Peabody has become the first large housing association to achieve the Investing in Volunteers Quality Standard, recognising the excellent work it does with volunteers.
Duncan Clelland, Peabody Community Development Manager, said:
“We’re immensely proud that Peabody has been recognised for the quality of its volunteering programme, which we've developed to give more Londoners opportunities to improve their skills and to help make a difference in their community.
"We see having a Peabody home as a springboard into opportunity and we're committed to working closely with our partners in neighbourhoods to help London flourish.”
Investing in Volunteers is the UK quality standard for all organisations involving volunteers. It is unique in that it is the only standard that focuses on volunteers. Managed by the UK Volunteering Forum and delivered in England by Volunteering England, it is based on four areas of volunteer management:
- planning for volunteer involvement
- recruiting volunteers
- selecting and matching volunteers
- supporting and retaining volunteers.
Peabody was assessed by Volunteering England against a range of best practice standards and proved to excel in all aspects of working with its volunteers.
"Volunteering England is delighted that Peabody is leading the way in showing their commitment to good practice in involving and managing volunteers. By becoming the first large Housing Association to achieve Investing in Volunteers (IiV) Quality Accreditation, Peabody is truly demonstrating a culture that values their volunteers.
"With over 600 organisations now having achieved Investing in Volunteers throughout the UK, the standard continues to go from strength to strength."
Peabody’s volunteering programme is part of its wider community regeneration programme, which provides a wide range of services and activities to help people into work and training, to provide IT access and skills, to ensure active healthy lifestyles, and to ensure no one, young or old, is isolated or alone.
Peabody currently has around 250 volunteers who participate in a wide range of community-led activities that benefit local people.
More than 700 volunteers have taken part Peabody's community work since 2007.
In the last 15 years, Peabody has helped more than 15,000 people gain qualifications and guided 3,500 into work. One of London's oldest and largest community regeneration agencies, Peabody provides housing for more than 55,000 Londoners, and owns and manages over 20,000 homes on 219 estates across the capital.
We are celebrating our 150th anniversary in 2012 with activities planned to take place at Westminster Abbey, the Royal Albert Hall and across Peabody's estates.
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