Volunteering News
Volunteers: How can we reverse the downward trend?
In the latest of his musings about volunteering, NCVS Volunteering Development Officer Dave Thomas, picks up on the hottest topic of the moment.In her latest blog, my colleague Helen Oparinde, reports on a speech by David Holdsworth, the Charity Commission’s new CEO. He touched on the continuing downward trend in volunteering but didn’t offer any solutions.By coincidence, the London Vision and… Read More
Copyright and volunteer-created materials
Our Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas, takes a peek at volunteer contributions and the copyright laws that go with them.Volunteers often bring creativity and innovation to organisations, but their contributions can also raise important questions about copyright. Understanding and addressing these issues proactively can protect both the organisation and its volunteers while fostering a… Read More
Can volunteer leaders give Christmas gifts or meals without affecting tax or benefits?
NCVS Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas, has had a number of conversations about giving volunteers Christmas presents. The issue often arises around Volunteers’ Week as well, so he’s done some digging and makes these observations.As Christmas approaches, many leaders of volunteers want to thank their teams for their time and dedication. This often leads to questions like, 'Can we give… Read More
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