South Asian Heritage Trust Volunteer Policy

 

Introduction

The South Asian Heritage Trust exists to raise the profile of British South Asian History and Heritage in the UK through education, arts, culture and commemoration with the goal of helping people to better understand the diversity of present-day Britain, as well as improving levels of social cohesion between the various communities. 

In line with this mission, the South Asian Heritage Trust seeks to involve volunteers to:

• Increase our contact with the local community we serve
• Ensure our services meet the needs of the South Asian community
• Provide new skills and perspectives to the trust
• Educating the public about south asian history and heritage 
• Promote for the public benefit the arts, culture, and heritage of South Asia
• Raising public awareness of the diversity of South Asia and its heritage

 

Principles 

This Volunteering Policy is underpinned by the following principles:

• South Asian Heritage Trust will ensure that volunteers are properly integrated into the organizational structure and that mechanisms are in place for them to contribute to the assigned South Asian Heritage Trust’s work
• The South Asian Heritage Trust does not aim to introduce volunteers to replace paid staff.
• The South Asian Heritage Trust expects that staff at all levels will work positively with volunteers and, where appropriate, will actively seek to involve them in their work.
• The South Asian Heritage Trust recognizes that volunteers require satisfying work and personal development and will seek to help volunteers meet these needs, as well as provide any necessary training for them to do their work effectively.
• The South Asian Heritage Trust is a registered charity organization and will expect volunteers to adhere to the charitable outlay. 

Practice guidelines

The following guidelines deal with practical aspects of the involvement of volunteers.  More detailed information, including copies of the various documents referred to, is provided in The South Asian Heritage Trust’s Volunteers Handbook if available.

Recruitment 

All prospective volunteers will be interviewed to find out what they would like to do, their skills, and suitability, and how best their potential might be realized.  

Volunteer agreements and voluntary work outlines

Each volunteer will have a volunteer agreement establishing what The South Asian Heritage Trust undertakes to provide them.  In addition, they will agree to a written outline of the specific work they will be undertaking.  Neither of these documents is a contract; The South Asian Heritage Trust has no intention of creating a contract with any volunteers.  Each volunteer will also receive a Volunteers Handbook.

Expenses

All volunteers will have their travel and other expenses reimbursed when pre-agreed.  Volunteers working a minimum of five hours per day will be able to claim expenses for lunch.

Induction and training

All volunteers will receive an induction into The South Asian Heritage Trust and their own area of work.  Training will be provided as appropriate.  Where possible volunteers will be entitled to receive additional training on the same basis as any paid staff.

Support

All volunteers will have a named person as their main point of contact.  They will be provided with regular supervision to feedback on progress, discuss future development, and air any problems.

The volunteer’s voice

Volunteers are encouraged to express their views about matters concerning The South Asian Heritage Trust and its work.

Health and Safety

Volunteers are covered by The South Asian Heritage Trust’s Health and Safety Policy, a copy of which is in the Volunteers Handbook.

Equal opportunities

The South Asian Heritage Trust operates an equal opportunities policy in respect of both paid staff and volunteers.  A copy is in the Volunteers Handbook.  Volunteers will be expected to have an understanding of and commitment to our equal opportunities policy.

Problem-solving

We aim to identify and solve problems at the earliest possible stage.  A procedure has been drawn up for dealing with complaints either by or about volunteers.   A copy of the procedure in included in the Volunteers Handbook.

Confidentiality 

Volunteers will be bound by the same requirements for confidentiality as paid staff.

Implementation Date: 14/10/2022

Review Date: 14/04/2023

 

DISCLAIMER

This Good Practice Information Sheet is produced by Voluntary Centre Services for you to adapt to suit the needs of your organisation. Please note that Voluntary Centre Services do not accept any liability for how it is used.