News Articles
The volunteer journey - first steps
Dave Thomas Volunteering Development Officer at NCVS writes... In my last blog, I suggested that the language that we use to talk about volunteering is important in valuing volunteers and in making it clear that there is a difference between volunteering and employment. I also admitted that I sometimes struggle to make that clear distinction. In this blog, I’d like to explore three very commonly…
Mind your language
Dave Thomas Volunteering Development Officer at NCVS writes... “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”. This chant has rung out in school playgrounds and where groups of children get together since time immemorial. Even as we chanted this, or heard it chanted, we knew that it wasn’t true but it reminds us that words can hurt and the way we use them is important.…
What do we offer our volunteers?
Dave Thomas, Volunteering Development Officer at NCVS writes... One of the most important questions that I ask people who tell me that they want to volunteer is “what do you want to get from your volunteering?” The answer to this question can go a very long way to helping them to choose the opportunity that best suits them from the ones on offer on our 'Search for…
Loneliness Awareness Week 2021
This week it's Loneliness Awareness Week (14-18 June 2021), hosted by Marmalade Trust. The campaign aims to raise awareness of loneliness and get people talking about it. After a year of lockdowns, social distancing, and restrictions, more of us are experiencing loneliness than ever, which is having a big impact on our wellbeing. The theme for this year's campaign is…
Equation receives Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
Congratulations to Nottingham-based domestic abuse, sexual violence and gender equality charity Equation for receiving The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. The QAVS is the highest award for voluntary groups and is the equivalent of the MBE. It is awarded to outstanding groups of volunteers whose level of initiative and impact are truly exceptional. The charity was nominated for the…
Is the person applying for your volunteer role allowed to do so?
Dave Thomas, Volunteering Development Officer at NCVS writes... In our enthusiasm to involve new volunteers, we often say that we welcome anybody whose skills, interests and enthusiasm fit with the role that we are seeking to fill. However, there are a number of legal constraints on who we can allow to volunteer. There are also people who may think they are prevented from volunteering who are not…
Is It finally time to open up volunteer roles again?
Dave Thomas, Volunteering Development Officer at NCVS, writes... Six months ago, in August 2020, when the first wave of the pandemic seemed to be easing off and lockdown was lifted, I wrote a blog post asking Leaders of Volunteers to review their pre-lockdown opportunities. From where we are now, in March 2021, it is easy to see that I floated that idea too early. We…
Supporting online and remote volunteers
Dave Thomas, Volunteering Development Officer at NCVS, writes... Although online, remote or virtual volunteering is nothing new, over the past year (2020-2021) there has been a fantastic growth in the number of such opportunities and in the organisations offering them. Many Leaders of Volunteers have responded to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic by supporting remote teams.…
Is that new role really a volunteer role or should it be a paid job?
Dave Thomas, Volunteering Development Officer at NCVS, writes... I have long been an advocate of the principle that volunteers can do anything. As long as people with the right skills are involved in the right roles, this has always been true. The voluntary sector is made up of hundreds and thousands of small organisations with no paid staff where volunteers have to do everything. But…
Involving young volunteers
Dave Thomas, Volunteering Development Officer at NCVS, writes... Over many years, we've seen that young people have a passion and enthusiasm to be involved in their community and make a difference through volunteering. Here at the NCVS Volunteer Centre, we're keen to encourage Leaders of Volunteers to harness young people's desire to help and give back to their…
