Cheshire Museums Forum:
Developing a Volunteer Code
and Skills Audit
20 June 2012
Introduction to the Projects
Museums Development Fund Projects – Sustainable Future
Funding, Renaissance North West.
4 projects, to:
• research philanthropic giving models and identify ways to maximise the
use of philanthropy, both in terms of monetary value and the use of in-kind
skills
• create a toolkit to develop philanthropic giving for the members of the
Forum and support the delivery of 4 ‘pilots
• research best practice in the use of volunteers both nationally and locally,
developing a Volunteer Code to maximise and make best use of
volunteers
• Develop a Skills Audit framework for member organisations to identify
training needs to support volunteer coordination and management.
Project managed by a steering group of the CMF: Cheshire West & Chester Museums,
Cheshire East Museum Service, Warrington Museum Service and National Waterways
Museum)
Volunteer Report and Code
2 parts:
1 – Research & Report, focussed upon:
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Managing Volunteers when under resourced
Training for Volunteers
Getting a More Diverse Volunteer Team
Other Community and Voluntary Sector Practice
2 – Develop a Volunteer Code
Skills Audit
Two formats:
1 – Simplified version – one page
2 – Detailed version
Why a toolkit?
1 – So it could be road tested and tweaked
2 - So that it could be rolled out wider than
the project had resources to do
3 – So that the framework could be applied
locally so pertinent to museum/heritage
centre’s needs
4 – So applied when time was right
Where are they?
Electronic versions forwarded and all documents available on
Cheshire Museums Forum online forum:
Register on https://knowledgehub.local.gov.uk/
Search for Cheshire Museums Forum
What were the challenges?
The main challenges were:
• capacity and
• timescale.
Also:
• Range, size and type of museums: no one
fit all approach would work.
How did we overcome them?
Skills Audit:
Brief: all to undertake skills audit; result –
skills development needs to be met.
Reality: developed framework; tested by 5
museums; result – 2 frameworks that all can
use when the time is right for them.
Skills Audit
Two formats:
1 – Simplified version – one page
2 – Detailed version, including
• Museum’s needs
• Skills:
– Trustees/ Management
– Curatorial and Educational
– General Skills & Experiences
• Museum Learning Plan
How did we overcome them?
Volunteer Code:
Brief: develop VC suitable for all.
Reality: developed VC; tested by 2
museums looking at different elements;
result – guidance that all can use when the
time is right for them.
Introduction to
Volunteer Code
Volunteer Code, includes
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Introduction and Approach
Policy Statements
Skills Audit & Learning Plan
Volunteer Recruitment
Volunteer Management
Review and Evaluation
Did it achieve its goals?
YES:
• it provides them with appropriate tools
• It sets benchmarks in volunteering practice
BUT
• the real test is when museums use them
• understood that impact will take some
time, as museums are having to work into
their development plans
How will it keep them moving
forwards?
Questions for them:
• So what are you going to do with these resources?
• Which area is your biggest priority?
• What do you need to do to get there?
• Who needs to be involved?
• Who will lead the action?
Need to keep it on the CMF agenda
Next Steps – Advanced
Apprenticeships
Volunteering Management
Fundraising
Direct fit with both pieces of work
Criteria – contract of employment 30 hours per week; non
graduate. Fully funded this year.
Volunteering Management
Includes applying the Volunteer Code, plus
• Encouraging and motivating volunteers
• Managing risk in relation to volunteers
• Managing Volunteer Agreements
• Supervising and supporting volunteers
• Developing systems, structures and processes to
support volunteering
• Monitoring programme of work
• Managing customer service
• Managing conflict in a team
• Project management
Fundraising
Includes applying the Philanthropy Toolkit, plus
• Introduction to fundraising
• Developing and implementing a Fundraising Plan
• Maintaining and enhancing relationships with your
supporters
• Understanding effective partnership working between
organisations
• Budgeting for the business
• Fundraising through electronic media
• Project management
• Planning & organising events
Happy to consider delivery of a
Manchester Museums cohort, if
sufficient interest.
Adrienne Taylor
Panacea Associates
adrienne@panacea-associates.co.uk
07985445054