The Canadian Code

For Volunteer Involvement

What is the Canadian Code For Volunteer Involvement?

•CCVI or the Code is the Canadian national standard for how the voluntary sector engages volunteers.

•The Code is a road map of best practices to ensure that your volunteer program meets the needs of both your organization and your volunteers.

Why is the CCVI important?

The CCVI allows organizations to:

•Make a public statement that they value and respect their volunteers by adopting the Code.

•Make a commitment to provide a positive, meaningful and productive volunteer experience.

•Use the 14 Standards as a guide for best practices in volunteer management.

The Code provides:

•Values, principles & standards

•A framework for respectful relationships between organizations, staff and volunteers

•Support for a professional approach to volunteer management

Values for Volunteer Involvement

•Volunteer involvement is vital to a just and democratic society

•Volunteer involvement strengthens communities

•Volunteer involvement mutually benefits both the volunteer and the organization

•Volunteer involvement is based on relationships

Guiding Principles

•Volunteers have rights - Voluntary organizations recognize that volunteers are a vital human resource and will commit to the appropriate infrastructure to support volunteers

•Volunteers have responsibilities - Volunteers make a commitment and are accountable to the organization

What does it mean to adopt the Code?

It means that your organization agrees to:

•Engage volunteers in a manner consistent with the values and principles of the Code, and•Strive to meet and maintain the CCVI national standards for the voluntary sector when engaging and managing volunteers.

What is involved in adopting the Code?

• Share information about the Code with stakeholders and determine that the Values and Principles of the CCVI are consistent with those of your organization.

• Ask your Board of Directors to pass a motion to adopt the CCVI [see Resources for sample motion].

• Contact Volunteer Toronto to add your organization’s name to the list of CCVI adoptees, receive the CCVI logo for your web site, and request a customized Statement of Commitment for your organization.

Benefit to Manager of Volunteers

•The CCVI clearly defines the role of the Manager of Volunteers as necessary and valuable•The Standards provide guidelines for the work of your organization and your Volunteer Program•As a national code for the sector, CCVI establishes the importance, and enhances the credibility, of the profession of volunteer management

Benefit to Executive Director/Staff/Board

•A clear statement of good management to funders

•A public declaration of values for the community

•Governance and management standards to support accreditation

•Blueprint for internal commitment to quality service delivery

Benefit to Volunteers

•Statement that an organization has adopted CCVI indicates that volunteer contributions are valued

•Volunteers feel respected and fully engaged

•Potential volunteers can assess how organization involves volunteers before making a commitment

•Volunteers understand their rights and responsibilities in a relationship with organization

Organizational Standards

• Mission-based approach• Human Resources• Policies and Procedures• Volunteer

Administration• Risk Management and

Quality Assurance • Volunteer Roles• Recruitment

• Screening • Orientation & Training • Support and

Supervision • Records Management• Technology• Recognition • Evaluation

Standard 1: Mission-based Approach

The Board of Directors, leadership volunteersand staff acknowledge and support the vitalrole of volunteers in achieving the organization’s purpose and mission.

Standard 2: Human Resources

The organization

• Treats volunteers as valued members of the organization’s human resources team.

• Links volunteer involvement to the mission.

• Provides human and financial resources to support volunteer involvement

Standard 3: Policies and Procedures

A policy framework that defines and supports the involvement of volunteers is adopted by the organization.

Standard 4: Volunteer Administration

The organization has a clearly designatedindividual with appropriate qualificationsresponsible for the volunteer program.

Standard 5: Risk Management and Quality Assurance

The organization has a clearly designatedindividual with appropriate qualificationsresponsible for the volunteer program.

Standard 6: Volunteer Roles

Organizations engage volunteers to fill roles that

• Address organization’s mission or purpose

• Involve meaningful work• Reflect abilities of volunteer

Standard 7: Recruitment

Volunteer recruitment incorporates internal and external strategies to reach out and involve a diverse volunteer base.

Standard 8: Screening

A clearly communicated screening process is adopted and consistently applied by the organization.

Standard 9: Orientation and Training

Volunteers receive

•Orientation to the organization, policies, practices, and their rights & responsibilities as volunteers•Training customized to their volunteer assignment and their individual needs

Standard 10: Support and Supervision

Volunteers are provided with

•A level of supervision appropriate to the task

•Regular opportunities to give and receive feedback

Standard 11: Records Management

Standardized documentation and records management practices and procedures are followed and are in line with current relevant legislation.

Standard 12: Technology

Volunteers are engaged and supported within the organization through the integration and intentional use of current technology. New opportunities to strengthen volunteer engagement and capacity through the use of technology are evaluated continually.

Standard 13: Recognition

The contributions of volunteers areconsistently acknowledged with formal and informal methods of recognition.

Standard 14: Evaluation

The impact and contribution of volunteers and the volunteer program are continually evaluated to ensure the needs of the organization are being met in fulfilling its mandate.

Moving Forward to Adopt the Code

•Stakeholders in your organization will be more ready to adopt the Code once they recognize it has value for them

•Check with organizations that have adopted the Code and ask colleagues to share their experiences

Adopt and Champion the Code

VT encourages all voluntary sector organizations to engage their stakeholders in this dialogue and move to proudly state that they have adopted the Code.

Share your success with your colleagues!