Our Commitment
Our Commitment to Volunteering
Congratulations to all Board members, Volunteers and staff at NCA In July 2019 NCA successfully re-applied for the Investors in Volunteering (IiV) standard. The IiV assessors report makes wonderful reading about how NCA volunteering has grown and developed with some really amazing feedback from our staff and volunteers below…
Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh Patron of NCA & Upkar Singh Pardesi Chairman of NCA both receiving the Investors in Volunteering Certificate at AGM meeting, December 2019
Please click here to read the IiV assessors report. We would like to thank our Board for their guidance and vision, staff for their belief in volunteering and mentoring volunteers and all our volunteers for their ongoing dedication in selflessly helping others.
“We wouldn’t be able to run without volunteers. The building was constructed with volunteers, love is at the centre, it’s in the fabric of the building. And there’s a financial value – the centre wouldn’t be able to run without volunteers. There’s a social and economic value to volunteering”.
“Everyone is welcome. There are different ages, different groups and different ethnic groups – volunteers at all ages and stages. They are very welcoming”.
Volunteers described how they had been supported around their personal circumstances or that they had been going through particularly difficult times, for example “they go above and beyond. The support is to do with work and with our personal life. I have been supported around my contact with schools and court hearings…They have so much work but they still have a chat with you”
Investing in Volunteering (IiV)
IiV is an opportunity for volunteer-involving organisations to benchmark the quality of their volunteer management programme. IiV allows organisations to demonstrate and improve their work with volunteers, enhance their reputation and raise their profile. Assurance involves a six-step process that includes both self-assessment and external verification (site visits). It normally takes a maximum of 12 months.
In addition to the IiV standard we have adopted a volunteer charter as a declaration to our commitment to encourage best practice in volunteer management, seeking always to develop the quality of volunteering opportunities. Please click here
Our Volunteer Charter
The charter seeks to provide overall guidance and direction to employees and volunteers, and to demonstrate that The Nishkam Centre recognises its obligations to its volunteers.
The Nishkam Centre volunteer commitment:
- To recognise our volunteers as a key group of individuals within the organisation who are represented at all levels of decision making
- To ensure that all volunteers are properly integrated into the organisational structure and that staff at all levels work with volunteers and involve them in the work of the organisation
- To consult with volunteers about their tasks, keep them informed of changes, make clear what is expected and to provide them with regular feedback
- To assist volunteers in doing their work effectively by providing induction, training, information, supervision and support appropriate to the tasks, via regular mentor meetings
- To respect volunteer skills, dignity, individual wishes and recognise volunteer contributions
- To provide adequate insurance cover for volunteers whilst undertaking duties approved and authorised by The Nishkam Management Team, and to give the same protection under health and safety regulations and public liability as paid employees
- To implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance with equal opportunities, health and safety and to support best practice in doing sewa
- To endeavour to resolve any problems, grievances and difficulties which may be encountered and provide an opportunity to discuss the issues in an appropriate manner
Become a Volunteer
“We wouldn’t be able to run without volunteers. The building was constructed with volunteers, love is at the centre, it’s in the fabric of the building. And there’s a financial value – the centre wouldn’t be able to run without volunteers. There’s a social and economic value to volunteering”.