Oranjezicht City Farm

Food Culture Community

post

Volunteer Code of Conduct

Introduction:

Thank you for volunteering at the Oranjezicht City Farm! As a volunteer, you are an important member of the Oranjezicht City Farm (OZCF) and play a huge part in making the Farm such a special organisation to interact with and a wonderful place to visit. As such you act as a representative of the OZCF to its wide range of stakeholders both in the immediate community and way beyond.  Committed volunteers are needed to support OZCF and help it grow, and OZCF is committed to supporting its volunteers and helping you grow as well.

For a better understanding of what you can expect as a volunteer and what is expected of you by OZCF, we ask you to read and sign the following Volunteer Code of Conduct:

The principle aims of OZCF are:

  • To farm land on the basis of organic and permaculture principles in a way that promotes sustainable development, community participation, volunteering opportunities, education and the principles of the OZCF;
  • To provide a place where people from the local community and beyond can meet, collaborate and participate in events that are consistent with the main purpose and principles of the OZCF;
  • To promote and conduct educational and training programmes relating to environmental awareness, greening and sustainable development, including educational programmes for children;
  • To protect and maintain the Oranjezicht City Farm site as site of cultural and historical interest and significance;
  • To develop practical ways for local people to work together to create communities that are cohesive, safe, socially just and ecologically sustainable; and
  • To promote the values of social cohesion, self-help, self-reliance, social and ecological responsibility, and democracy.

Volunteers are expected at all times to support these aims through their words, actions and attitudes, and to have fun, make friends and learn a lot along the way.

Purpose of this code of conduct:

  • To contribute towards a healthy environment and atmosphere in which to volunteer.
  • To ensure that all volunteers know what behaviour they have a right to expect from other volunteers and from the employees of OZCF.
  • To ensure that all volunteers know what behaviour is expected of them while volunteering for OZCF.

By signing this Code, you are agreeing to abide by it.

Please note that this Code does not constitute, either implicitly or explicitly, any kind of binding contractual or personnel agreement. OZCF reserves the right to change this Code at any time and to expect volunteers to adhere to the changed policy. An up-to-date version will be kept on the OZCF website.

In general, as a volunteer I agree to:

  • Have fun, keep an open mind and ask questions when needed.
  • Work cooperatively as a team with other volunteers and OZCF employees.
  • Choose an assignment within my abilities, interest and time.
  • Promote and support OZCF.
  • Represent and conduct myself in an appropriate and ethical manner at all times when dealing with the public, employees of OZCF, other volunteers, donors, the media and traders at the Market Day.
  • Keep my personal opinions and actions separate from any made as an OZCF
  • Work an agreed number of hours on a schedule that suits both OZCF and me.
  • Let the volunteer coordinator know beforehand if I will be absent or if I have arranged a substitute.
  • Ensure I do not distract OZCF employees them from their responsibilities for extended periods.
  • Understand and help maintain OZCF rules and standards.
  • Deal with any issues or grievances in a professional manner.
  • Speak up and offer constructive criticism.
  • Listen to and follow the volunteer coordinator’s instructions.
  • Ask the volunteer coordinator if in doubt about any instructions – as many times as is needed.
  • Make friends and make a difference!

If a volunteer signs this code of conduct they can expect to:

  • Be recognised as a valued volunteer in the community.
  • Grow personally, learn and have fun.
  • Be invited to an orientation and training session.
  • Enjoy beneficial experiences with the OZCF.
  • Have social interaction with other volunteers.
  • Be praised where and when it is due.
  • Be treated fairly and with respect by all others.
  • Be listened to and have their views taken in to account when performing tasks.
  • Work in a positive and friendly environment.
  • Have a chance to make a real difference in our community and beyond.

 

Thank you for your commitment.

 

Oranjezicht City Farm Volunteer Code of Conduct


  • Respect

Both volunteers and employees of OZCF will:

  • Treat other people fairly and equally
  • Understand, respect and work at all times without prejudice to race, age, ethnic origins, disability, gender, physical and mental health, religion, sexuality or cultural background.
  • Allow others to express themselves and understand that all views are important and worthy of respect even if they are not the same as their own – as long as no offence is caused even if unintentionally
  • Step down from any role in a considerate manner that minimises disruptions
  • Honour commitments made to volunteer by arriving where and when agreed, performing the tasks agreed to the best of their ability, and remaining as long as agreed
  • Check e-mails, voice mails and other messaging services regularly and answer promptly
  • Speak to the volunteer coordinator in the first instance if they have any issues with the work or the other volunteers.

 

  • Integrity

Both volunteers and employees of OZCF will:

  • Ensure that their words and actions meet the highest standards of honesty.
  • Make sure they do not benefit inappropriately from volunteering at OZCF and do not engage in any activity that is in conflict with their duties as a volunteer.
  • See that gifts and donations are taken by an employee or director of OZCF, whenever possible. When not possible the donation or gift should be taken with a witness present and be handed over to an employee or director as soon as possible, but without being insensitive or disrespectful to the giver or donor
  • Ensure that they, including family or friends, do not benefit from gifts or inducements secured as a result of their involvement at OZCF. Exceptions include meals or transport provided during the course of a volunteer activity and any incentives or rewards provided by OZCF to volunteers as part of its official volunteer programme.
  • Be open, truthful and responsible regarding potential conflicts of interest associated with their involvement with OZCF. All potential conflicts of interest, whether actual or with the potential to be perceived as such, must be brought to the immediate attention of the volunteer coordinator or one of the directors.
  • Ensure that OZCF is not brought into disrepute as a result of their involvement in other occupations, projects or activities.
  • Not present themselves or allow themselves to be perceived as an official representative of OZCF unless explicitly permitted to do so.
  • Provide their real names when engaging with the public and one another, and not to use pseudonyms or alternative identities or attempt to conceal their legal identity in person or in any other communications medium, including online or social media, when matters are OZCF-related.

 

  • Public Accountability

OZCF is a community-based non-profit seeking to be registered as a Public Benefit Organisation and operating on public land in partnership with local and provincial government entities. Both volunteers and employees of OZCF will:

  • Consider the interests of the public at all times
  • Respond to all requests for information, services or advice shall be with courtesy, sensitivity and minimum delay.
  • Provide their names when engaging with the public, and offer official contact details of OZCF, to ensure that communication is conducted as effectively as possible.

 

  • Heritage

OZCF is located on a Provincial Heritage Site and is subject to provincial legislation, local by-laws and other regulations regarding what can and cannot be done on the Farm. Both volunteers and employees of OZCF will:

  • Endeavour to learn about, understand and share information about the heritage of the OZCF site and the surrounding heritage fabric of the city
  • Get formal approval from OZCF before undertaking any physical changes to any part of the property or its perimeter, including the land or structures. This excludes ordinary farming or gardening activity such as planting, harvesting, weeding, pruning and similar tasks.

 

  • Confidentiality

Both volunteers and employees of OZCF will:

  • Treat as confidential any potentially sensitive information or knowledge acquired during the course of being a volunteer with OZCF, except where prohibited by law
  • Pass on to OZCF employees or directors all information requests from the media
  • Keep secure through proper use of computer anti-virus, anti-malware, firewalls and related technologies all OZCF-related data accessed or generated, and not distribute such data without prior explicit written permission
  • Keep all OZCF-related user accounts secure, with passwords and the answers to any secret questions kept confidential
  • Not transfer or share with another person any user accounts without prior explicit written permission

 

  • Health and Safety

OZCF endeavours to provide safe and hygienic conditions. Both volunteers and employees of OZCF will:

  • Be confident that they are adequately informed on all relevant health and safety matters pertaining to their volunteering
  • Raise without delay any concern about health or safety at OZCF with an employee or director
  • Not act in a manner that endangers the health or safety of any person.

 

  • Use of Resources

For many activities and for some volunteer duties, OZCF provides resources for volunteers to use. These can range from tools and equipment, to teaching materials, vehicles, safety equipment, website user accounts, e-mail accounts and others. Both volunteers and employees of OZCF will:

  • Use resources made available by OZCF only for their intended purpose and not allow them to be used by other people, or for alternative purposes, or for their own or others’ personal benefit.
  • Only use resources they are suitably skilled and qualified to use.
  • Return resources to OZCF promptly on conclusion of the relevant activity or task
  • Report promptly any damage or loss

 

  • Intellectual Property

Both volunteers and employees of OZCF will:

  • Not make, take or share copies of files or data (e.g., mailing lists, handbooks, photographs, etc.) without express written consent from OZCF, unless such files or data are clearly marked with a public domain license, in which case the terms of that license must be honoured.