Volunteer managers
Recruit and Manage Volunteers
VANL are here to support you. If you need help to recruit, manage, or reward and retain volunteers, then read on to discover the free services and resources we offer to assist you every step of the way.
VANL Can Support Volunteer Recruitment by:
Policies and Procedures
Whether you are taking on your first volunteers or want to review and refine your existing volunteering procedures, VANL can help in the following ways:
Including Youth Volunteers
Young people can bring a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and commitment to a volunteering role, providing a new dimension to your work by contributing knowledge, skills, fresh ideas, and often strong IT and social media expertise!
Are you thinking of taking on or expanding your youth volunteering program but don’t know where to start?
Our simple, easy-to-understand guide to youth volunteering below will walk you through the practical steps.
Sections include: creating suitable role descriptions, child protection and safeguarding, plus recruitment tips. The guide also comes with a raft of template policies and procedures to make taking on youth volunteers as simple as possible.
See our guide here or contact info@VANL.co.uk for advice and support
Supporting Volunteer-Involving Organisations
The Volunteer Charter is a powerful tool for fostering fairness, respect, and clarity in volunteer-involving organisations. The Volunteer Charter, developed by Volunteer Scotland and the Scottish Trades Union Congress, outlines ten key principles that help ensure volunteers are treated ethically and that their contributions are genuinely valued.
Ready to commit to a positive volunteering experience? Sign up to the 10 principles of the Volunteer Charter here.
Inclusive Trustee Recruitment
Inclusive trustee recruitment strengthens governance, increases organisational resilience, and ensures boards are better connected to the communities they serve. As highlighted in our guide diversity goes beyond protected characteristics to include lived experience, socio-economic background, geography, skills and neurodiversity. Research shows that diverse boards are more innovative, more credible, and better equipped to provide constructive challenge and sound decision-making. Taking a structured, open approach to recruitment helps organisations widen their talent pool, reduce unconscious barriers, and move beyond informal networks that can unintentionally exclude underrepresented voices.
Our Inclusive Trustee Recruitment Guide provides practical, step-by-step support to help you review your board’s current composition, identify gaps, run an open and accessible recruitment process, and create a welcoming culture where new trustees can thrive. It includes advice on removing unnecessary requirements, using inclusive language, advertising widely (including targeted platforms), offering expenses and flexible arrangements, and encouraging first-time trustees to apply. Whether you are refreshing your board or recruiting for the first time, the guide is designed to help you build a more representative, effective and forward-looking board.
Employer-supported Volunteering
Employer-Supported Volunteering (ESV) is when employers encourage and enable their employees to volunteer during work hours to support community organisations and charities. It’s a meaningful way for businesses to give back to their local communities while helping employees develop new skills, boost their wellbeing, and feel more connected to the area.
ESV is a game-changer for both employees and the organisations they support. It bridges the gap between busy working lives and the desire to give back, unlocking thousands of hours of skilled support for the voluntary sector.
How Employer Supported Volunteering Creates Lasting Impact
Benefits for Charities and CVS Organisations
Access to professional expertise:
From HR and finance to digital transformation and marketing, charities gain skills they might not otherwise afford.
Fresh perspectives:
Volunteers from different sectors bring new ideas and approaches.
Capacity boost:
With up to 200,000 extra hours potentially available, charities can expand services or tackle long-standing projects.
If you would like to find out more about making links with businesses and Employer Supported Volunteering, please contact info@VANL.co.uk
Benefits for Employers
Stronger employee engagement:
Staff feel proud to work for a socially responsible organisation.
Team building:
Group volunteering builds camaraderie and morale.
Skills development:
Volunteering can enhance leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Benefits for Employees
Personal fulfilment:
Making a difference boosts wellbeing and purpose.
Professional growth:
Volunteering in new contexts sharpens transferable skills.
Broader networks:
Employees connect with people and causes beyond their usual circles
To discuss employer supported volunteering with CVS organisations in North Lanarkshire or to access our template Employer Supported Volunteering policy, please contact info@VANL.co.uk
North Lanarkshire Volunteering Partnership and Strategy
The North Lanarkshire Volunteering Partnership brings together VANL, representatives of the community and voluntary sector and public sector organisations to support joint working to strengthen volunteering.
The Partnership developed a new North Lanarkshire Volunteering Strategy which was approved in spring 2023
VANL convenes, chairs and supports the Partnership and works with partners to support delivery of our Volunteering Strategy.
For more information contact info@vanl.co.uk
