Volunteering round-up: October 2019

What Brexit means for volunteering

While it’s still not clear what will happen with Brexit, it’s important for volunteer-involving organisations to be prepared for all eventualities. Following on from NCVO’s guidance to help the sector prepare for a no-deal Brexit, Shaun Delaney, NCVO’s volunteering development manager, has written about what Brexit could mean for volunteering and volunteers and tells us what volunteer-involving organisations can do to prepare.

Government consultation: protections against sexual harassment in the workplace

During the summer the Government Equalities Office launched a consultation. It asked whether the current laws on protecting people from sexual harassment in the workplace are effective and set out some options for change.

Last month, Shaun Delaney wrote about the government’s proposals. One of the key proposals is to give volunteers the same Equality Act protections against sexual harassment that employees have, with the same recourse to employment tribunals.

Elizabeth Chamberlain, NCVO’s head of policy and public services, has set out NCVO’s view on the proposals, explaining how we reached it. You can also read NCVO’s full response to the consultation (PDF, 200KB).

New safeguarding resources on NCVO Knowhow

Last week saw the launch of new safeguarding resources on NCVO Knowhow. Over the past six months, NCVO has been working in partnership with some of the leading organisations in the sector to develop a range of briefings, guides, practical tools, podcasts and videos about good safeguarding practice and safe culture. Elizabeth Chamberlain wrote about these new resources and outlined what comes in the next phase of work of the Safeguarding Training Fund.

NCVO/Bates Wells Trustee Conference 2019

There’s still time to book your place at the NCVO/Bates Wells Trustee Conference. Join us on Monday 4 November at The Brewery in London as we explore what good governance looks like for modern charities, using the key principles of the Charity Governance Code. We will give you practical tips and guidance to help you develop in your role as a trustee and support your organisation’s governance to go from strength to strength.

This year the conference will include a breakout session outlining the legal issues trustees should be aware of when involving volunteers in their organisations.

Listening and learning about volunteer management

Jarina Choudhury, NCVO’s volunteering development consultant, wrote about some of the most pressing challenges facing volunteer managers and gave some suggestions on what could be done to help leadership teams rethink how they view and what provisions they make for volunteer management.

Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference 2019 – summary highlights

The Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference, organised by the Voluntary Sector Studies Network (VSSN) and NCVO was held on 10 and 11 September at Aston University Business School. Academics, policy makers and practitioners from the UK and further afield came together to share and discuss the latest volunteering and voluntary sector research. Oliver Chan, NCVO research assistant, wrote about some of the major themes and challenges ahead for the sector that emerged at this year’s conference.

The links between family and volunteering: what the evidence tells us

Over recent months, NCVO has been undertaking a research project exploring the links between family and volunteering. We’re delighted that this research is being funded by Sport England, Pears Foundation, Greater London Authority and the Scouts Association.

To get to grips with what research is already out there the research team has carried out a review of the existing evidence. Joanna Stuart, NCVO research associate and visiting research fellow at Nottingham Trent University, summarised what the existing evidence tells us.

Training and events

Keep up to date with latest volunteering policy, research and practice at our sector-leading training and events:

• Good practice in volunteer management – 18 October 2019, 6 December 2019 – NCVO Conference Suite, London (one-day course running on two different dates)
  This one-day course provides an introduction to the key principles of good practice in volunteer management and how to apply them to your organisation.
• National Volunteering Forum – 23 October 2019 – thestudio, Leeds
  Join NCVO’s Volunteering Development Unit and a panel of experts at the next National Volunteering Forum in Leeds – focusing on Employer Supported Volunteering: the good, the bad and the way forward. This event is now sold out, however you can join the waiting list.
• Safeguarding for volunteer managers – 28 October 2019 – NCVO Conference Suite, London
  This one-day course introduces the basics of safeguarding specifically within a volunteer managers role. It highlights effective safeguarding practice when working with and supporting volunteers.
• NCVO/Bates Wells Trustee Conference – 4 November 2019 – The Brewery, London
  Join 400 colleagues from across the sector at the leading annual event for trustees, chairs, honorary treasurers, chief executives and anyone who works with a governing board.
• Volunteering and the law – 15 November 2019 – NCVO Conference Suite, London (one-day course)
  This one-day course helps you to understand volunteering and the law in relation to issues such as safeguarding, data protection, health and safety, equality and diversity, insurance and benefits.
• Assessing the impact of your volunteers – 28 November 2019 – NCVO Conference Suite, London
  This one-day 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.