Yorkshire Ambulance Service successfully renews Investing in Volunteers accreditation

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (YAS) has successfully renewed its Investing in Volunteers (IiV) accreditation - the UK quality standard for good practice in volunteer management.

Assessed in six quality areas, the Trust had to demonstrate: vision for volunteering; planning for volunteers; volunteer inclusion; recruiting and welcoming volunteers; supporting volunteers; and valuing and developing volunteers.

After completing this quality assurance process, YAS has been added to the list of Investing in Volunteers achievers, illustrating how much the organisation values its volunteers and the incredible contribution they make. Achieving this standard gives volunteers, and potential volunteers, confidence in the Trust’s ability to provide an outstanding volunteer experience.

Some of the developments that have taken place at YAS since its previous IiV assessment in 2020 include:

• The Trust has developed its first Volunteer Development Framework (2023-2026) which sets out the Trust commitment to supporting and enhancing volunteering, recognising the significant benefits volunteering brings to our patients, staff, communities and to volunteers themselves.
• The Patient Transport Service (PTS) volunteering team has expanded with two full-time PTS Volunteer Administrators.
• New smartphones and software were rolled out to Community First Responders (CFRs) in 2022 - the software includes safety features and has received positive feedback from volunteers.

YAS is supported by almost 1,000 volunteers who offer their time to support patients, staff and communities. These include our CFR volunteers, Critical Friends Network (CFN) volunteers, and Patient Transport Service (PTS) volunteers.

Amy Ingham, Volunteer Development Manager at YAS, said: “This assessment has recognised the great work of many colleagues who support our highly valued volunteers. Some of the comments received during the process highlight the progress we’re making.”

Some of the feedback received from YAS volunteers as part of the assessment included:

• “The main benefits to me are it gives me a sense of purpose, we are making a difference and giving people reassurance, and it gives me great pleasure to be helping people.”
• “For me, volunteering has given me an insight into other people’s lives, how they live, and just how lucky I am.”
• “I feel very valued by YAS, it’s great knowing you can speak your mind, that your opinion counts.”

Peter Reading, Chief Executive at Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: “I am really proud of our volunteers and volunteering services, and this accreditation is well-deserved and recognises the great volunteering support we have in YAS.

“Huge thanks go to all those involved, not only in this most recent IiV reaccreditation process, but in the day-to-day support for our volunteering programmes and our volunteers. The dedication from our staff to enable successful, impactful and enjoyable volunteering services has rightly been recognised and the result is enhanced patient care, a better connection to our communities, and happy and healthy volunteers across our communities.

“And, of course, huge thanks to our volunteers who go above and beyond for our patients, who represent YAS so wonderfully, and ultimately make us a better organisation.”

You can find out more about the accreditation on the Investing in Volunteers website, and learn more about volunteering at YAS here.