Step 6:

Ask all applicants to give the names of two suitable referees

References are useful in that they help to give a further perspective on the suitability of the applicant.

Guidance given by Volunteer Development Scotland in Engaging Volunteers: A Good Practice Guide states that volunteers should be asked to consider very carefully the individuals whom they ask to be referees.

As with paid posts, it is not acceptable to use family members and not always appropriate to insist on a current or previous employer.

Suitable referees can be (for example) those who have knowledge of an individual’s working relationship with children and young people and those who have supervised an individual’s work (including voluntary work).

It is also important that volunteers and paid staff are informed about how information given in references will be used. This information is confidential and should be managed in accordance with the Data Protection principles.

See toolkit templates for an example of a reference request form which organisations may like to use for requesting references.

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