News Articles
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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;…
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…
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…
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…
