Annie's Story

Annie works as Centre Manager for Christians Against Poverty (CAP) and as Project Worker with Dignity Alert and Research Forum (DARF).

Annie.jpg‘Both roles involve managing volunteers, including volunteers with additional support needs.  I had extensive experience managing paid workers, including working as Aircraft Hangar Foreman, with sole responsibility for all the aircraft technicians, but I’d never managed volunteers before, and wanted to learn as much as possible about best practice.’

Annie heard about the CSVM (Core Skills in Volunteer Management) courses through a colleague who had participated in previous courses and highly recommended them.   She completed four out of the five units Unit One – Involving Volunteers, Unit Three –Supporting and Motivating Volunteers, Unit Four - Dealing with Volunteering Management Challenges and Unit Five - Training Your Volunteers.

‘The courses gave me the opportunity to stand back and review all my practice. I saw more clearly how I could transfer my skills to my present roles.  I really didn’t know what to expect from the courses, but I can honestly say that they’ve definitely exceeded my expectations!’

As a result of the courses, Annie has further developed systems for interviewing, recruiting, supporting, motivating and training volunteers to ensure high standards and consistency.  She has done more work on policies and procedures, for example, volunteering policies.  A six-month review has been introduced through a new volunteering agreement.  Volunteering is no longer open-ended, and she finds this helps volunteers take attendance at training more seriously.  

‘Being new to volunteering management I particularly appreciated the opportunity to network with other managers of volunteers, having been subsequently in contact with two fellow course participants. I’m now keen to complete the fifth unit and it will be great to gain the Chartered Management Institute qualification.’

‘I’m now considering recommending that both organisations go through the Investing in Volunteers process to get the UK gold standard of recognition for their good practice, as I’m now far more confident about the high quality of our volunteering management.’
 

  • – 16 July 2010