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Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) Achieves Significant Milestone with 6th IiV Renewal
Today, at Rachel House, representatives from Volunteer Scotland presented Children’s Hospices Across Scotland with their seventh Investing in Volunteers (IiV) Award (sixth renewal).
Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to volunteer excellence by becoming the first charity in the UK to achieve the prestigious IiV award for the seventh time (sixth renewal).
This remarkable accomplishment emphasises CHAS’s dedication to enhancing the volunteer experience and recognising the invaluable contributions of its volunteers.
They have been consistent achievers since the award launched in Scotland in the early 2000’s.
The Investing in Volunteers quality standard
Investing in Volunteers (IiV) is the UK’s quality standard for volunteer management, aiming to improve the quality of the volunteering experience and ensure organisations acknowledge the significant impact of their volunteers.
The rigorous evaluation process for the IiV award involves a thorough assessment of an organisation’s volunteer programme, ensuring it meets high standards of volunteer management and involvement.
CHAS’s achievement is a testament to the essential role volunteers play in supporting the charity’s mission to provide vital hospice services to children and families across Scotland.
CHAS’s milestone achievement
The sixth renewal of the IiV award not only highlights CHAS’s sustained excellence in volunteer management, but also positions them as an exemplary example for other charities in the UK.
By being the first to achieve this milestone, CHAS has set a new standard in the sector, showcasing their innovative and effective volunteer programmes.
CHAS is proud to be the first organisation in the UK to achieve the Investing in Volunteers award seven times. We started the process in 2004 and over the last 20 years IiV has allowed us to make a public commitment to volunteers and high-quality volunteer management. Volunteers enable us to do so much more to support children and families at every stage on the hardest of journeys so it's great to know that we're getting things right for them. The feedback from our Investing in Volunteers Assessor has given us so much to celebrate and many suggestions for how we can make things even better for volunteers over the next three years.
Investing in Volunteers assessor privileged to work with CHAS
Katy Penman, IiV Assessor for CHAS, remarked, “It was a privilege to be involved in CHAS’s most recent assessment as their Investing in Volunteers assessor.
“I met with volunteers who had been part of the organisation from its inception, right through to those who have joined in more recent times.
“It’s a testament to how much CHAS values and supports its volunteers that they have sought re-accreditation every three years for almost two decades now.
“They’ve acted on feedback and maintained good practice as part of their commitment to continuous improvement and providing a high-quality experience for children and families, as well as the volunteers and staff who support them.
“Well done to everyone involved, and best wishes for the next three years!”
Supported by Volunteer Scotland
Alan Stevenson, Volunteer Scotland CEO, who leads on IiV in Scotland, added, “Achieving the IiV award for the seventh time is an exceptional accomplishment. CHAS has established a high standard in volunteer management and engagement, showcasing best practices that other organisations can aim for.
“We hope CHAS’s success will encourage other organisations to pursue IiV accreditation and make meaningful investments in their volunteers.”
What does CHAS do?
CHAS provides hospice services for babies, children, and young people with life-shortening conditions.
CHAS offers palliative care, family respite, and support throughout Scotland, making a profound difference in the lives of those they serve.
The charity’s vision is to reach every family in Scotland that needs their help, ensuring no one faces the death of their child alone.
For more information about CHAS and its services, please visit the CHAS official website.
What is Investing in Volunteers?
Investing in Volunteers is a UK-wide quality standard for organisations that involve volunteers in their work. The standard, managed by the UK Volunteering Forum, sets the benchmark for volunteer management and ensures that volunteers receive the best possible experience.
Organisations achieving this standard have demonstrated a strong commitment to their volunteers, recognising their contributions, and involving them effectively in their work.
There are currently more than 350 IiV Achievers across all levels of renewal UK wide, making CHAS’s achievement even more significant.