nvesting in Volunteers is the UK quality standard for all organisations involving volunteers. It aims to improve the quality of volunteering experiences and helps organisations to acknowledge the enormous contribution made by volunteers.

The scheme which is managed by the UK Volunteering Forum and delivered by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations in England, assesses organisations against a range of best practice standards and Cheshire Wildlife Trust proved to excel in all aspects of supporting its volunteers. It is the only standard that focuses on volunteers and is based on four areas of volunteer management: planning for volunteer involvement; recruiting volunteers; selecting and matching volunteers; and supporting and retaining volunteers.

It was agreed by everyone interviewed during the process that the Trust was a volunteer-centred organisation. “Volunteers Week this week is the ideal time to celebrate not only our success but the fabulous contribution our volunteers make,” said Beth Alvey, Volunteering and Training Manager at Cheshire Wildlife Trust. “Our recent funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund enabled us to develop our support for volunteers, helping people to find opportunities suitable for them, training them in the skills required for tasks and promoting our volunteering opportunities to give people from all walks of life the chance to explore new things or to re-ignite skills and interests.”

The Trust’s volunteering team includes retired people, environmental enthusiasts of all ages who give up their leisure time to volunteer, young people including students who may be studying environmental issues, those with mental health difficulties and those not in employment, education or training who are seeking new opportunities and experiences.

Volunteers have expressed many benefits from taking part in activities and giving their time including increased motivation, giving something back to their environment, utilising their skills and developing new skills and especially working within a team and forming new friendships.

Cheshire Wildlife Trust has prided itself on offering volunteering opportunities to people whose health and well-being can benefit from new experiences. The Trust runs a dedicated programme for individuals who have suffered mental distress and are using their volunteering to develop their confidence to return to the world of work. They also work with community groups that volunteer to support specific nature sites within their own communities.

To find out how to volunteer for Cheshire Wildlife Trust visit: www.cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/volunteering