Empowering Trustees: navigating the landscape with Community First Yorkshire

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A chronicle of Support, Guidance, and Purpose

Greetings esteemed trustees. As Trustees’ Week (6-10 November) approaches, we at Community First Yorkshire wish to extend our hand in support, embracing this year’s theme: Many voices. Working together. With purpose.

To get ready for next week, here’s my run down of the Trustee Survival Arsenal:

  1. Grant Acquisition Expertise: our dedicated team possesses a wealth of experience in grant procurement. Allow us to assist you in identifying and securing the financial resources your organisation requires to thrive.
  2. Mastery of Governance Frameworks: navigating the legal and regulatory intricacies of trusteeship can be formidable. Rely on our seasoned professionals to provide you with the guidance and tools necessary to navigate this complex landscape.
  3. Strategic Marketing Prowess: effective outreach and engagement are pivotal in furthering your charitable objectives. Our specialists are poised to equip you with the skills needed to amplify your organisation’s message and impact.
  4. Volunteer Management Proficiency: volunteers are the lifeblood of any charity. Allow us to empower you in the recruitment, training, and retention of dedicated individuals who share in your vision.
  5. Organisational Health Assessment: a robust charity necessitates periodic evaluation. Our team stands ready to conduct a comprehensive assessment, ensuring your organisation’s continued vitality.

To access your free support from us, simply complete our online enquiry form, or call 01904 704177 or email us.

By Andy Shield, Development Officer at Community First Yorkshire.

Helping people to discover, connect and mobilise for healthier communities

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Hi, I’m Marion, new in post with Community First Yorkshire as Health Connector Co-ordinator in Craven.

It’s possible I could get an award for shortest retirement ever! I left my post as Stronger Communities Delivery Manager with North Yorkshire Council on 30 June, and had the luxury of the summer months to recharge my batteries before starting this new post mid-September.

So what does a Health Connector Co-ordinator do?

To be honest, the title isn’t much of a clue, but it’s helpful to have that focus on health in it. Our health system is fragmented, it’s hard to understand, hard to navigate and it can be difficult for the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) to find its place and voice within it. This is despite the fact that I see and hear so many great stories of how VCSE organisations are making huge positive impacts to people’s lives, and at the same time reducing the need for (expensive) health interventions that people are glad they don’t need.

This role is in part an exploration of how together we bridge this divide; helping VCSE colleagues better understand the health economy in which they work, supporting them to tell their story in ways that really capture the essence of work in communities: building trust, providing safe and welcoming places for people to meet, share with others, tell their stories and find practical and emotional support.

Community connections are key

Whilst writing this blog I’m listening to the podcast, ‘The Connected Community’, with Cormac Russell. He says: ‘the neighbourhood is the unit of change’, and this is a great link to the other area of my role: working with Community Anchor Organisations (in Craven as the funding for the role comes from West Yorkshire Integrated Care System) to support them to develop connections with their local grassroots community groups and organisations.

In our very rural part of the county, the vibrancy and creativity of these small, usually volunteer led, groups are the fuel of connection and care, enabling local people to give and receive in ways that benefit all. You and I know so many examples.

Another phrase of Cormac’s is: ‘discover, connect, mobilise’. So this role encompasses supporting our Community Anchor Organisations (CAO’s) to discover, value and support this very local social action, developing relationships with local leaders and activists, and providing them with the information and support needed to connect people in their community with other more specialist sources of support when they need it.

So the ambition of the role is, in many ways, about building different types of connection: between CAO’s, between CAO’s and their local communities, and between the VCSE and health. All in the service of happier healthier communities, a thriving VCSE and a less pressured health system.

Get in touch with Marion by email.

A sunny spot by the pond

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David Sharp, Chief Executive at North Yorkshire Youth, attended one of our Down to Earth outdoor nature-based wellbeing sessions for leaders. Here he describes his emotional journey from storm to wood whittling to calm:

It’s a stormy start

A stormy day – specifically Storm Nigel saying hello – was the back drop to the second Down to Earth session being run by JK from Where the Mind Grows.

The session used nature to inspire wellbeing and give leaders a practical set of ‘value’ resources to take away.

So, in the intermittent bright sunshine and howling rain I made my way to Little Seed Field near Galphay, avoiding the sheep, tractors and squirrels. I was met by the ever smiling JK with a brew and an amazing view across the valley. It wasn’t raining at this point!

Having settled in and gone through the obligatory intros and welcomes to the other participants, we sat down to do some real work, with a soundtrack of banging doors, driving rain and a very grim view.

Goldilocks and personal values

JK asked us to look at how our personal values can be a living part of a strong wellbeing culture. The exercise gave me time to think about my own personal values, how I work, how I want people to perceive my actions and how my behaviours are linked inextricably to those values. We were asked to come up with 10 ‘value chips’. The first four were easy! It got a little harder after that but eventually I got there. We then had to think about how we were feeling at that moment and put the value chips on a compass. So which values were we focusing on too much, too little and, as Goldilocks would say, what was ‘just right’. As with all these types of things it depends on the situation you are in, how the day is going and such. In that way it’s a really brilliant tool to help determine what is happening right now and certainly something I will take away. As I reflect on a particularly tough day, I’ll use the exercise to help me understand what is going on.

Seeing the wood (whittling) for the trees

To finish the afternoon, we spent some time with Melanie and Claire from Thrive Outside. This session was all about practical things to help us place ourselves in the now. Our focus was on finding a piece of wood we could then create something from, using splitting techniques, whittling, rasping and filing to turn that ‘stick’ into something recognizable. The group chose to make knives, plant name markers, dibbers and spatulas. Using skills taught by Melanie and Clare, we actually managed to produce something resembling the perfect item we saw within the wood. For me, the finished article certainly looked better in my head, maybe just a bit more practice needed. To aid with the creative thinking, raspberry pancakes made on an open fire along with a beverage of choice certainly gave the energy needed. That, along with a gloriously sunny end to the afternoon, made the whole day a very enjoyable experience.

What’s your internal weather map like?

Reflecting on the session, JK started the day by asking what our internal weather map was looking like. Mine was very much around the eye of a storm with a small bit in the middle where I was sitting at that moment and all the chaos around me, getting ready for AGM’s, Board meetings and holiday. At the end of the day, the focus on myself really made a difference and I think that the actual weather was a mimic of my state of mind starting with a stormy, windy and chaotic feeling and then moving into sunny, relaxed and calm.

So thanks to JK, Melanie and Claire (along with everyone else on the day) for helping me find that sunny spot next to the pond.

 

If you’d like to explore your Leadership wellbeing by connecting with nature, there are places still available on the next two Down to Earth sessions:

5 minutes with a mentee

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Jo Fox, Marketing & Communications Manager at Community First Yorkshire

Why did you decide to become a mentee?

To be honest, I wasn’t sure about being a mentee at first. I felt that it was a sign of weakness, that colleagues would think that I needed help and that I was struggling with my role. However, that isn’t what being mentored is about. It’s a chance to gain a new perspective on your role, expand your skills and get support and advice from an expert in a safe and confidential space. I’m a total convert to mentoring and one of its biggest advocates!

How has mentoring changed your professional or personal life?

The biggest change has been in my confidence and belief in myself. I’m fairly new to a leadership role so having access to a sounding board – especially someone who is outside your organisation – is so valuable. It’s been great to be able to say to someone that being a leader can be really hard and have someone else say: ‘That’s because it IS hard!’

What new thing have you learned?

Sometimes you can get so focussed on delivering your service, hitting targets and meeting deadlines that you can forget to look at the bigger picture. I’ve learnt to take a step back and think big, and most importantly remember to ask ‘why’.

What top tips would you give to someone considering having a mentor?

Be prepared to be surprised.

The issues you think you want to discuss with your mentor may not be the ones you focus on. My meetings with my mentor have been very explorative and it’s been the things that I didn’t realise I needed to discuss that have been the most useful.

Be prepared to be challenged.

Being a mentee can take you out of your comfort zone. My mentor challenges me and I sometimes find our conversations hard. But it’s a relationship based on trust – we can have frank conversations and I’m able to ask questions that are sometimes difficult to do of your line manager.

Be willing to tap into a wider network of support.

The Community First Yorkshire Leadership Mentoring programme has been great as it’s provided all the support I’ve needed – from an initial training session on what to expect from our mentors, our responsibilities and how to start conversations; to signposting to support and resources on the Leadership Mentoring hub. There’s also a LinkedIn group allowing us to connect with other mentees on the programme and share questions and ideas.

 

We are now taking applications for the next cohort of our popular Leadership Mentoring programme, which starts in October. Find out more here.

 

 

 

Diversifying your volunteer cohort

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What’s your approach to planning a day trip?

Do you set off without checking your fuel gauge, without a map or faintest idea where you’re going? Do you wing it?

Or do you check the car is roadworthy, have a map and an itinerary for the day? Have you checked the weather and got change for parking? Some like to just set off and see what happens, others like to consider all eventualities. Most of you will probably like a mix of both.

Volunteer recruitment is similar – you need to plan your recruitment campaign in advance but be reactive to changes where required. Asking the questions ‘what do we need, why and for how long?’ means you can outline the short, medium and long term requirements for your organisation. Not having a plan means you don’t know what you will likely need in terms of numbers and types of volunteers as well as budgets for marketing and training. It also means you are more likely to recruit similar volunteers from the same pool that you always have.

So, how do you diversify your pool of volunteers?

Setting specific targets with volunteer recruitment isn’t always conducive if you work in a community where diversity isn’t obvious – or is it?

What does diversity mean to you – how would you define it?

What could you do to improve the diversity of your volunteer cohort? Think back to what you need, why and for how long. It isn’t as simple as saying ‘we accept anyone’. You need to proactively reach out to those who aren’t ordinarily approaching you – but remember this shouldn’t be a tick box exercise.

When people from different backgrounds and life experiences work together they bring with them a variety of perspectives that can educate others – reaching new customers and unexplored areas of work. It is also a great opportunity to learn and improve understanding between genders, cultures and generations.

The added strengths that diverse volunteer recruitment brings

Remember why you want to involve volunteers. What will they bring to your organisation? Some will bring fresh ideas and enthusiasm whilst also complimenting the skills of your paid staff. They will bring new perspectives and may help you establish new or strengthen existing links with the local community. The added value that volunteers bring will help you and your organisation in more ways than can be accredited to salary savings.

Be aware of unconscious bias

When it comes to recruiting more diverse volunteers you may experience some unconscious bias. Be prepared to be challenged and don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. Analyse your behaviours and language and see how that affects people. Be prepared to change but acknowledge that we are only human and do make mistakes. It is important to own these mistakes and learn from them as you work towards a more inclusive way of working.

Consider the different skills that different age groups offer

Targeting people for skills and experience related to their occupation is one avenue but doesn’t mean only reaching out to those who are currently employed. Where are young people being trained in the skills you seek? If you produce a regular newsletter and publicity materials why not consider a graphic design student with desktop publishing skills? Contact your local university, college or 6th form and ask if you could display an advert on a communal notice board. Students can use the experience to build up a portfolio of work whilst also addressing an identified local need. It would likely be a short term placement but one which you could repeat with other students perhaps formalising it as a V-Inspired placement opportunity.

What about those who have recently retired or who are about to give up work? Some employers run pre-retirement courses for those who are about to give up work – the police being one example. Likewise a retired accountant may welcome an opportunity to be the bookkeeper or treasurer for a small charity or group – using their skills whilst also keeping up to date with current methods.

One of the most valuable aspects of having a diverse volunteer cohort is the chance to bring different viewpoints, experiences and insights together. It can strengthen a community by offering opportunities for sharing different skills and understandings.

Intergenerational volunteering can be powerful. Older volunteers who possess a lifetime of experiences can offer guidance and support. Younger volunteers, particularly young people, often have energy and fresh creative ideas that challenge historic preconceptions; particularly where change is seen as problematic and unnecessary. The mixing of ages can promote personal growth for everyone as well as support organisational sustainability.

Developing a fully inclusive culture in your organisation

Age isn’t the only protected characteristic – a starting point when exploring diversity. As well as the 9 listed, have you considered people with criminal convictions, refugees and asylum seekers applying for immigration status, trans, neurodiverse or foreign students? The world really is your oyster when it comes to the wealth of knowledge, skills and character of potential volunteers.

Like other minority groups the LGBTQIA+ community can face significant day-to-day barriers, including workplace conflict and harassment, in their quest to be their true selves in the workplace – whether as a volunteer or paid worker. The individual experience of LGBTQIA+ volunteers is rarely commented on but is one which should be addressed as part of your volunteer recruitment strategy. A fully inclusive culture where open conversations about people’s experiences are encouraged, and where discrimination is not accepted will showcase your organisation as a culturally diverse and supportive environment for all.

Many of us have been raised in monoculture environments – only becoming exposed to cultural diversity as students or adults. This could be challenging for those with little knowledge or understanding of the possible differences in communication and cultural expectations. In turn, this could cause misunderstandings when working with volunteers within your organisation or community. Being culturally aware can open up dialogue with those who may not ordinarily be within your reach.

You may need to adapt your recruiting to those who are available – adapting the role perhaps to suit a specific person or their availability. It is important to display your volunteer opportunities in a way which attracts those who may need a little more encouragement. When designing an advert don’t be put off making positive statements. If people with lived experiences would enhance the work that you offer in a community say this in your advert. Or if after conducting a volunteer audit you see that a group is under-presented say so in the advert. Be open and honest about what you are hoping to achieve with your recruitment.

National Inclusion Week takes place each September. Themes change on an annual basis with related resources made available to those who register.

Discussions around inclusion can often bring up uncomfortable feelings. Creating safe spaces for one another to have these discussions is just the starting point. Use National Inclusion Week as an opportunity to start having conversations and make positive changes.

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Further resources you look at:

How can we create a better future for volunteering?

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Our development officer, Lizzie Clapham, shares her thoughts on what the future looks like for volunteering.

What’s the future for volunteering?

The volunteering landscape is constantly changing and adapting. We all know that volunteers are essential to maintaining our vibrant communities, and that volunteering offers individuals a wide range of benefits from developing new skills to improving social connections.

However, we are seeing that volunteers are becoming harder to recruit and retain.

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a Vision for Volunteering workshop. It was an insightful session which has caused me to put pen to paper today.

What is the vision?

The Vision explores what volunteering might look like by 2032. It recognises that volunteering, in its current form, isn’t accessible or equally enjoyable for everyone; that there were changes in volunteering and activities during the pandemic -not all positive or permanent – and that there are changing patterns in who volunteers, how, and in what activities and roles. This is certainly evident in the latest NCVO Time Well Spent report – more of this later.

The Vision proposes five themes for the future of volunteering:

  1. Awareness and appreciation – a future where a culture of volunteering is part of everyone’s life and volunteer roles are given the recognition they deserve
  2. Power – a future where volunteers (and the communities they serve) lead on change that matters to them
  3. Equity and inclusion – a future where it’s easy for people to give their time and energy to the causes they care about, they feel welcomed, and the benefits are equally distributed
  4. Collaboration – a future where collaboration is natural and spontaneous, where people do great stuff together because they want to
  5. Experimentation – a future where communities aren’t afraid to try new things, and to develop their own, innovative solutions to engaging and supporting volunteers.

Workshop participants were asked 1) what they are currently doing that relates to each theme 2) if there are new or different things they would like to try and 3) if there are any support/training/resources that might be needed to achieve these.

It was evident that lots of people are already doing great things but there is still a way to go. The Vision team are now working on sharing stories, building networks, influencing, curating resources and exploring ideas. They are currently developing a toolkit offering a framework for starting conversations in communities.

If you would like to have a copy of the slides and jamboards from the workshop I attended, to prompt discussion in your own organisation, please get in touch by emailing info@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk. It will certainly be interesting to see how the Vision develops and is implemented, particularly given the findings from the latest NCVO Time Well Spent report which was launched earlier this week.

About Time Well Spent

Time Well Spent is NCVO’s research programme focusing on people’s experience of volunteering.. Time Well Spent 2023 surveyed 7,006 adults across the UK, and explored what volunteering, and the  volunteer experience, looks like now. The report findings showed that:

  • while volunteer satisfaction is high, it is lower than it was. Younger, public sector volunteers, and disabled volunteers continue to be less satisfied
  • Despite efforts around equity, diversity and inclusion in recent years, a lower proportion said they see volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds around them indicating an inequality in volunteer experiences
  • Remote and flexible volunteering is valued and increasingly common with those who volunteer remotely indicating they feel as satisfied, supported and connected as those who don’t. Non-volunteers say flexibility is the factor most likely to encourage them to volunteer
  • Despite external changes, the core motivations for volunteering remain the same – wanting to improve things or help and making a difference are still the top reasons for starting volunteering
  • The financial impact of volunteering is increasingly seen as a barrier. 14% of non-volunteers say worries about being out of pocket is a reason for not volunteering, up from 5% in 2019
  • Wider data also suggests a decline in formal volunteering
  • The main reason people stop volunteering is having less time due to changing circumstances.
My main learnings from ‘Time Well Spent’

I think my key take away from the report is that, while there are many things we can’t influence, we can shape our volunteer experiences.

If we want to keep volunteers engaged, we need to be proactive and keep adapting to the inevitable changes that lie ahead, hopefully ensuring that volunteering continues to be time well spent.

Further information

Take a look at the Vision for Volunteering website where you can also sign up to their mailing list.

Twitter: @VisionForVol

Instagram: @VisionForVolunteering

Facebook: facebook.com/visionforvolunteering

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/vision-for-volunteering

Take at look at the NCVO Time Well Spent report here.

You may also be interested in the five key takeaways from Time Well Spent 2023 here and a recording of the Time Well Spent 2023 launch event.

 

How can we help?

At Community First Yorkshire we have a wide range of experience in supporting volunteering and volunteer involving organisations. From recruitment and induction to policies and practice, do get in touch with our development officers if you have a question.

You may like to join our Volunteer Coordinators Network which meet regularly to share good practice and ideas.

Welcome to our new Age Friendly Network coordinator

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She’s only been in post a few weeks but our new Age Friendly Network coordinator, Jeanette Hague, is keen to say hello.

The Age Friendly Network aims to give people aged 50+ in North Yorkshire a voice to help shape services that have an impact on living and working in the county. Find out more here.

Welcome Jeanette. Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi! My name is Jeanette, I am 51 years old and I live with my family in a village in North Yorkshire.

I have a love of everything outdoors, a passion for the moors and woodlands around North Yorkshire and the drive to be a positive force for good in the communities of this beautiful county. My working life has been based mostly around people and community; most recently I worked in a thriving, rural GP Surgery and before that for a music charity, making intergenerational connections through the universally joyful medium of music!!

What attracted you to this role?

What matters most to me is people, community and connection. I am both excited and honoured to be working with the Age Friendly Network and it’s partner organisations on this very practical and meaningful project.

We know it’s early days as you’ve just joined Community First Yorkshire, but what are your plans for the Age Friendly Network?

I look forward to helping develop a thriving and diverse group, with fair representation, respected opinions, practical actions and meaningful connections. Above all, I’m keen to help provide a platform for effective communication channels that will give a voice to people aged 50+ in North Yorkshire and, together, help shape the future of all aspects of health and social care in our community.

How can people get involved?

If you want to sign up to become a member of the Age Friendly Network, have a chance to work with Jeanette on shaping future support services in North Yorkshire, and be kept up-to-date via our enewsletter, click here.

Rothwell Social Prescribing

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Miranda Foster was our Rothwell Community Builder and worked alongside individuals and groups to showcase the best of Rothwell. Her aim was to encourage more people to get involved in developing new activities, relationships, events and ideas. Miranda chatted to some of the amazing local social prescribers about what they do to support people in Rothwell.

Let’s celebrate the fantastic work of the NHS and the social prescribers who work in the Rothwell area.

GPs, nurses and other primary care professionals use social prescribing to refer someone to activities, groups and services in their community that can help with their health and wellbeing.

Social prescribing can support people to reconnect socially with others. Activities could be anything from local craft making and walking groups, to food growing projects and local support groups for people with chronic conditions.

Selina is one of our wonderful Social Prescribers and is helping to organise the Rothwell Springhead Park parkrun for the NHS 75th anniversary celebrations on 15 July. Here she gives an insight into Health Coaching and what she does for local residents on a day-to-day basis:

“Health Coaching allows you the time and space to think about a change and unlock your skills to move forward and achieve your goals. It aims to help you make healthy behaviour changes, such as if you have diabetes and encourages people to become more active in their health and care.

“A health coach will help you think about how you can reach your goals and what matters most to you.

“Health Coaching gives you 45-60mins of time to discuss what is important to you and what you would like to change. You can also have further sessions to help you stay accountable to your goals. Just contact selina.thompson3@nhs.net if you are interested in making that change.”

Michaela Auty is another Social Prescriber for the area. Here are her comments on the role that both she and Hayley do:

“The Primary Care Network (PCN) social prescribers are working within the community to deliver a personalised service to those experiencing social isolation, low mood, financial, housing, and employment related issues.

“Currently working alongside Linking Leeds to reduce the local waiting list, the PCN social prescribers can conduct home visits to patients who are housebound due to medical, social anxiety and frailty issues, ensuring that people can feel relaxed and heard in the comfort of their own homes.

“Social Prescribers can provide appointments to patients for up to an hour, and will work with people for as long as needed, providing a light touch, or more intensive support.

“Hayley, another social prescriber, and myself frequently attend the local groups and facilities in the area to identify and bridge the gaps of what the communities and patients need and want.

“You can be referred to the social prescribing service by talking to a member of your GP practice or completing an online request via PATCHS.”

Contact:

To get in touch, please email Sarah Hart, our Rothwell Assets Based Community Development Officer / Nidderdale Community Led Housing Officer on: sarah.hart@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.

Rothwell: I would love to hear from you

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Hello again, I would like to take a few moments of your time to reintroduce myself and explain what I do.

My name is Miranda Foster, you may have seen me around Rothwell talking to people about Rothwell. I am always a listening ear to find out all the good things that are happening in the area.

My work and how we could work together

A conversation, an idea, a talent, or a skill – small sparks lead to big ideas. We all need relationships with the people around us, a shared vision for our place and space, a strong sense of community and the chance to spend some time together doing things we care about.

The feeling of belonging and being part of our neighbourhood make us feel happier and connected. Do you have an idea? Could you share a skill? Would you like to make friends?

The effects of working together

When a group is a success the group thrives, with members and volunteers making new friends, learning new skills, feeling valued and most importantly, being proud to be actively involved.

There’s a real community spirit that exists and members naturally pull together for each other and for the greater good of the group. Friendship, being social and being part of a group are excellent ways of maximising everyone’s mental health. Offering peer support can help individuals by feeling they are surrounded by like-minded individuals.

The future?

The future is in your hands. Rothwell is already full of lots of exciting things to do but if you feel that there is something you could add to this, I am here to help. I can work with you to guide you and offer support to make your ideas come to fruition.

More good news stories

Do you have a good news story? Please get in touch and tell us what is happening in your street, who has made a difference to you and the way you live. Rothwell has many unsung heroes that we would love to hear about.

Email our Sarah Hart, our Rothwell Assets Based Community Development Officer / Nidderdale Community Led Housing Officer on: sarah.hart@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.

20 ways to make running a ‘Hybrid’ Volunteer Appreciation Event easier

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Volunteers are the heart and at the heart of many communities and organisations across North Yorkshire.

Volunteers’ Week, which runs annually from 1 – 7 June, is an annual celebration of the contribution millions of people make across the UK by volunteering in their communities. It offers a fantastic opportunity to thank and celebrate current volunteers and to inspire future volunteers.

We are aware that many organisations are already planning a volunteer appreciation event, perhaps even their first face-to-face one since Covid, or an event taking place remotely. Running a ‘hybrid’ event where volunteers can join in person or online offers the potential for more people to get involved. Here are some tips on running such an event:

In advance:
  • Wherever possible involve volunteers in planning and delivering the event
  • Ask staff and service users to provide quotes about the difference volunteers make (i.e. “We appreciate you because….”) and have these available to share on the day
  • Prepare an appreciation card (and perhaps a small gift) that can be given to those attending with maybe an electronic card for those joining remotely on the day.
On the day:
  • Have people available to not only welcome volunteers in person but also someone available to welcome those joining online
  • It’s also good to have someone who can offer IT support in advance of the event and on the day.
Don’t forget to:
  • Test all of the equipment in advance
  • Test the live streaming in the venue before the event
  • Ensure that everyone can hear the sound online
  • Turn on the cameras of the volunteers online (if they agree) so people can see them and they can see those in the room
  • Arrange the camera so the presenter is looking at people in the room and those online.
In terms of content, there are several things you might consider offering:
  • An overview or update on the impact volunteers make on your organisation (numbers and stories)
  • An organisational update with the opportunity for a Q & A with your Chief Officer and Chair of the Board
  • Many service user stories, collected in advance of the event (make sure you gain permission to share)
  • Interactive activities – quizzes, and chair-based exercises that people in the room and online can take part in. Feedback tools such as Slido or Menti can be used in a room and by those online (if you’re using these, you may need to send out instructions before the event)
  • Use the opportunity to ask your volunteers to share their favourite volunteer moments (in person or on a post-it note).
To make the event as immersive as possible for those online:
  • Record the event as a webinar so people can join in real-time or watch it as a recording
  • Offer an online chat facility and Q & A function and have someone who can respond to these
  • Offer a virtual interactive whiteboard so people can post thoughts and comments.

Make sure you have a backup plan in place in case any of your key support staff are unavailable at short notice.

You may also like to take and share a video of the day for those unavailable to join you and share this via your website and social media (with appropriate permissions in place).

Whether you’re planning a garden party, picnic, celebration meal, or hybrid event we hope you have a wonderful Volunteers’ Week.

Support for volunteer-involving organisations

Our toolkits, resources, and, guides offer help for your organisation on topics from becoming volunteer ready to getting to grips with volunteer recruitment, support, and management.

Search for volunteering roles on the NCVO (the National Council for Volunteering Organisation) website. There are links to multiple volunteering websites from organisations such as Vinspired, and Volunteering Matters.