National Occupational Standards
The UK Workforce Hub (previously VSNTO) is one of a network of National Training Organisations (NTOs), recognised by government. In June 2002 they produced a report on volunteer management standards that highlights the management competencies needed for effective management of volunteers. These were ratified during January 2005 and published as the Management Of Volunteers National Occupational Standards (NOS).

At AM Training we have created the Volunteer Management Professional Training Programme around these standards.

Here is a ten page overview of the National Occupational Standards.

Click here to download (209kb PDF file)

The Training Process - Commissioning AM Training to deliver training
The training process is, ideally, cyclical. There is a process which includes identifying training needs and reviewing success - both of which are an important aspect of providing relevent and effective training. We have created this document to support those who intend commissioning us to deliver bespoke, inhouse training.

Click here to download (92kb PDF file)

Volunteer Management Skills Self Assessment
This self assessment utilises the key skills and competences (elements) detailed in the Management Of Volunteers National Occupational Standards (NOS). It enables those who manage volunteers to clarify their strengths and identify training and development needs. Each course in our Core Skills Programme is referenced to the NOS. This enables those who manage volunteers to easily identify which of our Core Skills Programme courses are most relevant to their training and development needs.

Click here to download (122kb PDF file)

Thinking About Diversity And Equality - A comprehensive booklet by Adam May
"Diversity" has become a buzzword: the kind of fuzzy, feel good word that gets incorporated into funding bids and annual reports. All sections of society are being encouraged by government to embrace diversity and it seems natural for us in the voluntary sector to be especially committed to it.
Whilst diversity seems to be a word on everyone's lips, not everyone understands what it means, or how to make it a reality. If we are to embrace diversity as a core value then we need to rescue it from unthinking acceptance and promote it for what it is: an idea which could promote a social revolution....

Evaluation Sheet
Here is a copy of the basic training evaluation sheet we use on volunteer management training courses. It draws upon the many sheets we have seen used over the years. All feedback and suggestions for other questions gratefully accepted.

Click here to download (70kb PDF file)

Diversity Exercise

This activity can be used with any group of people as a way of raising diversity issues in an amusing way and is featured on the Diversity Challenge web site.
The fictional case studies seem quite ridiculous at first and this helps people to relax so that they are more open about their assumptions around diversity issues.
The value of the exercise is that it puts people in the position of being in a group which is oppressed and devalued. For some people this will be a novel experience, for others it will be painfully familiar. The activity raises the issue of self oppression very effectively.

"I do a one day session on 'Valuing Diversity' for the volunteers and use your Tree Lover/Martian exercise (with due acknowledgement of course). It's excellent and always works a treat!
Thanx. Best Wishes"
Lin Hankinson
Volunteer Coordinator
Lighthouse Project

Click here to download (105kb PDF file)

Volunteering Magazine Articles

Adam May contributes regular articles to Volunteering Magazine, several of which you can download here:

The Emotionally Intelligent Volunteer Manager: The ability to get the best from yourself and others is key to managing volunteers. Adam May explains how the notion of emotional intelligence can help us develop a range of essential skills...

Click here to download (1.1MB PDF file)

Making Everyone Feel At Home: In this, the first of two articles, Adam May explains what diversity means and how it differs from equal opportunities...

Click here to download (1.3MB PDF file)

The Last Taboo: Adam May considers the question, "Would you place a volunteer whose name appears on the register of sex offenders?"...

Click here to download (1.2MB PDF file)

The Motivation Thing: Nobody likes hard work, not even the hard workers. So how do the hard workers get themselves going so effectively while the rest of us make hard work all th harder by procrastinating and avoiding getting stuck in?...

Click here to download (1.2MB PDF file)

Many more articles can be found on our 'Articles' page

Click here for 2008 VE Conference Workshop files

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