PRESS RELEASE
EMBARGOED UNTIL
Wed 27th August 2008
REVISED NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS FOR MANAGING VOLUNTEERS PUBLISHED
Revised National occupational standards (NOS) for the Management of Volunteers are today published by the UK Workforce Hub.
These standards have been developed for everyone who manages volunteers. The standards were written by a steering group of experts and practitioners led by the UK Workforce Hub and compiled by the Management Standards Consultancy. The process included a three month UK wide consultation period in which individuals were able to contribute their views via an on line consultation or at one of the UK events. All of this hard work has led to this final version.
Voluntary and community organisations across the UK will be able to make use of the new standards in their recruitment, selection, training and development procedures in order to improve the skills of volunteer managers.
These standards are funded by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, (UKCES) They include the knowledge and skills that every competent manager of volunteers needs to be able to demonstrate in order to do their job to a nationally recognised level of competence.
Janet Fleming, Head of the UK Workforce Hub, said:
"These standards will help drive up the quality of volunteer management as well as raising the profile of this essential role. By committing to using the standards organisations and individuals will be signalling their intention to make the volunteering experience as positive and rewarding as possible and we believe that the volunteers and those they work with will benefit enormously."
Justin Davis Smith, Chief Executive at Volunteering England said:
"Revising and updating of National Occupational Standards for the Management of Volunteers, together with a qualification framework for NVQs and SVQs, is a further significant step forward in enabling those concerned with supporting volunteers to make their full contribution to organisations, to develop their own skills and professionalism in this critical role."
To view and use the standards please visit the UK Workforce Hub website: www.ukworkforcehub.org.uk/mvnos08
For more information please contact Jemima Broadbridge , Media Officer at NCVO, on Jemima.broadbridge@ncvo-vol.org.uk tel: 020 7520 2469 or Grant Imlach, Media Manager, NCVO, email: grant.imlach@ncvo-vol.org.uk, tel: 020 7520 2468
Notes to editors
· The UK Workforce Hub's 2007 Voluntary Sector Skills Survey revealed a number of challenges for the sector's employers with one-quarter finding it hard to fill vacancies within their organisation and skills gaps in IT, legal knowledge and fundraising.
· The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) is therefore pressing the Government to back a dedicated Skills Council for the voluntary and community sector.
· The UK Workforce Hub aims to lead and facilitate action that makes it easier for voluntary and community organisations to: be great places to work; be better employers; and embrace a culture of learning and development. It also promotes the sector as a positive career choice.
· The UK Workforce Hub provides information, resources and signposting to :
1. Encourage more people to come and work or volunteer in the sector
2. Ensure people in the sector can develop the skills they need to do their
jobs well
3. Enable people to develop leadership and management skills.
4. Encourage and support organisations to be better employers
For more information, visit www.ukworkforcehub.org.uk
· The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) is the umbrella body for the voluntary sector in England, with sister councils in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. NCVO has a growing membership of over 6,000 voluntary organisations, ranging from large national bodies to community groups, volunteer centres, and development agencies working at a local level. For more information please visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk.