This policy applies to all volunteers and should be used by those who directly manage volunteers.

Volunteer manager. Compliance with this policy. Work with volunteers to encourage compliance and ensure that non-complaint volunteers are not active in their role.

Volunteers. Awareness of this policy and compliance with it.

To deliver safe services for our beneficiaries and keep our people safe, we ensure compliance with external legislative requirements for vetting and GDPR, alongside adherence to our own safeguarding policy. Volunteers must undertake training and vetting relevant to their role to uphold these standards. To support this, Volunteer Managers and the Volunteer Experience Team will provide guidance and resources to help volunteers remain compliant and confident in their responsibilities.

The volunteer manager will be aware of the training requirements for each role and are responsible for ensuring that volunteers have access to the training and remain compliant. The manager is responsible for ensuring that volunteers are aware of the training requirements and due dates.

Training can be accessed directly through Go Assemble.

Training details and due dates are easily visible upon log-in to the system.

SSAFA requires that volunteers conduct a vetting check if their role requires it upon recruitment and then every 5 years.

It is the responsibility of the volunteer manager to ensure the volunteer is aware of the vetting renewal date in sufficient time for the check to be conducted before its expiry. Also, the volunteer manager should ensure that the volunteer is not active in the role if their vetting check has expired.

It is the responsibility of the volunteer to complete the vetting checking process and to understand that their volunteering will have to pause if their vetting check expires, whilst a new check is completed.

·       If a volunteer is not in contact with their volunteer manager and therefore does not complete the role requirements and remains non-compliant then actions are detailed in the Volunteer Tenure Policy If the volunteer refuses to complete the required training or vetting, then the Volunteer Tenure Policy should be used

·       If the volunteer subsequently wishes to return to volunteering, then again, the Volunteer Tenure Policy should be used

No volunteer who is non-complaint in the requirements of their role, can be permitted to continue in role until they regain their compliance. They may, however, be able to assume a different role after discussion with their line manager. However, all volunteers must complete mandatory training (Data Protection and Safeguarding) to remain active in any role.

Further information can be found here:

Safeguarding Policy

Data Protection Policy

Volunteer Policy 

Volunteer Tenure Policy

Vetting guidance