b'Member News July 2021 25VolunteersThe Volunteer Engagement Strategy the final piece in the IET volunteer jigsaw The Volunteer EngagementThe Volunteer Support Working Party (VSWP) used the consultation feedback Strategy (VES) is takingto develop five principles that define our commitment to our volunteer base shape nicely, based onand form the backbone of the draft VES. Heres what we aim to do.input from our volunteers1. Provide a global Volunteering Home for Lifearound the world. This includes learning and development opportunities; succession planning for volunteer roles; setting out a pathway to governance; creating a community; and After researching volunteer bestcelebrating success.practice at other institutions, Head of Volunteer Support, Katherine2. Provide the right opportunities for new volunteers and volunteer-facing Bunting, recognised the need forstaff, to help grow our reach in depth and breadthus to introduce a VES that clearlyThis is about effective One Team working between volunteers and staff; enabling defined the volunteer purpose,volunteers to develop and grow; engaging more young professionals, to even out what volunteers do and how theythe volunteer age profile; and making employers appreciate the mutual benefits of engage with the IET and each other. volunteering.Katherine said: For the strategy to be effective, it had to be driven3. Raise the profile of our volunteers and volunteer-facing staff to their by our volunteers, so we spoke topeers and other stakeholdersvarious IET volunteer committees,Our volunteers dont necessarily want recognition, but they do want to understand groups, panels, Boards and Council;the impact of their efforts beyond their own area, so we will publish more success and we placed notifications instories, share them more widely and reward outstanding volunteer contribution.Volunteer Update. We also used our regular Town Hall meetings to seek4. Be a recognised leader in volunteering managementstaff views. We then surveyed allWere introducing a consistent approach to volunteering across our various volunteers in Summer 2020, achievingdepartments; every volunteer will have a nominated staff member; and we hope to a record-breaking response. gain accreditation for investing in volunteers.The Working Party is busy5.Provide the tools for volunteers to understand and be committed to our strategies and societal challengesrefining the VES so thatWell be developing new ways to help all our volunteers understand how their role its concise, memorablelinks in to the wider IET strategy and benefits society.and easy to achieve, saidThe IET has always been a It has been great to Katherine. Volunteeringvolunteering home for life forcollaborate with a diverse is the lifeblood of theall of us Young Professionals.group from around the IET. We want our newThe new VES gives us aworld on this engagement bigger purpose on how westrategy, which lays out strategy to help everycan further develop andthe path ahead for the volunteer understandcontribute to the IET, ourIET continuing to work communities and make anin strong partnership how their role fits withinimpact on society.with its volunteers.the IET as a whole. Thats Laura Barrabia Gil MSc(Eng) MIETEur Ing Jim Smith BSc CEng FIET the ultimate goal. Chair of the Young Professionals Committee,Volunteer Support Working PartyVolunteer Engagement Board member,member, Fellow Assessor, Registration Switzerland Local Network committeeAssessor and Professional Reviewmember and Young Professional Ambassador InterviewerFind out more about IET volunteering at theiet.org/volunteering'