Guest blog for Volunteers’ Week, written by Ruth Buchanan Leonard
Every year, Volunteers’ Week invites us to pause — to look up from the processes of delivery management and remember that volunteering is, at its heart, a human act. And that gift of humanity deserves to be acknowledged.
But thanking volunteers shouldn’t be a ritual we perform once a year. It’s in the ongoing practice of noticing and showing appreciation. A way of tending to the relationships that make volunteer involvement possible.
And like all relational work, it’s more complex — and more powerful — than it first appears.
As I’ve written elsewhere: “Everyone likes to be appreciated and recognised for what they’ve done. This doesn’t mean that people are consciously looking for thanks; rather, that it becomes noticed if it’s never given.” That, to me, is the essence of meaningful recognition. Volunteers don’t volunteer for thanks — but they do leave when they don’t feel seen.
It’s tempting to think that the more extravagant the reward, the more appreciated volunteers will feel. But research — and experience — tell us the opposite. Too much or too big a reward can make people uncomfortable, or even create competition where none is needed. And of course, when we’re thinking about how to show our thanks, we need to be aware of Inland Revenue implications: giving cash (other than for out-of-pocket expenses), vouchers or setting up the expectation of regular gifts can blur the legal boundary between volunteer and employee. So it’s worth considering how you want to show your appreciation without putting volunteers or organisations at risk.
A thank you is relational. A reward can be transactional. Volunteers give their time because what they do matters. When we respond on set occasions or with grand gestures, we risk changing the meaning of their contribution. It could imply that volunteering is being “paid”, just in a different currency.
What volunteers want is to know that what they did made a difference. Sometimes the most powerful thank you is a quiet word when they’ve finished their shift, a handwritten note, or a moment of eye contact that says, “I saw that, and it mattered.” Opportunities to be heard and be involved in building the future are also valuable ways of showing people they are recognised as being important. Small, regular appreciation builds trust and belonging far more effectively than any annual celebration – important and fun as these may be.
And recognition is never a one-size-fits-all approach. As well as individual differences, there may be expectations of what feels like recognition based on age or background. I had a recent conversation with a younger volunteer about how students love a tote bag, for example. Some people love a public thank you; others would rather the floor open up beneath them than be singled out. Your role is not to assume how people want to be thanked, but to notice, to ask, and to be ready to adapt your plans.
Volunteers stay where they feel welcomed, supported and appreciated. They leave when they feel invisible. Silence and not having contribution noticed, more than anything, turns people away.
So, this Volunteers’ Week, say thank you and celebrate what volunteering brings. Say it often. Say it genuinely. Say it in ways that respect the volunteer’s agency – and plan how to make this ‘thanks’ habitual. Because volunteering practice is built on relationships, reflection and responsiveness. Recognition is one of the simplest—and most powerful—ways to live those values.
If you want to reflect more on ways to thank volunteers and volunteer involvement more widely, this upcoming coaching programme from our friend Tobi Johnson may help. Learn more here: https://volpro.mykajabi.com/a/2148280246/zNVTAr8m
As a special offer for TeamKinetic members, use code RUTH to get 15% off.
I’ll be offering complementary drop-in webinars throughout the course, so email me at ruth@teamkinetic.co.uk if you want to be involved.
