By Sarah Hickie, leading on Voscur’s Vision for Volunteering Project
Volunteers Week has been running for over 40 years, and encourages organisations and communities to thank current and past volunteers for their invaluable efforts. At Voscur we love seeing what VCSE organisations locally get up to for this week, and all of the words of thanks shared. We also know, as do volunteer managers, that appreciating volunteers and volunteering needs to be a year-round commitment, and that this week can also be a moment to pause and reflect.
We hear from Sarah Hickie, VCSE Development Advisor at Voscur and lead on support to volunteering about how things feel on the ground, and what those reading may be able to give thought to this Volunteers Week.
It goes without saying that people who use their time for social good, and do so freely and without financial gain, are superstars. Volunteering was recently (albeit somewhat bluntly) estimated to be valued at £24.7billion a year the benefits for both volunteers and communities voluntary action supports are widely recognised. Investing in the infrastructure needed for it, or to free people up to do it, is a complete no brainer socially and economically if we think ‘big picture’.
It is important to acknowledge ‘who’d be there if they could’ and those who for a myriad of economic, social, physical reasons simply aren’t able to volunteer and aren’t able to benefit from volunteering. The situation in the UK continues to put barriers in the way, and if I had a magic wand I know my one wish, the thing that would genuinely help volunteering and volunteer involving organisations, would be for a more level playing field, a much lower cost of living and/or universal basic income, and much more hope for a better future. (Oh wait, that’s three wishes, and potentially raises other questions about if volunteering would be ‘needed’…)
When I ask volunteer managers I support at work what would help them in their roles recruiting, supporting and facilitating effective voluntary action many start with ‘can you fix the economy, so people can do other work less and voluntary ‘work’ more?’. I can’t fix the economy, and my efforts to help sustain volunteering and ensure volunteer reliant services and organisations aren’t forced to simply close their doors are a tiny drop in the ocean. However, I do have a few suggestions for anyone reading this.
For volunteer managers in the VCSE sector:
- Look after yourself. Connect with peers who get it – the pressure you’re under to keep good things happening. If you’re in Bristol join our Gaggle Group full of volunteer managers and/or come along to a Volunteer Organisers Forum.
- Know your strengths and weaknesses, and be open to continually learning – both the above are also good places to learn!
- Recognise when your organisation can and should be doing more to reduce barriers to volunteering. Our resource on Equity, Diversity and Volunteer Management might be a useful read.
- Focus on understanding people’s motivations to volunteer, and how your organisation can (or can’t) meet these – focus on where there is a match of what people want and what you can offer.
For decision makers, line managers and HR bods in the corporate sector:
- Work with the VCSE sector when supporting people out of careers and into retirement, and help employees figure out how to benefit from volunteering during this transition, and hopefully beyond!
- Support your employees to volunteer, ideally beyond one day a year ‘action days’ and photo opportunities, through:
- employer supported volunteering (ie paid time off to volunteer) in amounts and on schedules that mirror what your local VCSE organisations need
- encouraging and supporting charity trusteeship as a form of continued professional development, the sector is desperate for trustees, and there are some specific skills gaps on boards – Voscur’s Social Value Pioneers can be a way to explore this more
- considering where you can support pro-bono offers, and voluntarily distribute your strengths and skills beyond your organisation – locally, Quartet Community Foundation’s Pro-Help is a great place to start.
- making a no strings financial donation to a VCSE organisation, so they can use this how they best see fit – including on attracting and supporting their volunteers.
For grant makers and philanthropists:
- Shout about the fact you can fund things needed to help volunteering – volunteer manager posts, volunteer expenses, comms, refreshments etc.
- Support the organisations you fund to demonstrate the impact of volunteering.
- Consider if you could have a grant programme focussed on volunteering.
For anyone who might think they have some time to spare:
- Don’t talk yourself out of giving something new a go – you likely do have what it takes and likely will really love it! VCSE organisations are incredibly friendly, supportive and welcoming places.
- Ask around locally about what organisations need help with, or offer something you can see might be needed.
- Keep an eye on places that advertise roles (such as Voscur and Can Do Bristol)
- When talking to organisations be upfront about the time you have, and any barriers to your reliability – so this can be worked around.
