Celebrating Our Investing in Volunteers Award!

Investing in Volunteers is the UK quality standard for all organisations working with volunteers. It aims to improve the quality of the volunteering experience for all volunteers and demonstrates that organisations acknowledge the enormous contribution made by their volunteers.

It is awarded to organisations who have proven that they value their volunteers and makes recommendations for improvements. Investing in Volunteers is a highly effective way for charities to remain sustainable and level up their service.

Our Assessment

We were assessed in November 2024 by NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) against key standards including Vision for Volunteering, Planning for Volunteers, Volunteer Inclusion, and many more.

Some of our core strengths included:

• Clear commitment to community engagement and action, coproduction, and empowerment.
• Strong recognition and utilisation of the skills, talents and experiences that volunteers bring, with significant trust and respect given to volunteers.
• Flexibility in accommodating volunteers who have disabilities, long term health conditions, mental health challenges and specific needs.
• Continuous development and improvement.

“Volunteers have a really strong sense of the difference their volunteering makes. They feel valued, connected, heard, consulted and included.” Investing in Volunteers Assessor

Volunteers have always been pivotal in our work. At Help & Care, we are incredibly grateful that our volunteers give their time, their skills and their dedication. In return we aim to foster a positive relationship between the organisation and its volunteers. We currently have around 90 volunteers supporting us.  They include our Trustees, Healthwatch Volunteers, Involving People Volunteers, all of whom play a crucial role in how we deliver our services.

Within Involving People, Volunteers, all of whom have ‘lived experience’ of cancer, support the multi-partner Wessex Cancer Alliance. Within Healthwatch, Volunteers undertake a variety of roles including ‘governance’ as a Board member/Advisory Group member and are usually involved in several roles within their local Healthwatch.

Adrian Dawson, Help & Care Chair of Trustees said: “The unwavering commitment and dedication of our volunteers are the driving forces behind Help & Care’s ability to create a meaningful impact in the communities we serve. As a partner of choice, we are committed to making volunteering diverse, inclusive, and a powerful tool in addressing health inequalities. Together, we can build stronger, healthier communities and create a lasting impact.”

Another Help & Care Trustee noted: “Volunteering is very much a part of Help & Care’s ethos. We’re not just contractually, but also ideologically bound to volunteering. It is at the heart of what we do.”

One of our wonderful Volunteers said: “We’re always being asked for our opinions, and I feel very safe expressing them. I’d say I feel seen, heard, and understood. And it’s always made clear that we should be asking lots and lots of questions. They are very respectful and always make sure everyone has room to speak during sessions.”

This award goes to our volunteers. We say a massive thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all you have done. You make a real difference in the lives of people.