We are delighted to confirm that were again awarded the Investing in People accreditation in 2024.
The summary report read : “The Sexual Trauma and Recovery Services (STARS) Dorset was formed in the 1980s, originally entirely volunteer led, it was not until 2011 that a successful bid to the Ministry of Justice enabled the appointment of the first paid staff. The organisation now offers services across the county of Dorset. The organisation was first assessed against the Investing in Volunteers Standard in 2019, and this assessment was the first renewal assessment.
Today, the organisation employs 40 staff and involves around 80 volunteers. Its vision is – ‘a society free from abuse’; its mission – ‘…every survivor of abuse is supported on their journey of recovery, and to challenge societal attitudes and views that condone or collude with abuse through awareness, education and training’.
STARS offers one to one support, free of charge, for anyone of any age or gender, who lives in Dorset and has experienced any form of sexual violence at any time in their lives. Services include an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor Service, Counselling, a Children and Young People’s Service and a Support Line. Volunteers are involved in the Counselling Service and the Support Line. Volunteer Counsellors provide one to one counselling to adults who are referred or who self-refer. Support Line Volunteers cover the telephone helpline in shifts. Currently the majority of volunteers are Counsellors, with around 13 Support Line Volunteers. Activity is underway to expand the number of volunteer roles, including in relation to events and community engagement, fundraising and administration; there have been volunteers in these roles previously.
STARS employs a Volunteer and Community Engagement Officer who is responsible for recruiting and onboarding all volunteers, as well as providing general ongoing support. Training is provided by specialist staff, and once deployed Volunteer Counsellors and Support Line Volunteers are overseen by the Head of Adult Counselling. Volunteer Counsellors receive clinical supervision from a range of sessional supervisors. As newer roles are filled, those volunteers will be overseen by different staff within the organisation including the recently created post of Engagement Officer.
There is a board of currently eight, up to twelve, trustees, some of whom have experience as Volunteer Counsellors with STARS.
A small number of suggestions for development were made at the last assessment, and these have been addressed as follows:
• It was suggested that STARS addressed version control in relation to policy documents – documents reviewed at this assessment appear to be properly dated.
• At the time of the last assessment, a number of volunteers were concerned that given the rapid growth of the organisation and the integration of new volunteers, they didn’t recognise everyone; several suggested having a photo board in the main office of staff and volunteers, or introducing new people with their picture in a newsletter. This did not seem to be an issue at this assessment, indeed volunteers commented on how much they felt a part of the overall team.

How the organisation was assessed

A full list of all volunteers was provided, from this 18 volunteers were selected covering both roles in proportion to the overall numbers in those roles. Of these, 16 were available for interview. Additionally, the volunteer perspective was also gathered through interviews with staff who had previously volunteered and the current and last volunteer student placements. The trustee interviewed used to be a Volunteer Counsellor. All volunteers were interviewed one to one, most online, with four by telephone.
Staff were selected to include those with direct responsibility for volunteers, managers and senior leaders as well as staff who work alongside volunteers. These were: Operations Director, Head of Adult Counselling, Head of Children, Young People and Family Counselling and ISVA Service, and Head of Adult Independent Sexual Violence Advisor Service (interviewed as a group); CEO; Volunteer and Community Engagement Officer; 2 x Independent Sexual Violence Advisers; 2 x Business Support; Student Placement; Engagement Officer; Children & Young People Counsellor. A trustee was also interviewed.