Dublin Cycling Campaign (DCC) is a membership organization composed almost entirely of volunteers. Having a Volunteer Policy in place helps ensure that DCC runs effectively and is compliant with the Governance Code. In the Volunteer Policy below, the term DCC refers to the DCC Committee (see https://www.dublincycling.com/cycling/who-are-dublin-cycling-campaign).

Dublin Cycling Campaign offers accessible written procedures outlining how volunteers are recruited, supported and supervised. We ask volunteers to let us know if they are leaving us, as we welcome feedback on your experience with the campaign.

Volunteers are a valuable resource. DCC recognises that:

• Volunteering is a two-way relationship, one that should benefit both the volunteer and the organisation
• DCC exists through voluntary effort, and its most important asset is the willingness of people to contribute time and energy to the work of the organisation;
• People have varying capacity and free time to give to community effort. Acknowledging this, our volunteer policy will encourage and support the creation of volunteer roles that have various levels of involvement and time spans.

DCC endeavours to implement good practice in volunteer management. We aim to train, support and supervise our volunteers to the best of our abilities, and to act quickly and fairly if difficulties arise.

Recruitment

DCC invites and encourages people to volunteer through word of mouth, via our website and monthly newsletter and via other online channels.

DCC welcomes volunteers from diverse backgrounds and aims to treat all volunteers fairly and without discrimination.

DCC does not have the capacity to work with volunteers who are under the age of 18. However, children are welcome to attend and help out at events if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

SUPPORT AND TRAINING

All volunteers are briefed on their roles by a member of the committee and are encouraged to avail of further training and development opportunities where feasible. Volunteers are encouraged to identify training courses, seminars, conferences, and so on, which would help them to perform their roles better and which would aid their personal development. The campaign, mainly through their membership of The Wheel (https://www.wheel.ie/) will pay for training courses, where appropriate and where funding permits.

SUPERVISION

Lines of communication should operate in both directions and should exist formally and informally. Volunteers must have access to all appropriate information, materials and meetings relevant to their assignments. Volunteers must be consulted on all decisions that substantially affect their volunteering roles.

WHEN A PROBLEM ARISES

When a problem or issue arises, either through:

• A complaint by a volunteer
• A complaint about a volunteer
• Where the volunteer doesn’t suit the role/organisation

The issue should be brought to the attention of any member of the Board (see https://www.dublincycling.com/cycling/who-are-dublin-cycling-campaign). The Board will respond promptly and deal with the issue in a manner that takes account of the scale of the problem and the sensitivities of those directly involved.

VOLUNTEERS RESPONSIBILITIES

Volunteers are asked to

1. Respect the values and aims of the campaign
2. Be reliable and give sufficient warning if unable to turn up
3. Treat other members of the campaign with respect
4. Maintain the confidentiality of any privileged information to which they are exposed.

DISMISSAL

Volunteers may be dismissed if they act in a way that is contrary to the policies of the campaign. No volunteer’s involvement will be terminated until the volunteer has had an opportunity to discuss the reasons for possible dismissal with a member of the Board.