CNGA
Volunteer Handbook
Contents
- About CNGA
- Organisation Structure
- Volunteering Policy
- Recruitment and Selection of Volunteers
- The Role of Volunteers
- Volunteer Agreement
- Induction and Training
- Policies and Procedures
-Equal Opportunities
-Complaints Procedure
-Attendance, Timekeeping, Absence and Sickness
-Expenses Policy
-Child Protection, Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
-Health, Safety and Risk Assessment
-Ending Involvement
1.About CNGA
Our mission
The City of Newcastle Gymnastics Academy provides quality facilities and the development of gymnastics throughout the North of England. The Gymnastics Academy creates the best opportunities, inspires and develops gymnasts for all abilities.
2.Organisation Structure
3.Volunteering Policy
CNGA’s volunteering policy sets out the key definitions and principles of volunteering activity at CNGA. A copy of the Policy is available from the Chief Executive or Office Manager.
4.Recruitment and Selection of Volunteers
Role Descriptions will be provided for all volunteering activities, outlining specific tasks, responsibilities and who the volunteer reports to, including a person specification. Applicants must submit a CV or application form to apply any volunteering opportunities. Applicants will be asked to attend an informal interview with CNGA staff. No volunteering opportunities will be agreed without a satisfactory enhanced CRB disclosure; this will be paid for by CNGA.
CNGA reserves the right to refuse the offer of service of any volunteer. CNGA will require two satisfactory references. There will be a 6 week trial period agreed with the volunteer before commencing any volunteer activity
5.The Role of Volunteers
Role Descriptions will be provided for all volunteering activities, outlining specific tasks, responsibilities and who the volunteer reports to, including a person specification.
- Volunteer Agreement
All Volunteers will be required to sign a Volunteer Agreement which outlines their key rights and responsibilities, and those of their supervisor and support person.
7.Induction and Training
CNGA will ensure that all Volunteers have a full induction to CNGA. A volunteer induction checklist will be completed to record this.
CNGA will organise training, where available and appropriate, to ensure that volunteers can carry out their activities effectively. This training will directly relate to the activity for which they volunteer.
8Policies and Procedures
Equal Opportunities
The purpose of our Equality and Diversity Policy is to ensure that no job applicant, employee, volunteer, participant or member is unlawfully discriminated against or receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation (together these are known as the ‘Protected Characteristics’ under the Equality Act 2010). A copy of CNGA’s Equality and Diversity Policy will be available to you when you start volunteering at CNGA.
Complaints Procedure
Volunteers will not be subject to our disciplinary procedures nor have access to our grievance procedures both of which are for CNGA employees only. However, volunteers will be given an opportunity to discuss any concerns that they may have about their volunteering and consult with us generally.
In cases where a volunteer wishes to make a complaint about CNGA, they should complete a “Comments, Compliments and Complaints Form” and pass this to the Chief Executive for action.
Where a matter can not be resolved informally, the Chief Executive will try to answer the complaint within 10 working days. If the problem cannot be solved in that time, the Chief Executive will explain why there is a delay and say when we expect to sort out the matter.
If the volunteer is not satisfied with the response received, they should write to the Chair of the Management Committee c/oCNGA (address)
If there are concerns about the conduct or performance of a volunteer, their supervisor should investigate to find out what is happening. If conduct or performance is unsatisfactory, the volunteer should be informed that s/he will be offered ‘special guidance’ for a period. The object of the ‘special guidance’ will be to encourage improvement. If a volunteer does not meet our standards of performance, and the steps we have taken to encourage them to improve do not work, the volunteer should be offered more suitable alternative voluntary activities or leave with one week’s notice.
If behaviour which, in our view, is equivalent to gross misconduct has occurred the volunteer activity will be terminated immediately.
Attendance: Timekeeping, Absence/Sickness
Volunteers are requested to honour the hours and times they have agreed for volunteering at CNGA. From time to time, we may request that volunteers temporarily change their hours in line with the needs of the service, where this is practical. Volunteers should ensure that they inform their Support Person or the Chief Executive if they are not going to be able to attend a volunteering session for any reason, including sickness, in advance of the session. This will help CNGA to organise alternative cover should this be required.
Expenses Policy
Volunteer expenses can be claimed for travel to and from the place of work
Child Protection and Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
It is the responsibility of all staff, trustees and volunteers to safeguard the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults we work with by preventing and responding appropriately any instances of actual or suspected abuse.
A copy of CNGA’sSafeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Policy will be provided for you when you start volunteering at CNGA.
All volunteers will be required to complete a criminal records check through BG and the Disclosure and barring service, which must be deemed satisfactory by the Chief Executive. This must be completed every 2 years.
Health, Safety and Risk Assessment
We have a duty to look after the safety and well being of our volunteers. We will make volunteers aware of our Health & Safety Policy and any special safety arrangements relating to their individual role.
Volunteers as well as employees must take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others who may be affected by what they do, or omit to do, at CNGA. Volunteers must also co-operate with CNGA in performing any duty or complying with any requirement imposed by any relevant health and safety requirements.
CNGA will ensure that all the appropriate public, employer and professional liability insurances are in place prior to recruitment of volunteers.
Fire and Emergency Procedures are also in place at CNGA. These will be discussed with the volunteer during the induction period.
Ending Involvement
Either CNGA or the volunteer can end the volunteering at any time and without any notice. However, unless there is an emergency or misconduct, we will usually try to give volunteers at least 2 weeks’ notice and hope that they will offer the same to us.
In all cases we will provide the volunteer with details of the reasons why their involvement is no longer needed. If asked, we will provide volunteers with a document giving details of all the activities that they have successfully undertaken for us.
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