Back to School
With hundreds of thousands of new students getting ready to start university this autumn, it’s a good time to be thinking about student volunteering. NUS estimates that over 700,000 higher education students volunteer, with the majority of those volunteering at least once a week. As with all volunteers, students have different motivations for getting involved, but most of them want to help people or improve things.
We’ve got some practical advice and tips to help you think about student volunteering:
- What is student volunteering & why do students volunteer?
- Five top tips for recruiting and retaining student volunteers
- Involving young people in social action – NCVO guidance for the #iwill campaign
- Lessons from history: challenges and opportunities for student volunteering today
- Blackburn and Darwen’s Volunteer Co-ordinator Denise explains how she successfully recruited student volunteers
Supporting volunteer managers
We have launched a new core offer of training courses to support those who manage and lead volunteers. Although volunteer management is a growing profession, it remains largely invisible. At NCVO, we aim to champion volunteering, including by supporting volunteer managers and recognising the importance of what they do. Earlier this year, we heard from volunteer managers and people leading volunteers about what they wanted and needed in our volunteering development survey, and from this we designed new training opportunities to meet their needs. On the blog, Jarina explains more about what we’re doing to support volunteer managers.
Book now:
- Good practice in volunteer management – London, 3 November
- Assessing the impact of your volunteers – NCVO, 16 November
- Understanding micro-volunteering – Sheffield, 19 November
- Volunteering and the law – NCVO, 4 December
Reforming the powers of police staff and volunteers
The home secretary, Theresa May, has proposed new reforms to the powers of police staff and volunteers. The proposed changes are described as aiming to “enhance the role of volunteers” by enabling volunteers to take on more roles and be designated powers by chief officers. These proposals are open for consultation until 31 October. Find out more about the proposals and respond to the consultation.
Join In celebrates the 2012 legacy
It’s been three years since the Olympics came to London in 2012, and now we are well on the way to Rio 2016. Join In is marking the moment with a new video sharing some highlights of the Join In journey and celebrating local sports volunteers.
Celebrate good governance with the Winifred Tumim Memorial Prize
The Winifred Tumim Memorial prize celebrates voluntary organisations that have used the Code of Good Governance to improve their governance. Make sure you enter by 25 September.
Upcoming events & training opportunities
Mentoring & Befriending Workshops
NCVO Mentoring and Befriending are running quality standard support workshops. Come along to receive support with your application or just to find out more about the Approved Provider Standard.
2015 AVM Conference – 14 October
Bookings are now open for the 2015 AVM Conference at the Royal National Hotel, London. This full day conference is dedicated to all things to do with volunteer management, and this year will cover topics such as accessibility, volunteering strategy and corporate volunteering. Book now.
Charities Evaluation Services training – 15 October
Sign up to our Collecting Outcome & Impact Data course and learn about how to effectively use a range of methods for collecting great data, to really demonstrate the impact of your volunteering programmes.
Strengthening Local Infrastructure, BIG Assist Learning / Change for Good – 20 October
Book your free place at the upcoming BIG Assist event for the South East on 20 October in London. This event is one of a series around the country for local and specialist infrastructure. Drawing on learning from the BIG Assist programme, these events look at how local infrastructure can maintain support for voluntary and community action as demand grows and resources shrink. The workshop will also give infrastructure in the South East the opportunity to network, and share experiences and ideas.
NCVO/BWB Trustee conference 2015 – 2 November
Join us at the Trustee Conference in London, and choose from 12 workshops to get three hours of expert-led professional development for your trustee board. Book your place online or call the NCVO events team on 020 7520 3153.
Promote your organisation at this year’s Trustee Conference. Exhibit during the breaks and at lunch and you’ll have the opportunity for two members of staff to network with over 400 trustees plus you’ll get a free place for your trustee board. Prices start at £653+VAT. Find out more online or email Michelle Brister.
Stay in touch
If you have any volunteering news or stories to share, of if you need any help, advice or support, please get in touch. You can also comment below or tweet us.
Emily was NCVO’s trainee volunteering development policy officer. She is interested in policy around volunteering, particularly diversity in volunteering, employability, volunteering in public services, and employer supported volunteering. 
