Volunteering round-up: November 2015

Volunteering in public services: it’s time for some joined up thinking

There are an estimated 500,000 citizens involved in policing at the moment and the Home Office would like this to increase, but we are calling for a better vision for volunteering in policing. Read more about NCVO’s response to the recent Home Office consultation on extending the powers of police volunteers.

It is time for some joined up thinking, and funding, when it comes to volunteering in public services. Volunteering is in high demand, but we need new thinking, new partnerships and a national strategic approach to the development of volunteering. Read more on the blog.

Celebrating volunteer managers

This month, we’ve been celebrating volunteer managers! To mark International Volunteer Managers’ Day on 5 November, we published a series of blog posts:

• Kathryn from NCVO writes about the importance of supported volunteering
• Nicky Butcher shares her experiences of managing volunteers for Comic Relief
• Ben Jarman from Clinks reflects on the grey areas of volunteer management in a restrictive environment
• How to show appreciation for your volunteers? Chloe Williams from Cancer Research UK reminds us of the importance of thanking our volunteers
• Jacob Przeklasa describes how Crisis manages over 13,000 volunteers to support Crisis at Christmas

Helping refugees to volunteer

How can volunteer managers help refugees to volunteer? On the blog, Jarina reflects on her previous experience as volunteer coordinator and gives some helpful tips on how to involve refugees, asylum seekers and migrants as volunteers.

Treat yourself!

We’ve not stopped championing and supporting volunteer managers, and neither should you. Take a look at our new training opportunities and book yourself onto the next course: Volunteering and the Law, 4 December.

Trustees’ Week 2015

How have you been celebrating Trustees’ Week, 2-6 November? We kicked off the week with NCVO/BWB’s Trustee Conference and have been sharing information and guidance on key issues like digital transformation, social investment and involving more young people as trustees.

Trustees’ Week might be over for this year, but trusteeship and good governance remains as important as ever. We’ve got some key resources and guidance to help:

• The best-selling Good Trustee Guide and the Good Guide to Financial Management
• Our knowledge bank, Knowhow, resources on trustees and governance
• Charity Commission’s guidance on managing your charity
• Induction and refresher training for charity trustees – book now for 24 November 2015 or 5 February 2016
• Seek assistance from our governance and volunteer development consultants

How should we measure rates of volunteering?

Thanks to the Community Life Survey, we know that 42% of people volunteered formally at least once from May 2014 to April 2015. The Community Life Survey looks at the latest trends in areas like volunteering, charitable giving and local action. The Cabinet Office invites views on the proposed approach for the Community Life Survey, including the potential of moving online. Respond to the consultation online.

Youth Social Action

Risky, or not?

Don’t let health and safety fears stop young people getting involved in volunteering and social action. In support of the #iwill campaign, the British Safety Council is providing information and assurance to those who want to promote social action and volunteering among 10 to 20 year olds. Take a look at their resources online, including fact-sheets, an animation and a game.

Where is it happening?

To support the #iwill campaign, Generation Change is developing Horizon, an online tool to map the provision of structured youth social action programmes in the UK. If you provide opportunities for youth social action, for example involving young people as volunteers, then take a look at Horizon online.

It all adds up!

Encourage your younger volunteers to log their volunteering hours with vInspired and apply for a vInspired award. These nationally recognised awards recognise the hours that young people give to volunteering and can be a great addition to college, university or job applications.

Rewarding and recognising all of your volunteers is really important. Take a look at Knowhow for more ideas about how to reward, recognise and retain volunteers.

IiV Achievers

Last month 14 organisations in England successfully renewed or achieved the Investing in Volunteers standard – congratulations to all the IiV Achievers!

Save the date

Join us at NCVO’s Annual Conference on 18 April 2016 to explore how, and why, leaders are transforming their charities to respond to the changing world and create the future for the voluntary sector.