HEACF: case studies of good practice

Devolved projects

While many HEIs have welcomed the HEACF as a method for directly developing new volunteering projects, a number of other institutions have opted to run slightly different models of programming. The devolved route, or 'bureau' model, plays very much on the relationship-building aspect of the HEACF, with the bureau being perceived as a bridge between the HEI and the local community. The bureau also enables funds to be directly devolved, allowing students or student/community partnerships to form at the most fundamental stage of the project process - its inception.

Other reasons are given for the establishment of such a model:

• already a great diversity of projects in the local area
• HEI offers volunteering opportunities across many different departments, and the bureau is the single promotional arm for these
• builds on existing community programmes, but opens placements to students for the first time
• enables student-led projects
• enables partnerships to be formed from the outset of projects
• places emphasis of local HEACF on building the relationship between HEI and community.

This section looks at the best practice from institutions where responsibility for setting up volunteering programmes is not usually taken on by the manager of the HEACF, but by individuals or local groups. The HEACF provides funding for the brokerage or initiation of these placements and programmes.

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