Press Release: ELHAP is the 100th organisation in London to show their commitment to volunteers by signing up to London’s Volunteer Management Charter.
With the Big Society developments, and Olympics looming volunteering is being raised on the national agenda and Greater London Volunteering wants to ensure that volunteers are fully supported and have a fulfilling experience.
GLV is very excited to have ELHAP, an organisation based in Redbridge as their 100th Charter Signatory.
ELHAP is one of the leading adventure playgrounds for children, young people and adults with disabilities. A unique and magical independent charity, ELHAP offers much needed adventure play opportunities to over 5500 children and young people each year from North East London and Essex.
Photo left to right Zubair Altaf (ELHAP Volunteer) Kerri Lubbock (ELHAP Volunteer Co-ordinator) Jen Anderson (GLV Development worker- East London ) Thomas Cassidy (ELHAP Volunteer)
The Charter was developed by GLV’s Experts in Volunteering Team in close consultation with London Volunteer Centres. It gives clear guidance to what makes excellent volunteering experiences, and provides assurance for volunteers considering their involvement in an organisation.
Organisations that have signed up to the Charter have made a clear commitment to offering their volunteers a supported and flexible volunteering experience. These organisations vary from small community groups, such Somali women’s groups, to regional groups e.g Tottenham Hotspur Foundation as well as national volunteer involving organisations such as Guide Dogs for the Blind and Age UK. See our full list of Charter Signatories
Quotes
“The Association of Volunteer Managers really welcomes initiatives such as GLV's Charter of Good Practice which promote good volunteer management, and help to highlight that volunteer involvement needs to be planned and resourced properly.”
Sean Cobley, Chair, Association of Volunteer Managers
"2.5 million Londoners support local communities and individuals to enjoy and contribute to our great city. I welcome the London Volunteer Management Charter as an exciting initiative that will continue to improve volunteers’ experiences in our capital."
Mayor of London, Boris Johnson
Additional information for Editors
About Greater London Volunteering. GLV runs the Experts in Volunteering programme, funded by the Big Lottery Fund to 2012. The programme is driven by the need to increase the supply of quality volunteering opportunities for volunteers, whilst supporting voluntary groups to deliver vital activities to local communities.
GLV acts as the regional umbrella body for regional volunteering development agencies, and Volunteer Centres or their equivalent to influence, communicate, capacity-build and coordinate provision of support for volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations.
About ELHAP
ELHAP, a special needs adventure playground which offers adventure play opportunities to children and young people with disabilities through school visits, holiday playschemes, Saturday clubs and youth clubs to the local community. ELHAP also runs a small Adult Training Service throughout the year.
ELHAP were second place in 2007 London Adventure playground of Year
http://www.elhap.org.uk/
Contact Kerri Lubbock, Volunteer Co-ordinator kerrilubbock@elhap.org.uk
About the London Volunteer Management Charter. The Charter was developed by Greater London Volunteering in close consultation with the London Volunteer Centre Network. It has ten strands of good practice which are Equal Opportunities, Expenses, Induction, Organisational Involvement, Personal Development, Recruitment Process, Resolving Difficulties, Reward and Recognition Safe Environment, and Support. By signing the Charter organisations are committing to developing the strands above. Organisations signing up for the Charter undergo a Volunteer Management Foundation Health Check and one of the Experts in Volunteering Team drafts an action plan to look at areas where the organisations can improve.
Further information: www.expertsinvolunteering.org.uk or www.glv.org.uk
Contact:
Jen Anderson, Experts in Volunteering Development Worker East
Greater London Volunteering
Telephone: 020 8536 1937 | Email: jennifer@glv.org.uk