responsibilities

  3. Establish values, beliefs and direction for volunteer involvement

  4. Strengthen relationships within the team

What policies should I write?

Some policies you can consider implementing are 

  1. Code of Conduct to outline how volunteers should conduct themselves while volunteering.

  2. Volunteer Expenses and Claims to outline types of expenses a volunteer can claim for and guidelines on how to make claims.

  3. Volunteer Record Management to outline systems used to record volunteer details and the appropriate treatment of volunteer information.

How to write my policies?

Before writing your policies, here is a quick guide to writing policies: 

  1. Get help: Appoint a committee or team to draft the policies and procedures manual

  2. Organise: Identify the policies you need, review what you already have, research policies from similar agencies and adapt them to your own needs

  3. Write: Draft the policy in plain language and make sure that it is easily understood by everyone in your organisation. 

  4. Approve: Put your policy through the proper approval process in your organisation. 

  5. Implement and communicate: Implement the policy by communicating its purpose and scope to all stakeholders in your organisation – staff, volunteers and others

  6. Evaluate: Review your policy on a regular basis to ensure that it stays relevant

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