SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is a trusted source of support for serving personnel, veterans and their families in their time of need.

• Compassion
• Commitment
• Integrity
• Understanding

SSAFA’s values are underpinned by our BRAVE Standards which set the consistent, high expectations for the behaviours of everyone within the charity, irrespective of an individual’s role or remit.

• Beneficiary-focused
• Respect for others
• Adapting to change
• Valuing Diversity and Inclusion
• Excellence in everything we do

This policy applies to all volunteers within SSAFA. Whenever a SSAFA volunteer undertakes their role or represents themselves as SSAFA, they are agreeing to adhere to the standards of behaviour outlined in this policy.

This policy also applies in circumstances where the behaviour of a SSAFA volunteer, when not undertaking volunteering activity or representing SSAFA, may put SSAFA’s people and/or reputation at risk.

It is the responsibility of all volunteers to be familiar with and adhere to this policy.

All employees, and volunteers who manage other volunteers must be aware of this policy and support its application.

Volunteers have a responsibility to represent SSAFA and support beneficiaries in a way that reflects our values and standards  we want everyone involved with SSAFA to have a positive experience, so it’s important that all volunteers are clear about this responsibility.

All SSAFA volunteers should:

1. Support the provision of safe and effective services and volunteering activity

• Comply with all applicable UK laws and guidance. If you are based outside the UK or you are part of an activity outside the UK, you must abide by the laws of that country.
• Read, understand and agree to adhere to the Volunteer commitment.
• Act in the interest of your own health and safety, and that of others, reporting any incidents in line with policy and guidance.
• Report any safeguarding concerns you may have immediately in line with the Safeguarding Policy.
• Understand and follow SSAFA’s Royal Charter, Regulations, policies and procedures, keeping up to date with any changes and seeking help and support where you do not understand something.
• Keep beneficiary, volunteer and employee data safe in line with the Data Protection policy and any guidance.
• Act in line with SSAFA’s Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Policy for example, with regards to accepting gifts and declaring any conflict of interest.
• Carry out volunteering activities free from the influence of alcohol and illegal drugs. During SSAFA functions where alcohol is served, volunteers (as with employees) are expected to behave in a professional manner.

2. Work together to support SSAFA’s mission.

• Behave in line with SSAFA’s mission, values and standards.
• Be fair and treat everyone with respect and dignity in accordance with the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion policy.
• Understand that harassment or bullying will not be tolerated in any form, and ensure their actions reflect that, including reporting or challenging any poor behaviour.
• Communicate in an open and respectful way, in person, by phone, in writing or through digital media.
• Work positively with other volunteers, employees, and members of the public to promote SSAFA’s mission and values and avoid bringing the organisation into disrepute.
• Follow all reasonable requests by employees or volunteers who support, develop and manage SSAFA’s volunteering operations and/or their volunteering activity.

3. Understand their volunteer role and responsibilities

• Only undertake tasks that are within the volunteer role description, and as agreed with SSAFA, and therefore covered by SSAFA insurance.
• Undertake all training essential to their role within the timescales given.
• Complete any vetting checks (criminal background checks), and re-checks required for their volunteer role, and notify SSAFA about any subsequent criminal charges, cautions or convictions that would be disclosed through vetting for the role.
• Be responsible and accountable in the way they perform their role.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries with beneficiaries.
• Respect confidentiality and privacy in line with SSAFA policies and guidance.
• Undertake support and/or supervision meetings as requested by their volunteer manager.
• Notify their volunteer manager as soon as reasonably possible regarding any changes in circumstances that could impact on their ability to undertake their volunteer role.

4. Look after SSAFA’s equipment and resources

• Respect and care for any property belonging to or paid for by SSAFA.
• Report any loss or damage to SSAFA property to their volunteer manager as soon as possible.
• Return all property belonging to SSAFA on or before the last date of any volunteering activity.

Some examples of positive and negative behaviour within this Code are found in Appendix 1.

Volunteers are crucial to SSAFA, and their contribution and dedication is invaluable. However, volunteers may get things wrong sometimes and when a volunteer’s actions negatively impact SSAFA’s mission, reputation, or have a detrimental effect on others involved in the organisation, steps must be taken to resolve these issues.

When there are concerns that a volunteer has not acted or behaved in line with SSAFA’s expectations as detailed in this policy or the Volunteer Commitment action will be taken in line with SSAFA’s Managing Issues and Concerns About Volunteers procedures.

The exact course of action will depend on the nature of concern. Where possible, the named volunteer manager will address concerns immediately and seek informal resolution.

A code of conduct concern may involve action under additional policies, for example: Volunteer Tenure policy, Complaints policy or Safeguarding policy. Formal action may be required, and a serious concern can result in an immediate end to the volunteer relationship without investigation.

All safeguarding related breaches will be reported to SSAFA’s Head of Safeguarding and Social Work Services.

It is the responsibility of all SSAFA employees and volunteers to conduct themselves within the framework of this policy.  

Where a volunteer fails to keep up to date with all vetting, or mandatory training, including role specific refresher training, restrictions to their volunteering activities may be applied or the volunteer opportunity may be revoked

Where there is a serious, and/or continued breach of this policy, SSAFA may suspend or ultimately end the volunteering relationship in line with the Volunteer Tenure Policy.

Relevant SSAFA policies:

• Volunteer Tenure Policy
• Complaints Policy and Volunteer Complaints Procedures
• Volunteer Policy
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
• Safeguarding Policy
• Data Protection Policy
• Social Media Policy
• Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Policy
• Managing Concerns about Volunteers Procedures