Involving Young Volunteers InYour Organisation – Information for Organisations

Young People are a real asset as volunteers, and the skills and energy they bring can really benefit your organisation. The information and resources below will provide a comprehensive framework to help you be legally compliant and provide a safe and stimulating volunteer opportunity for young people.

When planning to involve young volunteers 14+ in your work,consider the following:

  • Write an appropriate role description: consider the activities you deliver and where the energy and enthusiasm of a young person would be best used. Consider the appropriateness of the venue and the task. Young volunteers should not be expected to volunteer on their own with a beneficiary.Providing training support and supervision is essential.
  • Nominated person: Identify someone responsible for the volunteer both within the organisation and on site when the young person is volunteering.
  • Parental permission is required for those 16 or under. Provide a brief description of the activities of your organisation and it beneficiaries, outlining what the young person would be involved with. Include a name and contact at your charity. Request emergency contact details, and obtain signature for agreement. Keep on file, and have available when the young person is volunteering.
  • Check your public liability or employer insurance covers involving a young person. There may be an age limit, which can be adjusted to meet the needs of the young person involved. 14+ issuggested.
  • Risk management: Review your risk management and health and safety to ensure it considers duty of care and safety of young volunteers.
  • Safeguarding: You need to be compliant with legislation, and ensure that you attend to the safeguarding and child protection requirements for young people up to the age of 18.
  • Develop a code of conduct that includes social media, photography and mobile phones, and sets appropriate boundaries relating to the client group.

Below are some resources and information which will help shape your approach.

YORK CVS have produced a fantastic resourceavailable free to download which takes you through what you need to be aware of when involving volunteers.

The Kingston and Richmond Local Safeguarding Children's Board is the independent strategic partnership which has responsibility for ensuring the safety of children and young people across the partnership which includes the local authority, health, the police and the voluntary sector. It has produced an excellent guide which outlines all you need to be aware of in relation tochild protection and safeguarding known as "The Green Book" which can be downloaded for free at

The NSPCC has produced a guide to and a template for safeguarding policy. The key to getting this right is to make sure it is relevant to the activities of your organisation and appropriate and practical for youractivities.

Trustees:The Charity Commission have produced a guide to the responsibilities of trustees for safeguarding children and young people within its organisation’s activities. The guide can be downloaded for free at

The Richmond CVS Volunteer Service offers help and support to Volunteer Involving Organisations (VIOs) across a wide range of topics, and delivers training and regular VIO networks and forums. Contact the Volunteer Service Co-ordinator, Caroline Thorogood, at or call 0208 843 7940.

Prepared by Richmond CVS

November 2016