What this consultation is about
We believe that volunteering is a worthwhile and rewarding experience. It provides an opportunity to get involved in the local community, meet other people and improve health and well-being, as well as helping to gain experience, skills or future employment.
Over the last three years volunteering with the countryside service has generated an average of 4,238 volunteer days per year, with an equivalent value of £875,982 per year. Much of this is from individuals volunteering directly with the service, but a proportion is from community groups working for and on behalf of the service. It is anticipated that this will increase in coming years as, in response to budget reductions ramblers and ‘Friends of’ groups offer to support staff in the management of countryside sites and the public rights of way network.
We have produced this draft policy for working with community groups to provide a consistent approach to any working arrangements that may be agreed between the countryside service and community groups. There are many types of community groups, but for illustrative purposes this policy focuses on just two:
- ‘friends of’ groups
- rights of way groups.
However, the procedures described in the policy are expected to apply to any bespoke working arrangements that are agreed for other groups.
We would welcome your views. Please let us know if you support the development of the policy or have any comments on its contents.