Our Mission & Values
The International Voluntary Service is on a mission to promote peace,
About IVS
The International Voluntary Service is a peace organisation working for the sustainable development of local and global communities throughout the world. We are a leading charity which has existed since 1931, involving volunteers in international exchanges at home and abroad (international voluntary projects). IVS is a member of Service Civil International (SCI), a worldwide network of like-minded branches and partner organisations supporting the mutual exchange of volunteers to work on projects of direct benefit to local communities.
Our Values
Service
We believe volunteering fosters locally led action for social change, and in turn supports behavioural change, by challenging negative social attitudes.
Respect
We respect and value all those that we work with, we listen to others and value diversity. We show consideration for others and recognise each other’s differences and rights. We celebrate differences in nationality, ethnicity, gender and background.
Integrity
We act with integrity at all times and take responsibility for using our resources efficiently. We never compromise our reputation and are transparent and accountable to volunteers, members, partners and all key stakeholders. The safety, security and physical and emotional health of our volunteers is a key priority.
Collaboration
We communicate effectively and openly and work collaboratively with people and organisations.
Innovation
We are open to new ideas, embrace change, and take disciplined risks to develop sustainable solutions for peace and justice.
Our Strategy
We want to ensure that we deliver quality and meaningful activities and can demonstrate the impact of our work to our key stakeholders. IVS will continue to build on our experience, our knowledge and expertise to build a portfolio of projects that support the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
In 2015, governments around the world signed up to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Specifically, Goal 16 is dedicated to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, the provision of access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions at all levels. For the goals to be reached everyone needs to do their part, and to reflect this the SDGs will continue to influence the strategy at IVS.
Our Primary Objectives
- We will develop more and better volunteering opportunities
We will do this by:
•Creating volunteer opportunities, for all members of society, that promote personal development, social service and intercultural understanding
•Providing mutual support through the exchange of volunteers across partner organisations
•Striving to ensure that opportunities are accessible to all members of society of new partners both at home and abroad
•Aiming to break down perceived barriers to volunteering by offering a range of opportunities for both skilled and unskilled volunteers that ensure lasting long-term benefit to local communities
•Strengthening relationships with existing partners and developing a network of new partners both at home and abroad
•Enhancing the capacity of our local and international partners working in cooperation with local communities
•Identifying projects with clearly defined needs and measurable, sustainable outcomes that we can monitor and evaluate
- We will manage our charity as effectively & efficiently as possible
We will do this by:
•Developing and implementing operational processes that enable the International Voluntary Service staff, volunteers, trustees and members to carry out their roles effectively and efficiently
•Implementing robust monitoring and evaluation procedures to enable us to continually learn and improve the quality and impact of the work of both IVS and our partners at home and abroad
•Developing and implementing a diverse income generation strategy that addresses the changing funding infrastructure and landscape in the UK and Europe and that enables us to deliver our strategic priorities in ways that can be sustained beyond 2020
•Engaging our members, staff, trustees and volunteers in raising the profile of the International Voluntary Service through a programme of fundraising, marketing and awareness building activities
•Researching and collating the history of IVS to affirm our strengths and inform our future direction
