— Right First Time UK

Why this matters. People volunteering in the name of Right First Time UK may be dealing with members of the public, campaign evidence, sensitive experiences and public-service concerns. Volunteers are therefore expected to act responsibly, respectfully and accurately.

Our volunteer standards

1. Treat people with respect

Treat members of the public, other volunteers, professionals, organisations and public-service staff with dignity and respect.

Disagreement does not justify abusive, threatening or discriminatory behaviour.

2. Be accurate and evidence-based

Do not knowingly publish, repeat or present false information.

Where possible, use reliable evidence and make clear whether something is:

A verified fact.
An allegation.
A personal experience.
An opinion.
A concern requiring investigation.

3. Protect confidential information

Do not share personal information, confidential case records, internal information, passwords or private communications without permission and a legitimate reason.

Information should only be accessed where needed for an authorised volunteer task.

4. Respect people's privacy

Do not ask for more personal information than is needed.

Do not publish names, addresses, contact information or sensitive personal details simply because they have been provided to you.

5. Do not misuse the Right First Time UK name

Volunteers must not present personal opinions, private disputes or unauthorised activity as an official Right First Time UK position.

Do not create agreements, promises, contracts or commitments on behalf of Right First Time UK unless authorised to do so.

6. Stay within your role

Volunteers should work within the activity or role agreed with Right First Time UK.

Do not claim to be a solicitor, medical professional, safeguarding professional, financial adviser or other regulated professional unless you genuinely hold that qualification and are authorised to act in that capacity.

7. No harassment or intimidation

Public accountability and campaigning can be robust, but it must remain lawful and proportionate.

Volunteers must not threaten, harass, intimidate or repeatedly target an individual.

8. Do not discriminate

Volunteers should not discriminate against people because of protected characteristics or personal circumstances.

Different experiences and viewpoints should be handled fairly.

9. Safeguarding comes first

Any activity involving children, young people or vulnerable adults must follow appropriate safeguarding arrangements.

Serious concerns should be reported promptly rather than handled privately by a volunteer.

10. Declare conflicts of interest

Tell Right First Time UK where a personal, financial, employment or other interest could affect your involvement in a campaign or decision.

A conflict does not always mean you cannot help, but it should be transparent.

11. Use social media responsibly

Do not publish confidential information or make unauthorised statements in the name of Right First Time UK.

Where you are expressing your own view, make that clear where necessary.

12. Look after evidence

Do not deliberately alter evidence, remove context or present material in a misleading way.

Keep original records where possible and clearly identify edited summaries, screenshots or extracts.

13. Do not accept improper benefits

Volunteers should not use their role to obtain improper personal or financial benefit.

Any significant gifts, payments or conflicts connected with volunteer activity should be disclosed.

14. Be honest about mistakes

If you make an error, report it so it can be corrected.

Right First Time UK is based on the principle of getting things right and learning where things go wrong.

15. Keep volunteer accounts secure

Do not share passwords, login details or access credentials.

Report suspected unauthorised access or loss of information as soon as possible.

16. Raise concerns

If you believe something connected with Right First Time UK activity is unsafe, unlawful or seriously inappropriate, raise the concern.

Problems should not be hidden simply because they may be uncomfortable to deal with.

Representing Right First Time UK

A volunteer should only say they are speaking officially for Right First Time UK where they have been authorised to represent the organisation on that matter.

Being a volunteer does not automatically give authority to make organisational policy, speak to the media on behalf of the organisation, enter agreements or make commitments.

Working with members of the public

Members of the public may contact volunteers when they are distressed, frustrated or dealing with difficult public-service problems.

Volunteers should listen respectfully but must remain clear about what Right First Time UK can and cannot do.

Do not promise a particular outcome.
Do not pretend to have powers that the organisation does not have.
Do not guarantee that an authority, court or organisation will act.
Do not pressure someone into making a complaint or campaign decision.
Do not take control of someone's account or passwords.

Serious breaches. Right First Time UK may restrict, suspend or end a person's volunteer involvement where there are serious concerns about safety, dishonesty, harassment, misuse of information, safeguarding, security or conduct.

Fairness when concerns are raised

Where reasonably possible, concerns about volunteer conduct should be considered fairly.

The seriousness of the concern, available evidence, safeguarding issues, immediate risks and the volunteer's explanation may all need to be considered.

Immediate restrictions may still be necessary where there is a significant safety, safeguarding or information-security risk.

Read Safeguarding Information Apply to Volunteer