This document is an agreement between Roehampton Students’ Union (RSU) Volunteering and the organisations wishing to recruit student volunteers through this service. It details the specific roles and responsibilities which should be adhered to which ensures an effective partnership between these two parties.
RSU agrees to:
- Provide a professional service where RSU advertises opportunities on behalf of the organisation to RSU members once provider submissions have been approved
- Promote your volunteering opportunity through our online Volunteering module to University of Roehampton students that are registered to be notified of volunteering opportunities
- Outline the benefits of volunteering generally as an extracurricular activity to RSU members and the student body of University of Roehampton
- Provide the opportunity for students to receive an award for volunteering through RSU generally
- To mediate any dispute between you and any RSU member volunteering with you if requested by your organisation and the volunteer
- Answer any questions or queries your organisation and volunteers may have
- Meet with you to discuss the work or your organisation and its volunteer needs where requested
RSU members agree to:
- Undertake the role with enthusiasm and within an ethos of reflective practice
- Treat others with dignity and respect
- Complete induction activities and mandatory training relevant to your role
- Abide organisational agreements and policies of your provider
- Maintain good communication with your provider and notify us of any issues promptly, which includes but is not limited to ability to commit to the role due to change in circumstance
- Put your studies first and say ‘no’ to unrealistic requests
- Uphold and contribute to the mission, vision, and values of the provider
- Avoid bringing the organisation into disrepute
Providers agree to:
- Make every effort to ensure RSU members have a positive and rewarding experience volunteering for your organisation
- Provide opportunities that are appropriate for RSU members to undertake alongside their studies, that do not replace paid roles
- Acknowledge and accept RSU members may need to change volunteering hours to fit in with their study commitments
- Contact RSU members who apply for roles within 7 working days of receiving their application
- Take responsibility for ascertaining an RSU members’ suitability for the role
- Responsible for seeking references for an RSU member to commence the role, where needed
- Acknowledge RSU cannot guarantee personal or professional credibility of a member
- To have a named person responsible for the supervision and support of volunteers
- Provide an induction for new volunteers and full training as necessary
- Take responsibility for volunteers being made aware of and trained on policies and procedures that apply to them
- Take responsibility for paying volunteers’ reasonable out of pocket expenses
- Undertake DBS checks and provide safeguarding briefing where necessary
- Ensure staff supporting volunteers are made aware of this agreement
- Follow your own safeguarding policy but inform RSU as soon as possible if a safeguarding issue arises
- To have a health and safety policy and to ensure appropriate risk assessments are carried out
- Have an equal opportunities statement or policy
- Have an up-to-date GDPR policy that is compliant with national legislation
- Have suitable and up-to-date liability insurance
- Inform RSU of any problems you may experience with an RSU members’ volunteering
- Inform RSU of volunteer stories and maintain good contact with our staff team