International Volunteer Day 2018
International Volunteer Day 2018 was on 5 December, designated by the United Nations in 1985 as an international observance day for celebrating the power and potential of volunteerism. This year, the day celebrated volunteer efforts that strengthen local ownership and the resilience of the community in the face of natural disasters, economic stresses and political shocks. Check out what Shaun had to say about volunteering building resilient communities in the UK.
What could a volunteering strategy do for your organisation?
NCVO is seeking ten people to take the lead on vision and strategy for volunteering. Jarina blogs about how a strategy can help your organisation rethink volunteering and how you can apply for one of our 10 subsidised places.
Time well spent: NCVO volunteer experience research and what this means
In a world of fake news and post-truth arguments, it can be difficult to keep volunteer management evidence-based and effective. Well, no more. Facts are facts and we want to kick off the year by discussing the latest evidence in volunteer management and launch NCVO’s research report on volunteer experience.
Our National Volunteering Forum on 25 January at NCVO in London will discuss what 10,000 people across Great Britain have to say about their volunteer experience. This event is free to NCVO members. Tickets went within 24 hours of being available however we hope to release more tickets mid-December so add your name to the waiting list.
‘A Day in the Life’ Work Shadow Scheme 2018/19
Applications are now open for NCVO’s ‘A Day in the Life’ work shadow scheme 2018/19. This initiative provides a unique opportunity for staff from government and voluntary sector organisations to step into each other’s shoes for a day and learn about how the other sector operates. We welcome applications from across the voluntary sector; anyone with permission from their employer can participate.
European Volunteering Capital 2020 announced
Padua in Italy has been announced as the European Volunteering Capital 2020 (#EVCapital). Commiserations to our friends in Stirling who narrowly missed out. The #EVCapital is a competition that aims to promote volunteering at the local level by giving recognition to municipalities that support and strengthen partnerships with volunteer centres and volunteer-involving organisations and celebrate and promote volunteering and the impact made by volunteers.
NCVO Annual Conference 2019
NCVO’s Annual Conference 2019 will be held in London on 1 April 2019. Join 600 colleagues from across the sector to explore trends and tools that you can harness to strengthen and support your organisation.
This event is for chief executives, directors or senior managers of voluntary organisations. It will also be useful to trustees, chairs and anyone working closely with an organisation’s management team. You can view the full programme for conference and book your place here.
Call for information regarding Tier 5 (charity worker) visa issues
Several of our members and non-members have told us that they have been experiencing difficulties related to the use of Tier 5 (charity worker) visas for overseas volunteers. If your organisation has experienced any difficulties of this kind, please get in touch with me at: Charles.Gillies@ncvo.org.uk.
Investing in Volunteers (IiV)
Investing in Volunteers (IiV) is the UK quality standard for good practice in volunteer management. Read about how IiV has benefited charities, directly from the achievers themselves.
Training and events
Keep up to date with latest volunteering policy, research and practice at our sector-leading training and events:
Protecting data: Essential security for the charity sector – 10 December 2018 – NCVO Conference Suite, London N1
This one-day course is a deep dive into cyber and physical security vulnerabilities and how to avoid them.
Assessing the impact of your volunteers – 18 January 2019 – NCVO Conference Suite, London N1
This workshop will give you step-by-step guidance on how to assess the impact your volunteers are having on your organisation, your beneficiaries and themselves, as well as on the wider community and other stakeholders.
Good Practice in Volunteer Management – 22 January 2019 – BVSC, Birmingham
This course gives an introduction to the key principles of good practice in volunteer management and how to apply them to your organisation.
National Volunteering Forum – 25 January – NCVO Conference Suite, London N1
Join us at our NVF where we will discuss what 10,000 people across Great Britain have to say about their volunteer experience. This event is free to NCVO members. Tickets went within 24 hours of being available however we hope to release more tickets mid-December so add your name to the waiting list.
Managing adult and child safeguarding in your organisation – 28 January 2019 – NCVO Conference Suite, London N1
You will learn to identify and plan the actions needed to ensure your organisation is meeting its legal safeguarding ‘duty of care’ and maintain your safeguarding arrangements.
NCVO Annual Conference 2019 – 1 April 2019 – The Brewery, London
Join 600 colleagues from across the sector to explore trends and tools that you can harness to strengthen and support your organisation.
Charlie is a trainee volunteering development policy officer at NCVO, supporting NCVO's volunteering policy work. He has been volunteering since childhood in various roles, including at a community development charity working with the eastern European Roma community in Glasgow, as an adviser at a Citizens Advice bureau, and as a Scout leader. 
