Statement of Aims
StreetGames Ltd is a registered charity that encourages young people aged 14-25 to make a voluntary commitment to their community using the medium of sport, dance or culture.
Such volunteers will be supported by StreetGames UK Ltd project staff who will be responsible for the recruitment and development of volunteers. The primary responsibility will be with the Strategic Lead for Volunteering but s/he will be supported by National Fieldwork Staff, regionally based staff and others as appropriate.
Volunteers may offer their help in a variety of ways, these might include:
 Support at Tournaments and other one-off events
 Longer term or regular volunteer placements supporting the delivery of community based sports
 Involvement in a local community-based activity that benefits other young people. E.g. a funding application for new facilities or consulting on and designing new activities for other young people.
1. Recruitment
Volunteers will be recruited by individual StreetGames UK Ltd Projects as they have the local knowledge of the community to ensure that the diversity of volunteers reflects the multi-cultural nature of the communities in which the projects operate.
Support to this recruitment will be given through the Strategic Lead for Volunteering and Fieldwork Staff of the StreetGames Young Volunteers Programme, with additional support from Regional staff. StreetGames will ensure that each local organisation has the relevant policies and procedures in place to support volunteers in their project. These will include a current volunteer policy and the inclusion of volunteers in Safeguarding and health and safety policies.
The StreetGames Young Volunteers Programme will offer support and training to all volunteer managers and co-ordinators in relation to identifying best practice methods for the recruitment of young people to volunteering opportunities. Each local project will be encouraged think about where and how they recruit young people and to include the following in their recruitment process:
 Clear role description – this will outline the role available and expectations of the young person
 Introductory interview – this will include a broad outline of the work of the organisation and the role of volunteers within it.
1

 Application form – to gather personal information, skills and experiences of the young person. The organisation will be encouraged to recognise that some young people may require additional support to assist them with the application process and will be recommended.
 Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check, where applicable/appropriate – for young people over the age of 16 and eligible.
 Obtain references – for those volunteers not previously known to the organisation.
StreetGames will provide template examples of application forms, role descriptions and reference forms for local projects to amend and use where they do not currently have them available.
2. Induction and Training
There will be an induction prepared and delivered by the Volunteer Co-ordinator/
Project Manager of the local StreetGames Project .
This will include:
 The role of the volunteer
 A list of all staff members and volunteers
 Copies of all the relevant policies including this Volunteer policy along with a Confidentiality policy, Health and Safety policy, Equal
Opportunities and Diversity policy, and Conflict Management.
 Induction training and details of ongoing training available
 Other information as appropriate.
Each volunteer must attend this induction which will be both one-to-one and, where appropriate, in groups. They will vary according to the previous experience of the individual and local project.
All volunteers will be encouraged to attend additional appropriate training. This will be organised relative to both individual and collective needs of the local project(s).
Training needs will differ according to the specific volunteer role undertaken and the individual needs of partners.
The StreetGames Volunteer Programme will provide a training offer for both
Volunteer Managers and young volunteers to ensure personal development and progression are supported.
3. Expenses
We value our volunteers and want to ensure that there are no barriers to volunteer involvement. All out-of-pocket expenses incurred whilst volunteering for local
StreetGames Projects will be reimbursed. In order to claim expenses, an expenses form must be completed and given to the local Volunteer Co-ordinator/Project
Manager.
2

Volunteer expenses are the responsibility of each local StreetGames Project that works with and involves volunteers in the work they do.
Where StreetGames UK LTD utilise the resource of volunteers for the delivery of programmes and events, all expenses will be reimbursed including travel expenses, accommodation and meals where appropriate.
4. Support
The Volunteer Co-ordinator/Project Manager of each local project will offer support to the volunteers. Projects will support all volunteers and will have regular meetings with the volunteers to discuss any problems or issues that may arise.
The Volunteer Co-ordinator/Project Manager of the local StreetGames projects will receive regular support from the StreetGames Young Volunteers Programme staff and will have access to training in relation to mentoring and supporting young people.
5. Insurance
Volunteers must be covered by the local StreetGames projects public liability insurance. The organisation’s premises must comply with Health and Safety regulations.
6. Health and Safety
Volunteers and activities carried out by volunteers within a local StreetGames Project must be covered by the individual project’s health and safety guidelines.
7. Confidentiality
All people involved with StreetGames must abide by both the letter and the spirit of the organisation’s Confidentiality Policy. This includes all workers, Management
Committee and volunteers. Volunteers will be made aware of the confidentiality process (if necessary) in their induction.
8. Recognition
Volunteers engaged with StreetGames UK Ltd have a number of opportunities to gain recognition for their involvement in the Volunteer programme. All volunteers receive a Certificate of Recognition on completion of their volunteer placement or opportunity. These are awarded to the volunteer by project managers on behalf of
StreetGames.
StreetGames delivers an annual volunteer awards programme in which all volunteers have the opportunity to be nominated in recognition of their volunteering support to projects. All nominees will also be recognised as a ‘Local Hero’ and receive a certificate and hoodie for their contribution to volunteering.
3

All volunteers have the opportunity to access training and nationally recognised sports coaching qualifications through their involvement in the volunteer programme. Project leaders/managers can support volunteers to identify potential training opportunities for volunteers to access and apply to StreetGames for funding support.
Through their involvement in StreetGames, volunteers have access to potential routes into employment. In gaining experience, training and recognised qualifications, volunteers can be prepared through support and guidance into local employment opportunities.
9. Resolving Problems
The relationship between the local StreetGames Project and its volunteers is entirely voluntary and does not imply any contract. However, it is important that the organisation is able to maintain its agreed standards of service to the clients who use it, and it is also important that volunteers should enjoy making their contribution to StreetGames.
If your role as a volunteer does not meet with the organisation’s standards, here is how it will be dealt with:
1.
Initially with a meeting with the Volunteer Co-ordinator/Project Manager who will explain the concerns.
2.
If this does not resolve the concern then a meeting with a member of the
StreetGames Young Volunteers Programme staff will be convened.
3.
If the volunteer’s work still does not meet with StreetGames standards then that individual’s role within the Project shall be stopped.
At all times volunteers will be able to freely state their case and can have a friend to accompany them.
If volunteers are dissatisfied with any aspect of their time within a local StreetGames
Project, they should:
1.
Initially explain their dissatisfaction with the Volunteer Coordinator/Project
Manager
2.
If that does not resolve the concern then a meeting with a member of staff from the StreetGames Young Volunteer Programme should be arranged
3.
If after this, the volunteer’s dissatisfaction remains unresolved, and the local
StreetGames Project is unable to resolve the grievance, then it would be inappropriate for the individual’s volunteering to continue.
10. StreetGames Employee Volunteering
StreetGames UK Ltd recognises the contribution that volunteers make to the community and are committed to providing opportunities for members of staff (who have passed their probationary period) to engage in volunteering activities that will benefit the local community. Volunteering provides opportunities for employees to contribute to their local community and in doing so, build relationships, increase
4

confidence and acquire new skills which will benefit them, their team, and their community.
The purpose of this policy and procedure is to outline the organisation’s approach to employee volunteering and the procedure that managers and employees need to follow to agree time off for volunteering.
Employees can request a maximum of 2 days (one paid and one unpaid – this will be pro rata for non-full time members of staff) away from work to carry out a voluntary service of their choice. To request this time employees must put a proposal in writing to their designated line manager. This proposal must include the following:
 Start and Date of opportunity
 Total number of days (1 work day = 7 hours)
 Host Organisation of the opportunity
 Description of the activities taking place
 If applicable - cover required whilst the employee is away from work
Proposals must be put in writing to the employees designated line manager at least
4 weeks prior to the volunteering opportunity. The approval for this will be made by the line manager in consultation with the head of Human Resources.
Travel costs will not be reimbursed by StreetGames, however volunteers may be reimbursed reasonable out of pocket expenses brought about through their volunteering by the organisation for whom the employee is volunteering.
Employees who will be working with children and/or vulnerable adults may be eligible for a disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check before commencing any voluntary work. This will be the responsibility of the volunteer organisation to arrange although StreetGames may carry out the check as an ‘umbrella body’.
Whilst StreetGames encourages employees to undertake volunteering activities, it cannot accept responsibility for insuring them when engaged on activities with other organisations. Individuals must therefore ensure that they are adequately covered by their chosen voluntary organisation.
Wherever possible all effort will be made to accommodate requests but they cannot be guaranteed.
5