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We’re delighted to announce that at York CVS’s General Meeting in November, The Island was awarded the York Citywide Volunteering Quality Mark, a new initiative designed to recognise organisations that provide high-quality, inclusive volunteering opportunities for York residents. 

We were thrilled to collaborate with Castle Howard, OCAY, St Leonard’s Hospice, University of York, and York Community Furniture Store in supporting York CVS to develop this new, important framework for excellence in volunteering across the city.

Why Volunteering is important to The Island

Volunteering is at the heart of The Island’s mission and is central to our work as a York-based community organisation. Our primary volunteering programme focuses on volunteer mentors, who deliver The Islands six-month mentoring service, offering weekly one-to-one support to children and young people in York who need a helping hand. 

Each mentor is carefully matched with a child or young person, known as their mentee, and together they explore activities and experiences in the community. Sessions are led by the young person and can include anything from sports and crafts to cultural visits or simply enjoying a café outing. Mentors bring their own unique hobbies, skills, and life experiences to create a safe, supportive space where young people can truly be themselves. 

Our experience completing the Quality Mark 

Completing the Quality Mark application was a valuable opportunity for The Island to reflect on our practices, celebrate what we do well, and identify areas improve our volunteering offer. It reaffirmed our commitment to: 

  • Embedding volunteering throughout our delivery. 
  • Providing accessible and inclusive opportunities. 
  • Welcoming and valuing volunteers. 
  • Maintaining strong governance to protect and support volunteers. 

This process wasn’t just about meeting standards, it was about strengthening our approach and ensuring the best possible experience for every volunteer. 

Supporting more York charities 

During the application, we worked alongside other organisations to help shape the Quality Mark so it can benefit many more charities across York. Applications to join the Quality Mark will open via the York CVS website in January 2026, and we highly recommend applying. The Quality Mark is more than a badge, it’s a framework for excellence that promotes quality and inclusion citywide. 

A Volunteer’s perspective 

Emma, one of our current volunteer mentors, shared her experience as part of our application: 

“The application process for joining The Island as a volunteer mentor was organized and smooth. The training and support I receive while mentoring are professional and encouraging. I feel valued by The Island’s team and know I’m making a positive difference in my mentee’s life. If you’re considering volunteering, I highly recommend The Island.” 

Thank you, Emma, and to all our volunteer mentors, past and present, for the incredible impact you make. 

If you’d like to become a volunteer mentor and make a difference in a young person’s life, learn more and apply online.