The Roger Diamond Foundation
Volunteer Policy
1. Purpose and Scope
Volunteers are vital to delivering our structured supplementary literacy programmes. This policy defines the relationship between the organisation and its volunteers, ensuring a consistent, fair, and supportive experience.
2. Recruitment and Selection
To protect our beneficiaries and maintain programme quality, recruitment follows a structured process:
Application: Prospective teaching and classroom assistant volunteers must complete a standard application form.
Vetting: Candidates must provide two references and successfully clear an Enhanced DBS check.
Matching: The organisation will match volunteers to delivery slots based on their skills, availability, and local capacity (focusing initially on Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea).
3. Induction and Development
The organisation is committed to enabling volunteers to develop valuable skills:
Core Briefing: All volunteers will receive a formal induction covering the literacy framework, safeguarding, health and safety, and data protection rules.
Mentoring: Experienced volunteers or trustees will offer ongoing mentoring and feedback to support teaching confidence and skill development.
4. Code of Conduct and Boundaries
Volunteers must act in accordance with the charity’s values and rules:
Professionalism: Maintain punctuality and adhere to the host venue's visitor rules.
Boundaries: Follow the strict safeguarding rules against lone working or exchanging personal contact details with children or their families.
Expenses: Volunteers may claim reasonable out-of-pocket travel costs incurred during delivery, subject to submitting valid receipts and receiving trustee approval.
5. Problem Solving and Ending the Relationship
Support: If a volunteer experiences difficulties, they should raise them with their designated mentor or trustee as early as possible.
Termination: The organisation reserves the right to end a volunteer placement if a volunteer breaches the safeguarding code of conduct, fails vetting, or acts against the interests of the charity. Either party may end the volunteering arrangement at any time by giving reasonable notice.
Adopted on: 24th July 2026
Next Review Date: 24th July 2027
