CSV works in partnership with public libraries to help them establish, enhance and manage their volunteering programmes. 

Whether you wish to review your existing volunteer activities or would like to establish a new volunteer programme across your entire library service, CSV has a team of experts who can provide a range of support services to help you. Examples of support include:

Establishing new volunteering activities

Not sure where to start to set up volunteer activities in your library service?  CSV can provide you with ideas and informaiton about volunteering activities that work, how to get started, where to find volunteers and how to retain your volunteers once you have recruited them.

Reviewing existing volunteer programmes

Volunteer numbers dwindling? Are you getting the most from your volunteers? CSV can help you review your existing volunteering programme to see how you can get more from your volunteers and demonstrate how your volunteers add value to your service.

Advice on recruiting and managing volunteers

Want to recruit more volunteers from a particular demographic group? Worried your volunteer group is not effectively managed? Do you understand the benefits of an induction process? With over 40 years' experience in involving and managing volunteers, CSV can offer expert advice on how to recruit, induct and retain volunteers.

Developing volunteer management systems

There is more to involving volunteers than simply getting them through the door. CSV can help you develop good volunteer management systems, advise you how to track your volunteers and help you support staff to manage volunteers.

Developing volunteer policies and procedures

When should volunteers be reimbursed for out of pocket expenses? Do volunteers have rights and responsibilities? Should risk assessments be carried out on volunteering activities? How do volunteers get matched to a task? Who manages volunteers?

Without clear volunteering policies and procedures, you may find that your volunteering programme is not implemented consistently across the service. Volunteers can be unsure of how they fit into the organisation or staff may not understand what roles volunteers can undertake. 

CSV can help you to ensure that your volunteering programme reflects the latest thinking in volunteer management.

Training for staff to help them work with and manage volunteers

Could you or your staff benefit from information about how to manage volunteers more effectively?  Do you understand how volunteer motivations impact on the recruitment and retention of volunteers? Would you like to learn how the volunteer ethos can add value to your library service? 

CSV has access to qualified and experienced trainers who can develop training to suit your needs. For further information, please email lendingtime@csv.org.uk.

Institute for Advanced Volunteer Management (IAVM)

CSV also offers leading edge, advanced-level training in all aspects of volunteer management and volunteer programme management through its Institute for Advanced Volunteer Management. Click here for details of forthcoming training events.

Managing your volunteer programme
through CSV

You can also contract out your volunteer management to CSV who will take care to design and manage a volunteer programme that meets your requirements. Library services who currently utilise CSV's project management services include Kent and Southampton.

Why choose CSV?

CSV has over 40 years' experience of working with local communities and draws upon its unrivalled experience of innovation and management of volunteering.

• Lending Time has delivered outstanding results for library services. Click here to read the external evaluation report on CSV's Lending Time by Shared Intelligence
• CSV combines a unique knowledge of volunteering in libraries with state of the art volunteer management solutions
• Lending Time operates in a number of locations across the country (see above) and provides opportunities for networking with other library volunteering programmes
• CSV values diversity and actively seeks to engage people from a range of backgrounds and community groups
• CSV believes partnership working is integral to the future of library services
• CSV has offices and staff around the UK and draws upon its extensive networks to add value to its partner organisations

Consultancy services are individually tailored to the needs of your organisation. An initial consultation meeting is free. For more information, please contact:

Arnie Wickens
Director, CSV Consulting
CSV, 237 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9NJ
Tel: 020 7643 1402 / Fax: 020 7278 2864
Email: lendingtime@csv.org.uk

Click here for further information on CSV's consultancy service.

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