VOLUNTEERING

Volunteering activities (Arts Volunteering, Heritage Volunteering and Trails of Discovery) are co-ordinated in the Membership Department which provides overall guidance and support for each of the three disciplines and the volunteer Representatives within them. The Membership Department ensures volunteering projects fulfil The Arts Society’s charitable objects and that the reporting requirements of the Trustee Board and Charities Commission are met.

Each volunteer discipline has a central team led by a Head (also a volunteer) supported by Area Representatives throughout the UK and in Mainland Europe.

Area Volunteering Representatives play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth running and success of the three volunteering disciplines. Their local knowledge, experience and expertise is vital in supporting Societies that take part in the volunteering disciplines. Their enthusiasm and dedication to volunteering is instrumental in encouraging Societies to get involved.

Within the three disciplines, the Area Representative are known as:

Arts Volunteering – Area Arts Volunteering Co-ordinator

Heritage Volunteering – Heritage Volunteering Area Representative Trails of Discovery – Area Trails of Discovery Advisor

Area Volunteering Representatives support local Societies by:

• Helping to identify potential new projects locally;

• Encouraging and supporting new projects;

• In conjunction with the central team, facilitating training for volunteers;

• Offering on-going support for projects in the Area;

• Encouraging co-operation between Societies, not necessarily in the same Area;

• Offering advice about publicising a project.

Working together, the Membership Department, central teams and Area Representatives ensure the smooth running of the Volunteering disciplines throughout the country and Mainland Europe.

Meetings with the Membership Department, the central team of each discipline and Area Representatives are held twice a year where strategy, progress and other issues are discussed. These meetings are there to support the Area Volunteering Representatives and designed to facilitate networking and collaboration between Areas and to share experiences. This is an opportunity to get to know and support each other.

Appointment Of Area Representatives

This is often a collaborative process, and an outgoing Area Representative may find their own successor. They will know the people involved locally and be able to recruit more directly and provide a handover. Alternatively the central Team may know individuals whom they recommend for the role, or an Area Team may identify a suitable candidate.

The Head normally recruits Team members from the Area Representatives.

New Societies

The founding of new Societies is dealt with by the central Support Team. The Support Team Advisor will mentor the Chair and members of the steering committee. Having local knowledge, the Chairman of the Area Support Team (CAST) will be able to advise whether the location identified for a new Society is suitable, will have enough people locally to form a financially viable membership and will not impact adversely on existing Societies. The Support Team Advisor will keep the Chair of the Area Support Team (CAST) updated on the progress being made by the steering committee of the new Society.

The CAST and the local Area Support Team can assist with the formation of a new Society in the following ways:

• Identify locations and venues for potential new Societies;

• Put existing Societies’ minds at rest regarding the impact of a new Society in the Area and encourage co-operation with the new;

• Help promote taster events in their Area;

• Assist at a taster event to help promote the new Society and introduce attendees to the benefits of membership of The Arts Society;

• In the later stages of the formation of the new Society, provide information about the Area and the support the Area Support Team provides after inauguration. The Chair of the new Society’s steering committee should be invited to an Area Meeting in order to meet their colleagues at existing Societies and to feel part of the Area.