VICTIM SUPPORT NI RETAINS VOLUNTEER QUALITY MARK
Victim Support NI is proud to be an Investing in Volunteers (IiV) achiever, having been awarded the quality mark for the second time. This shows that we value our volunteers, invest in training and have real commitment to and recognition of volunteering within the organisation.
Chair of the Board of Trustees, Barry Connolly said: said “We are absolutely delighted to have achieved the Investing in Volunteers award for the second time. This shows that our commitment to volunteering within Victim Support NI has not wavered over the three-year period since we were first awarded the quality mark.
Volunteering is at the absolute heart of what we do – Victim Support NI was set up by a group of volunteers 40 years ago, and while we have expanded and grown to become the leading charity supporting victims and witnesses of crime in Northern Ireland, we have never lost that sense of helping others within the community. Our highly skilled and committed volunteers allow us to deliver our services in every part of Northern Ireland, and we are enormously thankful to them for their contribution. We are also proud that so many of our volunteers have stuck with us through the unsettled times of the past year. So many have shown their flexibility and their ability to adapt to the changing situation and we are glad to have them working alongside us to support the many people who need our help and support during these challenging times. We really couldn’t do what we do without them.
The voluntary Board of Trustees also experience first-hand the effort that is made to ensure volunteers feel a valued part of the organisation and appreciate the regular offers of training opportunities.”
Investing in Volunteers is the UK quality standard for all organisations involving volunteers. Investing in Volunteers aims to improve the quality of the volunteering experience for all volunteers and demonstrates that organisations value the enormous contribution made by their volunteers. Investing in Volunteers is delivered by the four national volunteering infrastructure bodies, NCVO, Volunteer Scotland, Volunteer Now in Northern Ireland and Wales Council for Voluntary Action. It is the only standard that focuses on volunteers and focuses on four areas: volunteer management, planning for volunteer involvement, recruitment of volunteers and supporting and retaining volunteers.
Victim Support NI was assessed against a range of best practice standards and proved to excel in all aspects of working with its volunteers.
Sandra Adair, Director of Operations at Volunteer Now, said “Volunteer Now is delighted to announce Victim Support NI‘s retention of this Award. Over the past three years, they have shown their real commitment to volunteering, and have proven that their volunteer management policies and procedures meet nationally recognised standards.”
Victim Support NI provides information and support to victims and witnesses of crime in Northern Ireland. It is an independent charity and its team of volunteers help provide services across the country. For more information on what they do you can visit www.victimsupportni.com. If you would be interested in volunteering with the organisation, you can express an interest by emailing volunteer@victimsupportni.org.uk.
Further information about the Investing in Volunteers Standard can be found on www.investinginvolunteers.org.uk.
For further information about the programme in Northern Ireland, please contact:
Volunteer Now,
Skainos Centre, 239 Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 1AF
Tel 028 9023 2020
Email: investinginvolunteers@volunteernow.co.uk
And refer to www.investinginvolunteers.org.uk
Victim Support NI operates from two administrative Hubs in Belfast and Foyle. For more information you can contact 028 9024 3133 or 028 7137 0086, or email info@victimsupportni.org.uk
You can express an interest in volunteering with the organisation by emailing volunteer@victimsupportni.org.uk
Barry Connolly, Chair of the Board of Trustees, pictured with the IIV plaque.