Pact recognised for the effective involvement of volunteers

Pact is proud to be an Investing in Volunteers (IiV) achiever, having been awarded the quality mark this year for the first time. The standard demonstrates Pact’s commitment to volunteering within the organisation.

Investing in Volunteers is the UK quality standard for all organisations involving volunteers. It aims to improve the quality of the volunteering experience and demonstrates that organisations value the enormous contribution made by their volunteers. Investing in Volunteers is delivered by the national volunteering infrastructure bodies in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Together, they enable organisations across the UK to achieve the award.

Pact was assessed against six quality areas and excelled in all aspects of working with its volunteers. The Chair of UKVF (the Awarding Body) said: "UKVF is delighted to announce Pact's successful achievement of this Award; they have demonstrated a real commitment to volunteering and proven that their volunteer management policies and procedures meet nationally recognised standards."

In the comprehensive report, the assessors highlighted Pact's strengths in understanding the value of volunteering and demonstrating the difference volunteers make to people in prison and their families. Speaking to the assessors, volunteers said:

“It helps me see the reality of the prison system; it has changed my outlook and made me less judgmental; it’s really rewarding helping someone get a fresh start.”
“It’s small things I do, but they can make a difference - making a visitor a cup of tea and chatting to someone so they feel less anxious or playing a game with a child so hopefully they’ll have better memories of their visits when older.”
“Knowing you’re making someone’s visit a little less daunting, being a friendly face when they arrive – that makes me feel good. I always feel volunteering is a good use of my time, so I keep coming back.”

The report also identifies areas for development and improvement in how Pact values, develops and supports volunteers, areas which Pact will work on over the coming years in line with its Vision for Volunteering. The Vision identifies four key areas of focus:

Recruiting volunteers by building bridges, relationships, and partnerships with local communities.
Recruiting and supporting more volunteers with lived experience of the prison system.
Involving volunteers in shaping their experience and the charity’s work.
Delivering a high-quality volunteering experience – part of which includes the recent launch of Pact’s new volunteer management system, Assemble.

Pact’s Head of Volunteering, Stuart Lynch, said: “We are thrilled that Pact has successfully attained the Investing in Volunteers Quality standard for the first time. The achievement results from a tremendous team effort spanning nine months, with 39 volunteers and 16 staff members participating in the final assessment.

“We look forward to celebrating with our teams across Wales and England in the next few months. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed their time and support, enabling us to receive this remarkable recognition. Thank you!"

You can find out more about volunteering for Pact at https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/volunteer/ and apply for roles online.

Pictured: Pact CEO Andy Keen-Downs and Volunteer Administrator Viraj Patel with Pact's Investor's in Volunteers plaque