Volunteering News
Volunteer Management survey
The deadline to complete this survey is Friday 20 December 2024 VolunteerPro’s 2025 Volunteer Management Progress Report is looking for submissions. This international survey has been running for 10 years, and you can see previous reports here. Your input will help them to share the most current trends in volunteer engagement.This year, they are asking about:The biggest challenges for… Read More
What is volunteering?
Our Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas, takes a close look at 'volunteering' and asks what is it – and what it isn’t. Volunteering has long been at the heart of community life, a way for individuals to contribute time, energy, and expertise to causes that matter. But at its core, volunteering isn’t just about the act of giving; it’s about creating connections, sharing skills, and… Read More
Volunteering by any other name?
Volunteering Development Officer Dave Thomas draws inspiration from a famous Shakespeare play for this week's blog, as he explores the various names people use for volunteering. Does a rose by any other name smell as sweet? How would renaming volunteering affect our perception of it? The term volunteering originates from the Latin word voluntarius, meaning 'of one’s free will'. This… Read More
Delivering volunteer training
In this blog, Dave Thomas, NCVS Volunteering Development Officer considers the training that Leaders of Volunteers deliver to new and existing volunteers. You might want to grab a cup of tea and a biscuit for this one, this blog is packed full of useful info!Traditionally, this would always have been in face-to-face sessions, but with the widespread adoption of technology in the Voluntary,… Read More
How to keep volunteers engaged: Practical tips for success
At a time when fewer volunteers are coming forward to join our organisations, NCVS Volunteering Development Officer Dave Thomas shares ten practical ways that you can hang on to the volunteers that you have now and keep them enthusiastic.Getting volunteers involved is one thing, but keeping them motivated and committed over time is the real challenge. As someone who’s led volunteers for years, I… Read More
Best practices in volunteer supervision and support
Our Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas, turns his thoughts to the ongoing relationship that we build with a volunteer and offers some advice and a free download to support this process.Volunteers are a vital part of our organisations, offering their time, skills, and energy to support causes they care about. As leaders of volunteers, it’s our responsibility to ensure that their… Read More
The benefits of involving Lead Volunteers
NCVS Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas, has recently been talking to some leaders of volunteers about one way to reduce the workload and stress of managing a team—particularly a large team. Creating a supportive and effective environment is crucial for the success of any volunteer programme. However, many leaders of volunteers find it difficult to provide as much support as they… Read More
Tapping into a wealth of experience
Volunteering Development Officer Dave Thomas has recently had a birthday, which has prompted him to think about whether organisations make the best use of older volunteers’ skills and experience. A browse through the volunteering opportunities on the NCVS website will find more than a few roles offering to develop a potential volunteer’s skills and experience for the future. While this is an… Read More
Volunteering and mental health
Our Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas, has had a few worried leaders of volunteers contact him following recent publicity about mental health. As a result, his planned blog has been shelved, and he offers a few thoughts on mental health and volunteering.Mental health has been back in the news over the past couple of weeks following the BBC Panorama programme about the tragic events in… Read More
Volunteer leadership: Key skills and attributes
In this edition of his blog series, NCVS Volunteering Development Officer Dave Thomas turns the spotlight on leaders of volunteers.Volunteering is a cornerstone of community building and social impact. At the heart of successful volunteer initiatives are effective leaders of volunteers who guide, motivate, and support their teams. Being a leader of volunteers is not merely about managing tasks;… Read More