2.+Volunteer+and+User+Policy

=__**2. Volunteer and User Policy**__ = **__2.1 Volunteer Policy__** **__2.2 Volunteer Use of the Collection__** **__2.3 Public Use of the Collection__** Sharing of all necessary information in the running of the centre must be ensured. Equal opportunities and diversity within the role of the volunteer must also be upheld. Volunteers must be considerate of individual roles and duties within the make-up of the centre and respect that all volunteers are fit for purpose.
 * __2.1 Volunteer Policy__**

Opportunities must be provided for volunteers to allow them growth and advancement within the working environment of the centre. As opening hours of the centre are few, a best practice in how to acutely divide this time into relevant volunteer action should be implemented. Duties, roles, menial tasks and more, should be decided upon in response to this small window of opening time. Above all, delegation is paramount to the operation of the centre. Volunteers should use their time effectively and not rely solely on the Head Volunteer to facilitate all roles where they themselves could be useful.

Volunteers must be provided with access to volunteering opportunities that are fulfilling and engaging, contribute to the development of the centre itself and the betterment of the service provided within the centre. Volunteers must be able to work in an environment in which they feel respected for the time and effort they contribute. Volunteer management must be in place to ensure that the heritage centre is a service which best facilitates its visitors.

As with all workplaces, an understanding of those involved becomes central to the success of all relationships, such as those between Head Volunteer and volunteers, volunteers and service and so on. Volunteers’ values and motivations should be respected and ingratiated into the ethos of the centre in order to ensure a positive and rewarding public service. The entire premise of volunteerism is to contribute to the effectiveness of the centre, reach its goals, facilitate an efficient user-friendly service and provide a rewarding environment where all parties considered are satisfied with the end-product. The level of volunteer access to the collection has to be determined by the Head Volunteer and all volunteers must receive appropriate training before they are allowed to handle artefacts and specimens. The Rothwell Heritage Centre is committed to the long-term preservation of artefacts and specimens in its collection and therefore aims to maintain a secure environment. The Centre provides access to its collection through exhibitions, programmes, events, publications, collection records, research files, visual resources, and consultation with the volunteers. The centre also recognises, however, the importance of public access to the collections not currently on display. The Head Volunteer must approve all requests for special access and will arrange supervised access to the specified objects and records. All requests will be dealt with on a case by case basis and access is generally provided to anyone who can demonstrate a need. Rothwell Heritage Centre reserves the right to charge a ‘service fee’ and in all instances the Centre has to be credited for the use of its collection.
 * __2.2 Volunteer Use of the Collection__**
 * __2.3 Public Use of the Collection__**

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