PDSA Awarded IiV Quality Mark

Volunteering England has awarded an Investing in Volunteers (IiV) Quality Mark - a quality standard for organisations which involve volunteers in their work, to the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA). This is the first time the award has been given to a UK-wide organisation.

Volunteering England is an independent voluntary agency whose work links research, innovation and good practice in the involvement of volunteers. Its IiV quality standard assesses and monitors volunteer management policies and practices. The IiV also recognises a charity's commitment to offer worthwhile volunteering opportunities.

Nearly 5,000 PDSA volunteers save the charity a massive £8.5 million every year in employment costs by donating their time for free. Volunteers undertake a variety of roles although the majority of volunteers work in the charity's fundraising and retail operations.

PDSA Head of Volunteering, Janet Compton, said:

"PDSA is very proud to achieve IiV, especially as it's during our 90th year of caring for sick and injured pets."

She praised the work of the organisation's volunteers in its shops and in fundraising groups, in admin support in its offices and assisting veterinary staff at its PetAid hospitals.

She concluded:

"The IiV assessment programme has helped focus our attention on areas we can improve yet further to ensure volunteering at PDSA is a two-way partnership for both the volunteer and the charity."

PDSA was founded in 1917 by animal welfare pioneer, Maria Dickin CBE. The charity provides free veterinary care for the sick and injured pets of those unable to afford veterinary fees and promotes responsible pet ownership. It has a UK-wide network of 47 PetAid hospitals and branches and 345 contracted private practices (PetAid practices). The PDSA operates 182 charity shops.

In 2007 delivery of PDSA PetAid services will cost more than £41 million.