These guidelines will take you through the process of involving and supporting volunteers so as to make it a successful partnership. It is hoped that through using these tools you may be able to further develop good practice when working with volunteers whether they be self-help group members, community activists or volunteers. (From now on they will be referred to as volunteers).

As there are no hard and fast rules when working with volunteers, the guide tries to give an overview to help your group or organisation work more effectively with volunteers. The guide is not in anyway intended to set up a particular set of principles which all groups or organisations have to follow but rather to inform those who are working with volunteers of legislation and good practice.

You may already follow many of these guidelines, but remember that new development takes time. What is important is that all volunteers are involved in and kept constantly informed about the structures, policies and decision making of the groups or organisations they are involved in.