Volunteers’ Week 1-7 June!
After a fallow year in 2020, we’re back and delighted to be taking forward the campaign in England this year, together with our partners that make up the UK Volunteering Forum:
- WCVA (Wales)
- Volunteer Scotland
- Volunteer Now (Northern Ireland).
Keep an eye on our website for updates and follow us on @ncvovolunteers – the official Volunteers’ Week Twitter account!
Updated covid guidance
Let us help you get ready for lockdown easing. Keep an eye on our coronavirus involving volunteers guidance in the coming weeks to help you navigate the relaxing of restrictions carefully and safely.
Mass vaccination and the voluntary sector
We asked 60 organisations about mass vaccination. Here’s what we learned about barriers to mass vaccination and the role of charities and volunteers.
Mobilising Voluntary Action
NCVO is working with Volunteer Scotland, WCVA and Volunteer Now on a collaborative research project at Northumbria University to explore voluntary action during covid-19. The project will help build the evidence base on the impacts of the pandemic on volunteering. From this, the learning will generate recommendations to shape future policy and inform recovery.
Joanna Stuart, NCVO Research Associate and Laura Crawford, Northumbria University, highlight some key findings and how this research will help answer new questions as we move into the next phase of the pandemic in their blog. Organisations are invited to share their experiences and views on volunteering during covid through a survey in the blog. This will help build a better picture of what’s happening and make the case for volunteering support.
Volunteer passports
We’re working with Volunteering Matters to develop recommendations for a national volunteer passporting scheme. In our February blog, we outline what a scheme may entail, as well as the resulting opportunities and barriers. We held a consultation event on 11 March and want to thank everyone who came to share their views. We’ll be putting your views from this event, and from a series of discussions and interviews held by Volunteering Matters, into a set of recommendations to government in April.
Investing in Volunteers (IiV)
The IiV quality standard is the UK standard for good practice in volunteer management. It’s run by the UK Volunteering Forum which consists of four partners: NCVO in England, WCVA (Wales), Volunteer Now (Northern Ireland) and Volunteer Scotland. NCVO has handed over supporting organisations in England through their IiV journey to our UK partners. Volunteer Now (Northern Ireland) will be the first point of contact for organisations that want to achieve the award and preparing organisations for their first steps. To find about more about IiV, visit the IiV website. To talk about your organisational needs or request a quote, get in touch via email.
NHS Volunteer Responders
NHS Volunteer Responders have now answered 1.6m requests for help from people vulnerable to covid-19. The programme is prioritising recruitment for Patient Transport, Community Response and Community Response Plus volunteers in parts of the country where demand is greatest.
Volunteers with an existing DBS are particularly sought after so please promote this opportunity to any volunteers who may be stood down from other duties. They can apply for these roles through the NHS Volunteer Responder website. Recruitment to the Steward Volunteer role continues to be paused. The volunteers undertaking this role have already committed over 203,500 volunteer hours at sites across the country.
Covid-19 Voluntary Sector Impact Barometer
The Respond, Recover, Reset project with Nottingham Trent released its fifth report based on the wave five barometer survey responses and interview quotes. This month’s theme was the financial impact of the pandemic which used special survey questions including on:
- reserve levels and expected changes to funding sources for the next financial year
- interview quotes on income
- funding bodies and outlook.
The data from the report can be found in this month’s barometer dashboard. The wave six barometer survey was launched on Monday 8 March and had 536 responses when it closed on 22 March.
Events
NCVO is sponsoring Volunteer Expo, 7-8 May. Run by the Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland, this new online event will bring together volunteers, organisations and the voluntary sector to share ideas and energy, powered by volunteering. We’ll be running two workshops and our interim chief executive, Sarah Vibert, will be delivering a key-note speech, along with other sector leaders. Meet sixty organisations in one place without even leaving your home! Watch this short video here to find out more about the Expo and grab your free tickets here.
NCVO training
Safeguarding essentials in charities
We are running the safeguarding essentials in charities course on 4 May, 10 June, 13 July, 10.00 – 15.00.
Good practice in volunteer management
Our popular good practice in volunteer management takes place over two half-days from 10.00 to 13.00. You will need to attend both days as they are two parts of one course. Book your place here.
May course
- Session 1: Tuesday 18 May
- Session 2: Thursday 20 May
June course
- Session 1: Tuesday 22 June
- Session 2: Thursday 24 June
July course
- Session 1: Monday 19 July
- Session 2: Wednesday 21 July
Project management in the voluntary sector
We’re also running a course called Project Management in the Voluntary Sector. Find more information and dates from March to July.
Jarina is our volunteering development consultancy officer. Jarina develops consultancy and training services with the aim of improving volunteering practice across the public, private and voluntary sectors. 
