Launching our new Supporting our Volunteers Checklist
We are excited to launch our new Supporting our Volunteers Checklist – refreshing the way we support volunteers with adjustments and promoting inclusion.
We want all RNLI volunteers to feel supported to share any changes to their health or circumstances, and when they might need additional support. We also want to make sure that volunteer managers have all the information they need to support volunteers with reasonable adjustments and feel confident about having sensitive conversations.
Supporting our volunteers
To support our volunteers, we have revised several of our existing documents and condensed them into one checklist. This will make it easier for volunteers and their managers to record and update the support they’ve agreed together.
From Monday 4 May 2026, this checklist will be part of the induction process for all new volunteers. This will make sure that a volunteer has the opportunity to share any specific needs or ask for additional support from the start of their journey. Please also use it in ongoing reviews with your existing volunteers.
With the ongoing development of the Volunteer Platform, there is now also the option to store completed checklists within a volunteer profile. This means that if a volunteer’s manager changes, they will not need to start from the beginning with their new manager. Volunteers can save the document or a scanned copy and then directly upload it to the Volunteer Platform. If your volunteer is not currently on the Volunteer Platform, store the completed checklist where you would usually store confidential information (a secure storage system that has limited access). Please refer to pages 46–47 of the Volunteer Manager Handbook if you are unsure.
We are also providing our volunteer managers with some guidance on how to support their volunteers to complete the checklist.
FAQs
The following information will help you to understand a bit more about the new Supporting our Volunteers Checklist.
Where can I find the checklist?
You can find the checklist and the managers guidance on the ‘Volunteer manager resources’ section of the Volunteer Zone, under ‘Induction’.
If you would like a physical copy of the checklist, you can download and print it. If you don’t have access to a printer, speak to your volunteer manager.
Physical copies should be stored in line with pages 46–47 of the Volunteer Manager Handbook when completed. Alternatively, you can scan the completed copy and add it to the Volunteer Platform.
What information does the checklist capture?
The checklist provides the opportunity to capture information about:
- any long-term mental or physical health conditions
- any reasonable adjustments to support the volunteer in their role
- any communication preferences for the volunteer
- any caring responsibilities the volunteer may have
- any potential risks to the health, safety or wellbeing of the volunteer
- anything else that the volunteer feels may affect them in their role
Why have you come up with a new checklist?
We have tried to make the process easier by removing the need to complete multiple documents, instead capturing everything in one place. The new checklist captures information from:
- The Volunteer Inclusion Form
- The Volunteer Health Issues Risk Assessment
- Managing Volunteers with Health Issues Guidelines
- The Disability and Volunteering Checklist
- The Volunteer Disability Risk Assessment
The new form allows all this information to be collected in one place and has a process for reviewing.
Do volunteer managers have to go through the checklist with every new volunteer?
Yes, we are asking that all new volunteers are given the opportunity to go through the checklist with their volunteer manager. There is also a guidance document to support managers with this.
Some volunteers may not have anything they wish to record on the form, while some volunteers may wish to discuss any conditions which may require additional support. By having this conversation at the start of a volunteer’s experience, it reassures them that their volunteer manager listens and is supportive. It provides an opportunity to review every year in case the volunteer’s condition or circumstances have changed. It also provides clarity about the types of adjustments that can be made to support the needs of a volunteer.
Can volunteer managers share any of the information?
In the form it asks if the volunteer would like any of the information to be shared with the rest of the team or other volunteers. Some of this information can help the volunteer feel included, for example if they need to write down instructions or information as well as receiving information verbally. It might be helpful for other volunteers to know about this so that they can give the volunteer time to note things down. Another example would be if the volunteer has a condition that means they may need to sit for periods of time – other volunteers may need to be aware to help accommodate this.
However, the decision about what information to share and how is down to the individual volunteer.
Where can I get support?
As this is a new form and approach, we will continue to review the form and value any feedback you might like to share. There is a guidance document available, and your volunteering adviser will also be able to help you to complete the form. Our volunteering advisers are:
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Hannah Duche Ruilova – South East
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Liz Knott – North and East
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Rachel Farmer – Scotland
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Breffni Gorman – Ireland
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Katie Shipley – Wales, West and Isle of Man
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Isobel Money-Kyrle – South West
Speak to your volunteer manager if you need help finding contact information, or reach out to [email protected]. You can also reach out to Occupational Health and the Disability Network for further support.
We are also running some online drop-in sessions if you have any questions about checklist. The sessions will be held on:
If you would like to join a session, please follow the link to join the session or email [email protected] for assistance.
What about support for staff (including full–time crew members)?
Staff (including full-time crew members) can receive support for reasonable adjustments through their manager or Occupational Health. More information about how to request reasonable adjustments can be found on the Compass Disability Support page. This includes a reasonable adjustments menu, the assistive technology catalogue and wellbeing passport documentation.
Next steps
If you have any questions about this form, please contact [email protected] or speak with your volunteering adviser.
A huge thank you to all the volunteers and their managers who supported the pilot of this project. Thank you to the members of the Disability Network who provided feedback as we designed this document.