How to manage volunteering inclusively

The volunteering  activity of the entities implies the active participation of the citizens in problems that affect different areas of life. The contribution of these people has a positive impact on the rest of society, more or less directly. This contribution is very enriching, but it will be more so the more diverse perspectives  it represents.

Through volunteering, organizations have the possibility of promoting equal opportunities , managing their teams in an inclusive way and establishing practices and protocols that guarantee equal access to their volunteer corps and a welcoming environment in the development of their tasks. 

Inclusive volunteer management promotes the idea that all experiences are valid and that everyone has the ability to help and influence society if they want to. This is why  ECOM has developed the practical guide ' Inclusive Volunteer Management' , the keys to which are set out below, with the aim of helping organisations to apply accessibility in the management of their volunteering.  

About accessibility

A space, good, environment, product or service is accessible when it allows access, understanding, use and enjoyment  in a normal, comfortable, safe and efficient way to all people, without exception. It is a basic right , but even today there are many sectors or spaces where it is not respected, hindering equal opportunities in society.

Furthermore, for organizations, designing a volunteer program with accessibility criteria is not only a matter of rights, but also allows them to expand the audience they are targeting, diversifying it in turn.

According to the ECOM guide, there are three types of accessibility: physical , cognitive , and sensory .  

However, accessibility must be total, that is, the so-called “accessibility chain” cannot be broken , which means that the approach, access, use and exit of any space or enclosure must be possible independently and without interruption . If any of these phases fail, the accessibility chain is broken and the space or service becomes inaccessible.

How to ensure physical accessibility

Physical accessibility refers to the fact that all people can move freely through the space , without barriers that prevent or hinder mobility. In this sense, for an organization's volunteering to be considered physically accessible, its headquarters and the spaces where the activities take place must take into account:

• Architectural barriers : that there are none or that there are resources to overcome them and that these are in good condition.
• The width of the doors : they must measure a minimum of 80cm.
• The organization of  the space : all elements must allow everyone to pass through, allowing the use of the space according to the interests, and not the needs, of each person.
• The height of the objects : they must allow access to everyone, as far as possible.
• Toilets : must allow maneuvering and have supports  .
• Transport : information must be provided on the accessible public transport closest to the action space.

Some resources for cognitive accessibility

That a space or service is cognitively accessible means that the necessary information and instructions are easy to understand, regardless of the way each person understands or processes it. To ensure cognitive accessibility to voluntary activity, these dynamics can be followed:

• Anticipate functions and tasks : detail what the voluntary action will be like with the entire team, offering instructions  in a sequential and progressive manner.
• Use of plain language : avoiding technical words, and using easy-to-read criteria in written communications.
• Reinforce texts with images : This will allow the team to have double cognitive input and better remember the information.
• Sign clearly : in visible spaces at all heights.
• Accompany without overprotecting : you will need to ask the person what they need and act according to their instructions, always respecting each person's learning times  and rhythms. If necessary, you can assign them a mentor to help create a safe space that promotes the person's autonomy.

Working for sensory accessibility

The sensory accessibility of a space or service refers to the fact that communication and perception of information is easy for everyone, accessible under equal conditions. There are some issues that the entity can work on in order to guarantee this type of accessibility in its volunteering:

• Light and sound the spaces well : shadows that hinder visibility must be avoided and the sound must be of good quality.
• Maintain eye contact  and reinforce non-verbal communication:  avoid covering your mouth to facilitate lip reading and complement speech with gestures.
• Subtitling and implementing audio description  and having sign language interpreters  and Braille indications if appropriate and possible.
• Design texts and communications  that facilitate understanding: fonts such as Arial or Helvetica, with a minimum of 12 points, can be useful, and designing communications with high contrast of black on white, too.
• Include the description of the images in the different communications.
• Offer specific instructions:  both regarding information prior to the activity and any changes that occur.

Accessible volunteer plan

All these tools and resources must be applied in a transversal manner. It can help to include accessibility in the organization's own volunteer plan , guaranteeing accessibility in all phases of volunteer management.

The resource ' Guide to making an accessible volunteer plan ', from Xarxanet, includes the keys to doing this, taken from the guide ' How to make your volunteer plan accessible' , from the Catalan Federation of Social Volunteering (FCVS) .