There’s been a lot happening recently in the volunteering world, and now that we are in the final weeks before the General Election on 7 May, it’s a particularly busy time for the volunteering team at NCVO. We’ve also seen new resources published – including research from the Commission on the Voluntary Sector and Ageing on how the ageing population might affect volunteering, and suggestions from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation on how to encourage informal volunteering in rural communities. For these and more, see below. If you have any comments or thoughts on anything to do with volunteering, we’d love to hear from you. Please comment below, tweet us, or email us.
Volunteering news
Peers debate the social and economic value of sports volunteers
The transcript of the House of Lords debate on 24 March, into which NCVO had some input, raises some interesting points for inclusivity, community building, and well-being.
Commission on the Voluntary Sector and Ageing calls the sector to action
At the launch of the Commission on the Voluntary Sector and Ageing’s final report, the voluntary sector was challenged to prepare itself for the UK’s ageing population.
Generation Change launches manifesto on youth social action
In its recently published manifesto, Generation Change calls the incoming government to build youth social action as an integral part of growing up in the UK.
NCVO update
Mentoring and Befriending Foundation services transfer to NCVO
As of 31 March, NCVO has taken on core services from the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation, including a transfer of three Manchester-based staff members.
New volunteering consultancy development officer starts at NCVO
We have recently welcomed Jarina Choudhury to the volunteering team at NCVO; she will be developing NCVO’s training offer, and will be carrying out a scoping exercise in the coming months.
NCVO develops its 2015 manifesto work on Access to Volunteering
In the latest in a series of guest blog posts about NCVO’s manifesto asks, COGS (Cherry Orchard Gardening Service) reflects on their experiences of the 2009/10 Access to Volunteering pilot.
Catch up on the Midlands Volunteering in Care Homes Learn and Share event
The storify from the Midlands Learn and Share event on 25 February, part of the Volunteering in Care Homes project, is full of case studies and guidance.
Deadline for the Annual Return of Volunteer Centres extended
Help us make a case for volunteering infrastructure by completing this year’s Annual Return of Volunteer Centres survey, extended until the end of April.
IVR gauges interest in a new area of volunteer research
Family volunteering is an exciting form of volunteering that’s emerging at the moment, and this IVR (Institute for Volunteering Research) survey aims to identify the most relevant research areas.
Guidance and resources
New research on informal helping and social action in local communities
This new report by JRF (the Joseph Rowntree Foundation) examines the impact of ‘informal helping’ in semi-rural Yorkshire, and how the model could be adapted for other communities.
Training and funding available for local volunteer-led music events
Our Big Gig, a project delivered by Superact, is inviting people looking to run a music event in their local community from 10-12 July. They can apply for small grants, and sign up to training opportunities.
Comprehensive guidance on involving volunteer interns published
NCVO recently published new best practice guidance (PDF, 169KB) on how to have appropriate volunteer internships as part of an organisation’s volunteering programme.
Upcoming events
Receive your Volunteers’ Week resource pack: 1-7 June
Sign up on the Volunteers’ Week website to receive your digital resource pack, and add your events to the national Volunteers’ Week map.
Book a place at Evolve 2015: Monday 15 June
Places are filling up fast for our popular volunteering workshops at the leadership event for the voluntary sector. Book your place.
Social media round-up
The latest from the NCVO blog
There’s been a lot happening on the NCVO blog recently, particularly looking at the current hot topic of employer-supported volunteering.
The latest from NCVO’s Pinterest board
See everything from this blog and more on the NCVO Volunteering Pinterest board!
Abigail was NCVO’s trainee volunteering policy officer. She volunteers at the Separated Child Foundation where she's managing their team of volunteers. 
