Volunteering News
NCVS achieves the national Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation standard
The Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation (VCQA) is designed for volunteer centres and is open to both NAVCA members and non-members providing volunteer centre services in their local communities. It assesses organisations across the five functions of volunteer centres. NCVS is pleased to announce that it has obtained the VCQA. Dave Thomas, Volunteering Development Officer at NCVS, shares his… Read More
Volunteering: A path to embracing and delivering diversity
In his latest blog, Dave Thomas, NCVS Volunteering Development Officer, challenges Leaders of Volunteers to consider the benefits of a diverse volunteer team.In an increasingly interconnected world, we cannot overstate the importance of diversity. As we embrace diversity, we foster creativity, enhance community engagement, and promote a deeper understanding of different perspectives. Volunteering… Read More
NCVS world tour of St Ann's
After a weekend at a music festival, NCVS Volunteering Development Officer Dave Thomas went to meet a lively and enthusiastic group of women at St Ann’s Valley Centre on Monday morning. They are part of a learning group organised by the Muslim Women’s Network. Here's his summary from the event.I spoke to them about volunteering, only to realise that the group members already had over a century of… Read More
Volunteer application forms
NCVS Volunteering Development Officer Dave Thomas muses about a topic that has been around for a long time: are volunteer application forms an essential part of our recruitment process, or are they too much like job application forms? From conversations with leaders of volunteers, I found very mixed views about using application forms as part of the volunteer recruitment and on-boarding… Read More
Volunteers' Week reviewed
Dave Thomas, NCVS Volunteering Development Officer looks back on a busy Volunteers' Week last week.2024 marked the 40th annual Volunteers' Week, and NCVS has proudly celebrated each one. This year was no exception. Alongside our social media festivities and events hosted by volunteer-involving organisations, I took some time last week to step away from my computer and join in the celebrations.… Read More
The Triple Dividend of Workplace Volunteering?
Dave Thomas, NCVS Volunteering Development Officer, has been musing about a recent report that looked into employee volunteering.The question mark at the end of the title is very deliberate.Pro Bono Economics is a national organisation that uses economic analysis and insight gained from its connections within the social sector to help charities, funders, businesses, and policymakers address the… Read More
Speed dating at Jobcentre Plus
Dave Thomas, NCVS Volunteering Development Officer, was asked into the Jobcentre this week to spread the word about the benefits of volunteering. When I received an email telling me about a speed dating event, I was intrigued but not very interested. Then I discovered that Jobcentre Plus had proactively reached out to a few organisations in the VCSE sector to meet with job coaches and… Read More
Top Tech Tips for Leaders of Volunteers
Dave Thomas, NCVS Volunteering Development Officer, continues to monitor ways that technology can make life easier for Leaders of Volunteers. Last month, I wrote a review of volunteer management software and have received some feedback. I would appreciate hearing more of your thoughts.Recently, I met with a small group of Leaders of Volunteers to discuss free tech tools that can simplify… Read More
Embrace The Big Help Out as part of Volunteers' Week
Dave Thomas, Volunteering Development Officer at NCVS, continues his series of articles in support of Leaders of Volunteers. This time, Dave shares his thoughts about Volunteers' Week, which starts on Monday 3 June, and the arrival of The Big Help Out. Celebrate, thank and recruitThis year, Volunteers' Week will celebrate its 40th anniversary. I remember the very first one!For the second… Read More
Volunteer Management software review
Dave Thomas, Volunteering Development Officer at NCVS, continues his series of articles in support of Leaders of Volunteers. This time, Dave looks into different Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems that could be used by organisations to manage their volunteer programme.While many of us are still using old-school solutions such as Excel and Google Sheets to manage our volunteer… Read More
