End of Year Report for 2014-15

Investing in Volunteers End of year report for 2014-15

1 Progress against targets

Targets for the year were exceeded:

Actual Actual 2013-14 2012-13 Actual Target No. of Registrations 25 20 25 18 Health Checks 24 n/a 14 10 Achievers 16 12 17 15

2 Summary of Income and Expenditure

Annual Actual Actual forecast 2013- 2012- Year total 2014015 2014 2013

Income 29,955 19,900 20,252 20,062

Total Expenditure 28,396 29,416 26,638 33,640

Surplus/Deficit 1,559 -9,516 -5,924 -13,578 Expenditure breakdown:

WCVA Salaries and on costs 16,173 15,696 13,822 19,956 Staff costs from other budgets 0 0 460 3,429

Other fixed costs 4668 2600 5703 1,689

Assessor fees 6829 11,120 6063 8,121

Plaques 726 590 445

Total 28,396 29,416 26,638 33,640

Income was high due to higher than usual fees received from one very large UK wide organisation, for which Wales took the administrative led in co-ordinating the assessment process. For this alone, £5,100 assessors fees will be payable in 2015-16. In total £7,650 assessors fees were anticipated at end of year, from assessment fees received, effectively reducing the overall ‘surplus’ noted, to - £6091. The picture is similar to last year, with a small overall deficit. This is lower than the forecast deficit. Since 2012 the financial picture has improved, with the programme becoming more sustainable. The fees increase in April 2014 has succeeded in increasing income without deterring custom significantly.

All assessments are now carried out by external, paid assessors, so the internal costs to other budgets for staff time in undertaking assessments has reduced to nil. New assessors undertake their first assessment with close supervision and without a fee payment. This has reduced assessor fees a little (but tends to increase Lead Assessor time, and therefore cost).

‘Fixed costs’ include the annual contribution to web maintenance costs of £1500. Translation costs were far higher than anticipated, with more articles posted on the website – mainly about the successes of achieving organisations.

Projected income, on the basis of the actual number and size of organisations registered during 2014-15 is £25,900. This is an increase on previous years (£14,950 for 2012-13 and £20,350 for 2013-14). Income for plaques is additional and covers the cost of plaques with a small profit margin. The actual income from an IiV organisation may span several financial accounting years, and in some cases organisations do not proceed to assessment. This projection, therefore, although a valid indicator of trends and business potential, is not an accurate forecast of annual income.

3. Impact on organisations

Online feedback was obtained during the year from 17 organisations; 8 who achieved Investing in Volunteers (IiV) for the first time, and from 9 who were renewing the award. Seventy per cent completed the process in less than 12 months; two took longer than 18 months. Eighty seven per cent (15 organisations) reported finding the process “very useful”.

Organisations reported the impact on Trustees, for example “It has made it easier to attract Trustees” (Flintshire Community Parents); on staff, for example “We have always valued the input of volunteers but do so even more so now” (Pembrokeshire Action to Combat Hardship); on Volunteers, for example “The recruitment of volunteers is now more streamlined and clearer” (Digartref Ynys Mon) and on external partners, for example “It demonstrates to the university, the quality and the value of the volunteering activities” (Discovery).

Ninety three per cent of organisations report that their practice has changed as a result of doing IiV. Specific changes include “We now have made monitoring of equality and diversity compulsory”, “the development of a volunteer handbook”, “the induction process is clearer and more streamlined” and “we involve volunteers more in decision making”.

All respondents would recommend IiV to other organisations

General quotations from organisations about their experience of achieving Investing in Volunteers, are included in Appendix A.

4. Development activity

Progress against the development plan is shown in Appendix B. The ten year celebration of Investing in Volunteers was a highlight, with celebration cake shared in Cardiff and in Wrexham, and publicity on social media, websites and a UK press release.

The Investing in Volunteers website has been upgraded and now includes a Twitter feed on the front page, and a section for Blog posts.

Three videos were completed, featuring IiV achieving organisations. These have been shown at events and are available to view on the website.

4. Budget for 2015-16

The budget for the coming year is shown below.

The delivery plan targets have increased to 25 registering and 15 achieving organisations and the budget is therefore estimated on the basis of 25 Health Checks and 15 assessments. The price structure (Appendix C) remains the same.

Annual forecast 2015-16 Income 20,700 Total Expenditure 28,500 Deficit -7,800 Expenditure breakdown: WCVA Salaries and on costs 17,080 Other fixed costs 3,000 Assessor fees 8,420 Total expenditure 28,500

Fiona Liddell July 2015 Appendix A What organisations say about their experience of achieving Investing in Volunteers

“IIV status has given us the confidence to shout out about our commitment to volunteering".

Merthyr and the Valleys Mind, January 2015

“Going through IiV has boosted confidence of the staff, trustees and volunteers that TMR as an organisation has good practice. It may lead to procure more funding.”

The Mentor Ring, January 2015

“As County Voluntary Council for Powys, this accreditation demonstrates PAVO's commitment to Quality Assurance which will imbue confidence to the voluntary organisations we support and inspire them to engage with this system. This will ensure a more robust voluntary sector for Powys and a wealth of volunteers who are supported in a professional and qualitative way.

Working through the process gave PAVO the opportunity to embed existing good practice, identify areas for improvement and incorporate new ideas”

Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations, January 2015

“IIV has given us the opportunity to review our work and make sure that our volunteers receive the best programme we can offer.”

National Museum of Wales, January 2015

“We now have a streamlined service which ensures volunteers feel fully supported and part of the larger company. Although it is too early to evidence, this should hopefully also strengthen funding applications.

The Investing in Volunteers Process was very positive. It was clear to follow and came with lots of support throughout. Volunteers make an invaluable contribution at Digartref Ynys Mon. We therefore want to make sure we offer them the best support possible”

Digartref Ynys Mon, January 2015

“It was worth the hours of preparation and the support in completing the report was phenomenal. We have learned so much about good governance and about including the volunteers in decisions. We have new policies and procedures and a review sheet.”

PATCH, October 2014

“We decided to undertake the process of the Investing in Volunteers Award to ensure that we were continuing to follow the policies and procedures that we put in place to support our valuable volunteers. We were honoured to be successful in achieving the award three years ago and this time around were delighted that our continued support and admiration for our volunteers enabled us to succeed for the award this time. 'When we recruit volunteers for our projects our main aim is to give to them the experience, skills and support that they deserve and it is our way of thanking them for giving up their valuable time that they devote to us and continuing our projects. Without valuable volunteers of all ages then many of our projects would not be as successful as they have been. Their contribution makes a huge difference to ourselves and our local community and we are delighted that our commitment to providing quality volunteer opportunities has been demonstrated by us achieving this award”

Crickhowell Volunteer Bureau, April 2014

“The IIV process was daunting at first (as it was my first time leading on this). Making sure all the information provided to volunteers was relevant was the most time consuming part. The help that was provided by Charlotte at SCVS and Rachel at CAVS was amazing and they were so approachable and willing to help. WCVA were really helpful throughout it with regular contact to explain the process and next steps”

Age Cymru Swansea Bay, April 2014

“The IiV process and assessment has assured our Trustees that our volunteering schemes are high quality and our staff and volunteers have received recognition of their work. IiV gave us the opportunity to step back and review practice”

Swansea CVS, April 2014

“As an organisation, achieving the IiV standard gives us a greater confidence that our policies, procedures and values are in line with what should be expected nationally.”

Student Volunteering Bangor, April 2014

“It feels good to know that the Project has achieved this award. There is also a renewed confidence shown from partnership organisations. Several volunteers who have trained recently indicated that IIV was important in their decision to volunteer with us. Renewing has again raised the profile of the project in Flintshire, this, in turn, attracts referrals for support, potential staff and volunteers. I have, again, managed to secure funding for the Project and am positive that holding the IIV Standard has been instrumental in the success of the application.

For our Staff, Volunteers, Partnership Board Stakeholders and Partnership organisations IIV ensures that we, as a project, continue to grow and develop in line with good practice guidelines.”

Flintshire Community Parents, April 2014 Appendix B Investing in Volunteers Development Plan 2014 – 16

Objective Actions Progress by March 2015 Increase IiV profile  Add Logo onto volunteering wales website Done opportunities  Encourage organisations to tweet to ‘VolWales’ and Use of #IiVUK is growing use #IiVUK  10th Birthday publicity UK press release out September 2014

 WCVA Board challenge 2 replies from Board members– no new take up  Update IiV website to include blogs and social media IiV website updated content  Reference to IiV standard where relevant on Done in summer review of information volunteering information sheets sheets, 2014 Promote new  Web articles Articles regularly posted in WCVA newsletter registrations  Produce series of 3 videos, with training material Videos on IiV and WCVA websites September 2014  Other opportunities for promotion (with VCs) Ongoing support for VCs re local promotion Promote renewals  Consider incentive in pricing structure WCVA 80th birthday offer publicised Sept 2014  Identify and write up case studies to illustrate value of Article on Bullies out April 14 renewal  Explore ways of better using IiV as tool for Ongoing, in discussion with assessors and in continuous improvement – how to introduce further review of reports. ‘stretch’  12 month follow up phone calls for IiV achieving Routinely done– after QA panel meetings organisations Develop IiV  Policy events and discussion of volunteering practice 55 people attended seminars – some good IiV Achievers as good discussion practice champions Achievers x2 invited to speak at Advisor/Assessor May 2014 meetings  Consider webinars featuring IiV achievers FL booked onto webinar training Increase VC  Volunteering SON (Service Operational Network) Agenda item Jun 2014 IiV. Activity monitored awareness/ discussions eg on role of achievers/ strategic issues from Delivery Plan reports involvement  Keep VCs informed of IiV activity in their area Routinely email VCs re local IiV registrations

 Engage with GAVO and CAVS re Advisor staffing Discussions with both organisations (following staff leaving) Develop Advisor  Build up resources and use of the online Hub Re-organised hub library. Routinely sending skills and link to advisors/assessors to encourage its confidence use  Produce written guidance for conducting an initial Done and posted on the Hub advisory interview  Identify and publicise examples of Advisor Ongoing – seeking good examples intervention  Provide ongoing mentor support Ongoing  Encourage Advisors to attend assessments Arranging where appropriate for Advisors to observe assessments Improve assessor  Identify and address particular practices that cause Several issues identified and addressed at skills concern support meetings

 Keep file notes and examples in Good practice Ongoing – need to build up this section of Hub  Produce guidance to support and improve Health Examples of Health Check report in Hub Check report writing library. Written and posted a ‘How to guide’ for assessors Develop new Lead  Programme of building up skills and experience New Lead Assessor now covers in FL Assessor(s) absence and has undertaken several assignments Appendix C

Investing in Volunteers Pricing Guide, 2014-16

Size* of organisation Small Medium Large Registration Registration Registration and Health and Health and Health Check Assessment Total Check Assessment Total Check Assessment Total Voluntary organisation 300 700 1000 400 900 1300 500 1100 1600

Statutory organisation 600 1600 2200 750 2150 2900 900 2760 3600

*The size of the organisation is defined by the number of days’ assessment required, which is in turn determined by the number of volunteers, the number of volunteer roles and the number of office sites. This is computed by the IIV Manager, in accordance with UK sampling guidance.