TRAINING
To make sure volunteers can carry out their role, it is important to ensure that they have access to the right training.
Training is one way to make sure they’re well prepared.
If the training being offered is good, volunteers will feel more able to do their role. This is likely to make them want to continue volunteering.
Volunteers may also be hoping to enhance their CVs or to develop new skills by volunteering. Training is often a way to meet this need.
You’ll need to train volunteers on whatever they need to feel confident doing their role. This will vary depending on what they do and the skills and experience they already have.
Training can involve:
- shadowing other volunteers or staff
- reading resources
- online workshops
- formal lessons
- external courses.
Support and supervision sessions also provide training opportunities. Here volunteers can think about their work and how they contribute to the organisation.
Some volunteers will take longer to build their skills and confidence. In these cases, make sure you continue to provide the training they need. Keep training relevant and appropriate to the volunteer’s role. This avoids taking up too much of the volunteer’s time.
It also makes sure training isn’t seen as a perk or reward, which could make the volunteering look like paid work.
Torfaen ViP (Volunteering induction Portfolio)
The training has been designed to give volunteers the opportunity to enhance and develop their skills and knowledge by accessing basic training modules which can progress to further training, volunteer opportunities and employment.
What it Covers:
There are five core modules:
1. Introduction to Volunteering – This will be a short insight into what is means to be a volunteer, the values and benefits of volunteering and will confirm is volunteering for you!
2. Safeguarding – Volunteers will learn and understand that “safeguarding” is the action that an organisation takes to promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults to protect them from harm including physical, emotional, sexual and financial harm and neglect.
3. Customer Service – Volunteers will gain the knowledge needed to provide a good level of Customer Service, including the principles, impression & image, handling problems and Team working.
4. Health & Safety – Volunteers will be made aware of the risks, how to deal with them and responsibilities of good practice.
5. Data Protection, Confidentiality – GDPR – Volunteers will learn the law around data protection & confidentiality, processes and breaches of dealing with data and how it affects them as a volunteer.
The core modules will need to be completed before access to the “Pick & Mix” courses of the volunteer choice or applicable to the organisation and volunteering opportunity.
Whilst completing the modules, the volunteer will also be gaining Digital Skills as part of the Essential Skills delivered through Torfaen Adult Learning, as part of their eligibility to access the training.
Each volunteer will be given a log in at their induction and can undertake the courses in their own time and comfort of familiar surroundings.
TVA will work in partnership with Torfaen Adult Learning Centre to ensure that all volunteers are supported and have access to the digital equipment should they not have their own access.
Benefits:
• Prepares volunteers with basic skills to enable them to start their volunteering journey.
• Encourages volunteers to take part in training that they may not know about or would not attend face to face.
• One stop shop for all volunteering and training – there will be a function to upload certificates that are gained from alternative training sources.
• Drop-in workshops to assist with the training and support that the volunteers require will be held at regular intervals at TVA offices. This will give them the opportunity to meet with other volunteers and share experiences.
