What’s Happening in the Third Sector?
Ten Essentials Every Volunteer Manager Needs
Rob Jackson has recently published a fantastic piece outlining the top ten things no volunteer engagement professional should be without. It’s a brilliant checklist for anyone looking to step up their volunteer management.
Rob’s list covers everything from practical daily tools, like finding more accessible alternatives to Microsoft Teams for volunteer meetings, to strategic essentials like fighting for a dedicated L&D budget.
He also champions the importance of connecting with the wider sector through professional associations, local volunteer centres, and industry podcasts.
Get Ready for ‘The Big Do’ This Summer
This June, two of the UK’s most successful community initiatives, The Big Lunch and The Big Help Out, are joining forces for a massive weekend of community action dubbed “The Big Do”. Taking place from 5th to 8th June, it aims to be the biggest community celebration weekend of its kind.
Matt Hyde has written a great piece highlighting why charities need to seize this national volunteering moment. With the sector facing stretched resources and communities feeling the pinch, The Big Do offers a unique chance to reach people who might not typically see themselves as volunteers.
By combining the social connection of a Big Lunch with the action of The Big Help Out, it creates a welcoming, low-pressure pathway where someone might pop along for a cup of tea and leave having agreed to help out.
The best part is you don’t need a huge budget or a complex plan to take part. Matt suggests that even the simplest invitations can have a huge impact, and encourages charities to get their simple, one-off opportunities listed on the GoVo platform so they are ready for the millions of people looking to connect and contribute this summer.
And remember: you can publish your TeamKinetic opportunities directly to the GoVo platform by linking the systems (Super Admin Settings → Setup → Integrations → GoVo).
Breaking Down Barriers in Heritage Volunteering
The University of York has just announced a fantastic new study aimed at making volunteering in the heritage and nature sectors more inclusive.
Partnering with major organisations like London Zoo, Forestry England, and the Imperial War Museums, the project seeks to open doors for people facing barriers to volunteering, such as disabilities, neurodiversity, or mental health challenges.
What we love most about this initiative is how it puts the volunteer first. Instead of asking what a volunteer can do for the organisation, the focus is entirely on asking, “What can this experience do for you?”.
Building on a successful pilot at the Ripon Museums Trust, the partner organisations are working together as a “community of practice” to create a gold standard practical guide for inclusive volunteering across the UK.
Over the next 12 months, researchers will track 80 participants to evaluate exactly how these inclusive programmes boost wellbeing and social connection.
Hospital Volunteer Drivers Save NHS Trust Over £80k
We always love to see the tangible impact of volunteering making national news. A brilliant scheme developed by the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) and Helpforce has saved the trust an impressive £86,000 in just six months.
A dedicated team of 17 volunteer drivers has been stepping in to transport patients who need regular treatments, such as kidney dialysis, or require a lift home after being discharged. But volunteers don’t just drop patients at the door; they make sure they are settled in, checking that essentials like heating, lights, and water are up and running after a long hospital stay.
The project’s efficiency is clear, with 98% of patients collected within 30 minutes of discharge, drastically reducing the hospital’s reliance on ambulances and taxis. Helpforce estimates that if this blueprint were rolled out nationwide, it could save the NHS around £30 million a year.
Other stories:
Leave a Reply