Making Space awarded prestigious Investing in Volunteers Accreditation
Published 3 June 2025
This Volunteers Week, we’re proud to share that this month, Making Space has been awarded the Investing in Volunteers (IiV) accreditation, the UK’s quality standard for volunteer management.
This nationally recognised award is a mark of excellence, highlighting our commitment to best practice in supporting and involving volunteers across the organisation. It not only reflects the strength and structure of our volunteer programme but also reinforces how much we value our volunteers’ contributions. For both current and future volunteers, this accreditation offers reassurance that their time and efforts are recognised, supported and appreciated.
A year-long journey
Our journey toward accreditation began in February 2024 with a comprehensive self-assessment of our volunteer programme. Over the next 12 months, we involved around 34 people – including volunteers, frontline staff, service managers and department heads – in a series of interactive online workshops. Guided by Sue Newberry, our dedicated IiV assessor, participants explored the six core areas of the IiV framework:
- Organisational vision for volunteering
- Planning and recruitment
- Volunteer inclusion
- Support and development
- Recognition
- Ongoing improvement
Each group assessed our current practices, celebrating what we do well and identifying where we could grow. Their feedback informed an Improving Practice Plan, leading to both quick wins – such as refining volunteer materials and launching pulse surveys – and longer-term developments, like the creation of a Volunteer Administration app and staff training focused on working with volunteers.
Many of these actions align with broader organisational goals, including the work of our Equality and Diversity Ambassadors Group and our recent bronze Social Value Accreditation success, which helps us track the impact volunteers have on services, themselves, and the wider community.
In-depth final assessment
In April 2025, the final assessment took place. 27 volunteers, 16 employees, and one trustee from across Making Space services took part in interviews and group sessions. They shared their experiences of volunteering or working alongside volunteers, while senior leaders discussed the strategic role of volunteering within Making Space.
Assessors praised the tangible impact our volunteers have in local communities, our commitment to matching individuals with meaningful roles, and the strong organisational culture and communication that underpin our programme. They also highlighted how deeply embedded volunteering is within the heart of Making Space.
Making Space National Volunteers Co-ordinator, Toni Pike, said:
This has been such a valuable opportunity to pause, reflect, and truly listen to the voices of our volunteers and staff. We’re proud of how far we’ve come and excited to keep building a volunteer programme that’s inclusive, responsive, and makes a real impact.
There’s still more to do — from launching our Volunteer Administration app to strengthening staff training and aligning with wider initiatives like our Equality and Diversity Ambassadors Group — but we’re moving forward with purpose and positivity.
Rachel Peocock, Making Space CEO, added:
Volunteers are the heartbeat of our charity. Their selfless dedication enables us to make a real difference, and we simply couldn’t do it without them. This award is a testament to the organisation-wide commitment to ensuring every volunteer feels welcomed, supported and truly valued. I’m incredibly proud of everyone who contributed to this achievement and deeply grateful to our volunteers for their unwavering loyalty to Making Space.
The Investing in Volunteers assessors recognised that volunteering is at the heart of how we work at Making Space, reflecting our values of Kind Hearts, Dreaming Big, Tailor Making, Having Courage and Being Ready. They praised our inclusive approach, which welcomes people from all walks of life and supports them to get involved in a way that works for them. Our volunteers feel they make a real difference – and we value the unique skills and lived experience they bring.
This is just the beginning of our journey to strengthen and grow the Making Space volunteer programme. At our Celebration of Volunteers event on 4 June at Doncaster Racecourse, we will be launching our Volunteer Engagement Strategy for 2025–26.
The strategy sets out our key commitments to understanding volunteer motivations, providing meaningful opportunities, creating a sense of belonging, and measuring and evaluating impact. These priorities will guide our work over the coming year, helping us to build a volunteer experience that is inclusive, responsive, and truly impactful.
Find out more about Investing in Volunteers at www.investinginvolunteers.co.uk.
Interested in volunteering with Making Space? Click here to find out more and get involved.