6 June 2006

Working in partnership to achieve excellence in volunteering management

The first eight students in Scotland to obtain the prestigious Diploma of Higher Education in Professional Development (Volunteering Management) received their certificates today at a special event held at the Bonar Hall, University of Dundee.

Volunteer Development Scotland (VDS), the Centre of Excellence in volunteering organised the event, together with the University of Dundee.

The Diploma in Volunteering Management is successfully delivered by VDS in partnership with the University of Dundee as part of the University's BA in Professional Development (BAPD) course. It is a work-based programme of study and self-development.

The successful students are: Doreen Hogg (Honeypot Befriending Services, Moodiesburn), Elizabeth Holden (VDS, Stirling), Anne Kidd (Volunteer Centre East Renfrewshire), Agnes McKenna (NHS West Lothian), Josie Mitchell (NHS Fife, Glenrothes), Liz Nicol (NHS Fife), Linda Skinner (RSVP, Inverness) and Anne Young (The Thistle Foundation, Edinburgh).

VDS excels in the provision and delivery of a range of training services aimed at stimulating professional development as well as fostering best practice in volunteers' management. The Diploma promotes skills enhancement and good practice and is suitable for volunteer managers within all sectors including voluntary, public and private. It has an immensely positive impact on students, the organisations they are involved with and on the volunteers that they deal with on a daily basis.

All modules of the Diploma are work-based programmes of study and self-development delivered through a blended learning approach. This includes face-to-face workshops, individual tutor support and guidance and on-line discussion forums, as well as paper-based resources.

Ann Kirkwood, VDS explained:

"All the modules embrace the aims of the BAPD Programme, which include fostering the commitment of students to professional values, good practice and on-going professional development as well as encouraging them to engage in the processes of active learning including action and reflection. Students can choose to study for the complete Diploma, or undertake selected modules to meet their individual needs and requirements."

She adds: "As with all our courses, the Diploma meets the national occupational standards for volunteers managers, embraces the Investing in Volunteers quality standards, and is aligned with the Skills Framework for Community Regeneration."

Linda Skinner is employed by CSV/RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteers Programme) and is Development Officer for Highland, based in the Volunteer Centre in Inverness. She sources volunteering opportunities for people aged 50+ to use their huge range of skills at community level. She has been involved in volunteering for 25 years.

Linda said: "Studying for the Diploma has taught me so much and made me appreciate even more how the efforts of volunteers impact on people's lives. This qualification will enable me to contribute significantly to the continued development of best practice for both volunteering and volunteers"

Liz Nicol is play services co-ordinator for NHS Fife and a major part of her job is to recruit volunteers and train them to help look after children staying in hospital. She returned to study in volunteering management and said: "The benefits of completing the Diploma in Volunteering Management can never be underestimated. I have gained a wealth of knowledge, improved my leadership skills and developed my performance and management skills. I feel proud to say that through my study with VDS, I am now a recognised volunteer manager."

Doreen Hogg from Moodiesburn is a volunteer manager at the Honeypot Befriending Service and explained: " I undertook the Diploma because I wanted to ensure that the organisation was developing best practice in all its dealings with volunteers, and I recognised I had to develop my own knowledge and skills in order to implement change. Studying for the Diploma has benefited myself, the organisation, and, most of all, our volunteers."

All recipients of the Diploma remark on the positive experience they have had and the many benefits their organisations and volunteers have received as a result of the course.

Speaking on behalf of the University of Dundee, Professor Geoffrey Ward said: "Today sees the celebration of the first graduates to have come through this new diploma in volunteering management. It shows our commitment, through the partnership between the University of Dundee and Volunteer Development Scotland, to professional education and development in this growing sector."

George Thomson, Chief Executive, VDS declared: "We are hugely proud of our learners and hope their wonderful achievements will encourage others to return to learning and develop best practice skills to ensure that individual volunteers and organisations can benefit from an appropriate level of support. It is good to see the connection made between learning and volunteering and how both have such positive impacts on people's lives. We are delighted to have such a close and successful partnership with the University of Dundee and hope that it can be strengthened further in the years to come"

Professor Geoffrey Ward, Depute Principal of the University of Dundee, presented the diplomas.

The event was attended by Ian Ball, Vice Dean, Faculty of Education and Social Work, Mike Naulty, BA Professional Development Programme Leader and Professor Geoffrey Ward, Depute Principal of the University of Dundee, George Thomson, Chief Executive of VDS, Bill Howatt, Chairman of VDS and a number of VDS staff responsible for the delivery of training.

This event was organised as part of VDS' Volunteers Week celebrations.

For further information on VDS and its Training Services Unit please contact Ann Kirkwood on 01786 479593 or ann.kirkwood@vds.org.uk or visit www.vds.org.uk

Media Contact: For further information please contact Anna Gormley at Catchline Communications on (01592) 643200 or 07884 061 844 or email agormley@catchline.co.uk

Notes to Editor:

1. Volunteer Development Scotland is the Centre for Excellence in Volunteering

2. VDS Vision:

• People are an active power in society making a positive difference through volunteering
• VDS connects people's desire to make a positive difference with creative, flexible volunteering opportunities

3. VDS Aims:
VDS aims to maximise the positive impacts of volunteering on individuals, organisations, community and society through our independent leadership role by;

• Listening to individuals and stakeholders, championing their voice
• Gathering intelligence and evidence which informs thinking, influences policy development and drives high-quality practice
• Innovating in key areas including understanding volunteering, influencing policy, best practice and impact assessment
• Providing legislative, regulatory and other support services for the voluntary, public & private sector
• Working in partnership with the Scottish Executive, our Volunteering Infrastructure partners and organisations from other sectors

4. VDS Key Priorities are:

• To investigate, interpret and disseminate the intelligence about the volunteering market in Scotland
• To contribute to the four strands of the Volunteering Strategy through innovation, best practice, legislative, regulatory and other services
• To develop and build strategic relationships with stakeholders and organizations

5. New Statistics for Volunteering in Scotland 2006

• Volunteering is worth a staggering £2.52 billion per annum to the Scottish economy, with most volunteers giving at least five hours of their time each month
• 38% of adults in Scotland have volunteered formally, which equates to 1.56m adults
• Men are as likely to volunteer as women
• (Source - Annual Digest of Statistics, Volunteer Development Scotland, 2006) www.vds.org.uk/docs/ad2006/AnnualDigest2006.pdf

6. Volunteers Week

• Almost 1.56 million adults volunteer formally on a regular basis in Scotland.
• A massive 81% of adults in Scotland volunteer on an informal basis, equating to 3.32 million people in Scotland.
• 2006 is the 22nd anniversary of Volunteers Week
• (Source - Annual Digest of Statistics, Volunteer Development Scotland, 2006) www.vds.org.uk/docs/ad2006/AnnualDigest2006.pdf