What is flexible volunteering?

Flexible volunteering allows individuals to give their time and skills in a way that fits around their existing commitments and schedules. Unlike traditional volunteering, which may require commitment at a set time or specific days of the week, flexible volunteering offers more freedom and adaptability. It allows individuals to make a difference in their community and support causes they care about, without having to make significant sacrifices or changes to their existing routine.

Offering flexible volunteering roles may be off-putting for some volunteer managers as it is a lot harder to manage because there aren’t set roles and times. However, using TeamKinetic can make managing these roles easier.

Giving both options of flexible and set volunteering opportunities is more attractive to volunteers. People want the option of being able to decide what and how much they want to do, based on their situation in that particular week.

Why is flexible volunteering more attractive to volunteers?

Flexible volunteering is often more attractive as it allows volunteers to fit their volunteer work around their existing commitments and schedules. In a recent blog post by Rob Jackson, he says that people today want more flexible volunteering that fits around their availabilities & interests. It connects them to a larger sense of purpose and makes an impact. Also due to the current cost of living crisis and post-pandemic, these adjustable options are more appealing, organisations are more likely to engage volunteers if the volunteering opportunities are flexible. Below there are six reasons why flexible volunteering can be more attractive at this time. 

  • Current circumstances: Due to the current cost of living crisis, flexible volunteering is more appealing. Volunteers can still complete voluntary work but will still have the spare time they need. This may be useful if volunteers need to do extra paid work in order to help them out during the rising cost of living.
  • Convenience: Many people have busy schedules and cannot commit to regular, fixed volunteering hours. Adaptable volunteering options allow them to contribute to a cause they care about in a way that works with their schedule and lifestyle.
  • Diverse opportunities: Adaptable volunteering often includes a wider range of activities, such as remote volunteering or micro-volunteering opportunities that can be completed in short periods of time.
  • Skill-based opportunities: Flexible volunteering often allows volunteers to use their specific skills and expertise in a way that fits with their interests and strengths.
  • Personal satisfaction: Volunteers who have the freedom to choose when and how they volunteer may feel more in control of their experience, leading to greater personal satisfaction and a sense of fulfilment.
  • Social impact: It allows organizations to tap into a wider pool of volunteers who may not be able to commit to traditional volunteering opportunities, leading to greater social impact and community engagement.

Overall, the flexibility of volunteering can be a win-win for both the volunteer and the organization, as it allows for a greater level of engagement and contribution from volunteers while meeting the needs of busy schedules and lifestyles. So if you are an organisation that is struggling to recruit and retain volunteers, maybe consider offering flexible opportunities to volunteers.

How to create flexible opportunities with TeamKinetic

At the end of adding an opportunity, you are given the choice to list your opportunity as a flexible or individual session. A flexible opportunity is when you need a volunteer for a certain role but it’s not always on the same date when it’s needed. Meaning you have the date you want the volunteering role to be completed but you are flexible about when the volunteer attends.  

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