Rewarding volunteers: A study of participant responses to the assessment and accreditation of volunteer learning

Abstract

This article is concerned with the assessment and accreditation of learning for volunteers in the United Kingdom. It acknowledges the perceived need for training in the voluntary sector, but presents evidence that many volunteers are not motivated by the need to obtain qualifications. The study outlines the current policy context for the trend towards providing certificated training for volunteers and identifies four accredited training schemes, each sharing the same completion and retention dilemmas. Values distinctive to volunteering are discussed and evaluated in the context of economic prosperity and educational expectations.