Members like you, who give their time and energy to support CIH’s mission, help us make sure that we are the professional body that the sector deserves.
The broad spectrum of volunteer groups at CIH meets many different needs for our members, and each group requires a different level of commitment from its volunteers.
Each group has a unique method of functioning, so when you get started as a volunteer it’s important that you know what to expect. If your volunteer group has specific Terms of Reference, these can be found in your group’s Volunteer Pack area.
This section will give you general guidance about:
What can volunteers expect?
By participating in one of our volunteer groups, you can expect:
- Support from a designated CIH officer: the work of a volunteer group is most effective when member volunteers and colleagues each contribute to the delivery of completed work, with the experience and resources of both parties complementing each other
- The opportunity to feed directly into CIH strategy
- Support to carry out volunteer member activities: if relevant, please read the Member Engagement Toolkit in your Volunteer Pack for more information
- Support with expenses, where required: please head to the Volunteer finances and expenditure section for more information
- Opportunities to input into conference programme content
- Member volunteer networking and best practice sharing opportunities.
What can CIH expect?
CIH members undertake voluntary group work as volunteers and their personal contributions are accepted in that light. However, as a CIH volunteer, we expect you to:
- Be an ambassador for CIH. The majority of volunteer groups require you to be a current member of CIH; this will be in your group’s Terms of Reference where appropriate
- Support the aims, values and objectives of CIH
- Agree to comply with the CIH governing document, code of conduct and code of ethics. These can be found in your Volunteer Pack
- Understand the role and purpose of a professional body
- Be committed to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion
- Contribute to nurturing an open and collaborative culture with your – and other – CIH volunteer groups
- Support the volunteer group lead and contribute effectively to delivery of the group’s functions
- Respect CIH policy positions and adhere to guidance on communications.
If your volunteer group holds meetings, it is expected that CIH volunteers will:
- Attend a minimum of 50% of meetings throughout the calendar year. For any meetings not attended, volunteers should provide input via comments to the group lead or another attendee
- Be familiar with decisions made at previous meetings, and the agenda and any papers sent to them for the current meeting
- Complete agreed actions to progress work between meetings
- Alert the volunteer group lead or designated CIH officer about any concerns that meetings are ineffective, or their potential contributions are not being used.
It is good practice for the volunteer group to nominate a member to minute the meeting. A clear and accurate account of the meeting, including decisions and actions agreed, must be documented.
Making a complaint about CIH member conduct
Volunteers, and CIH members more widely, are expected to uphold our code of conduct. CIH has a responsibility to maintain professional standards in the housing industry and within our organisation.
If you encounter questionable conduct from a CIH member or fellow volunteer in the course of your volunteering with CIH, then we have a robust complaints process that can be followed.
You can find more information about this here.
Conflicts of interest
Most of our member volunteers will work in the housing sector and, as such, there are a range of potential conflicts of interest that may arise while volunteering with CIH.
A conflict of interest is any situation in which a member volunteer’s personal interests, or responsibilities they owe to another body, may influence or appear to influence CIH’s decision-making process, or may conflict with CIH’s interests.
Such conflicts may create problems, such as:
- Inhibiting free discussion
- Resulting in decisions or actions that are not in the interests of CIH
- Giving the impression that CIH has acted improperly.
If you have a conflict of interest, it is likely you will still be able to proceed with the volunteer group so long as it's declared, as mitigations can be put in place if needed.
As the potential for conflicts to arise is broad, you're required to identify conflicts of interest when they do, or when there is the possibility for them to, and notify your designated CIH officer. You will be asked to give any details required to enable the right help and advice to be provided, to protect both yourself and CIH.
A Conflict of Interest form is available within your volunteer group’s Volunteer Pack.
Governing Board exception
All Trustees and delegated board members are asked to complete a Conflict of Interest form on an annual basis, on which they identify other positions and responsibilities they hold. In addition, they are asked to update those details from time to time as other relevant circumstances arise.
“Declarations of interest” will be a standing item on all board meeting agendas and any interests declared must be recorded in the minutes of the meeting, together with any action agreed by the board.
Recruiting to volunteer groups
Volunteer groups should be large enough to cover the necessary range of interests and competences, and to ensure continuity of work plans, but small enough to ensure responsibilities are accepted personally. More specific guidance on recruitment is available for CIH Governing Board and Committees.
For volunteer groups, recruitment should be carried out in alignment with clear group role descriptions and a skills matrix for the group in question. Where relevant, group members should work with their designated CIH officer to complete a skills matrix and identify the skills to recruit for.
Recruitment meetings should take place with interested candidates to assess suitability for the role. Volunteer appointments should be made by the designated CIH officer for the group and the group lead and/or vice lead.
