With reference to the posting about Volunteer Handbooks I would like to
mention the recently published (in the UK) HANDBOOK FOR HERITAGE
VOLUNTEER MANAGERS AND ADMINISTRATORS and the HERITAGE VOLUNTEER
CHARTER. They have been published by the British Association of Friends
of Museums (BAFM) as part of the BAFM Heritage Volunteer Training
Project funded by the Carnegie UK Trust.

I think the Handbook gives a good, practical, easy to read starting
point for anyone new to volunteer managing in UK museums etc. But I
would be interested to hear from anyone who has seen/used it. Is it
useful? Too basic? Too detailed? It includes suggested structure and
contents for a volunteer manual.

The idea of the charter is for governing bodies to publicly state their
beliefs and undertakings relating to volunteers so that everyone gets a
clear message. BAFM has produced a nice printed certificate which can be
signed, framed and displayed. Here are the 8 pledges:

BAFM
HERITAGE VOLUNTEER CHARTER

We rely on our volunteers. Without the time and effort they freely give
we could not operate effectively. We therefore pledge that:

1.  We regard our Volunteers as an essential and distinctive part of our
structure.

2. We have policies of equal opportunity and equal access applying to
all staff, paid and volunteer, and all visitors.

3. We try to match the talents and interests of individual Volunteers to
defined tasks.

4. We provide Volunteers with induction (including health & safety)
training so that they will be able to work safely and competently; and
we offer them appropriate specialist training.

5. We make sure that each Volunteer knows the paid or volunteer member
of staff he or she is responsible to and should inform if for any reason
an undertaking to work on a given day or at a given time cannot be kept.

6. We arrange insurance to cover every Volunteer against injury while at
work and any claim by a member of the public.

7. We offer Volunteers reimbursement of authorised actual out of pocket
expenses.

8. We inform Volunteers about our policies, plans and programmes and
invite them to contribute to our decision-making processes through
existing management channels.


Date........................   Signed..................................
                               (for the Governing Body)
The HANDBOOK and the CHARTER certificate are available FREE to group
members of BAFM, FREE to people in the UK actually running a Volunteer
Programme in a museum etc. It is 5 UK pounds to everyone else but if you
are overseas please contact Peter Walton for a quote. To obtain a copy
or any queries contact:
Peter Walton
BAFM Project Officer
127 High Street
Tenterden
Kent TN30 6JS
tel and fax 01580 766558
email [log in to unmask]


Best wishes

Rosemary Silvester
[log in to unmask]

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