News Articles
Exploring the volunteer journey vs. the customer journey
In this blog, NCVS Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas, takes a sideways look at the Volunteer Journey and highlights that there are many similarities to product marketing.In putting this blog together, I had a conversation with Amanda Chambers, NCVS Interim Deputy CEO and manager of our Communications Team. In particular, she pointed me towards the important role that volunteers play…
LoVN extra came to Beeston
The Leaders of Volunteers Network (LoVN) is both a face-to-face and online network run by NCVS’s Volunteering Development Officer Dave Thomas, where at each meeting there is discussion about different aspects of volunteer management, as well as sharing best practice and information. As part of the Broxtowe project, Helen Oparinde, NCVS Group Support Coordinator, arranged with Dave to take LoVN…
Micro-volunteering: engaging volunteers in minutes
In his first blog of 2025, NCVS Volunteering Development Officer Dave Thomas shares some thoughts about one area of volunteering that could help to engage new volunteers at a time when volunteers are becoming harder to engage. Volunteering doesn’t always mean long-term commitments or dedicating entire weekends to a cause. Sometimes, making a difference can take just a few minutes of someone’…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…