Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement

The Code has three important elements:

1. Values for Volunteer Involvement

• Volunteer involvement is vital to a just and democratic society.
• It fosters civic responsibility, participation and interaction.
• Volunteer involvement strengthens communities.
• It promotes change and development by identifying and responding to community needs.
• Volunteer involvement mutually benefits both the volunteer and the organization.
• It increases the capacity of organizations to accomplish their goals, and provides volunteers with opportunities to develop and contribute.
• Volunteer involvement is based on relationships.
• Volunteers are expected to act with integrity and be respectful and responsive to others with whom they interact.

2. Guiding Principles for Volunteer Involvement

• Voluntary organizations recognize that volunteers are a vital human resource and will commit to the appropriate infrastructure to support volunteers.
• The organization’s practices ensure effective volunteer involvement. The organization commits to providing a safe and supportive environment for volunteers.
• Volunteers make a commitment and are accountable to the organization.
• Volunteers will act with respect for beneficiaries and community. Volunteers will act responsibly and with integrity.

3. Organization Standards for Volunteer Involvement

• The board of directors and senior management acknowledge and support the vital role of volunteers in achieving the organization’s purpose or mission.
• Policies and procedures are adopted by the organization to provide a framework that defines and support the involvement of volunteers.
• A qualified person is designated to be responsible for the volunteer program.
• A clearly communicated screening process is consistently applied.
• Volunteer assignments address the purpose of the organization and involve volunteers in meaningful ways, reflecting their various abilities, needs and backgrounds.
• Volunteer recruitment and selection reaches out to diverse sources of volunteers.
• Volunteers receive an orientation to the organization, its policies and procedures and receive training for their volunteer assignment.
• Volunteers receive appropriate levels of supervision according to their task and are given regular opportunities to receive and give feedback.
• Volunteers are welcomed and treated as valuable and integral members of the organization’s human resources.
• The contributions of volunteers are regularly acknowledged with formal and informal recognition methods.