Heritage and culture organisations do vital work, preserving the legacies of our past for future generations. They rely on dedicated individuals and effective organisation. This is where volunteer management can be a great tool!
The Role of Volunteers in Heritage Preservation
Volunteers generously offer their time and expertise to nurture and protect our cultural heritage. Whether they’re cataloguing artefacts or leading tours through historic sites, volunteers foster a deeper connection between communities and their heritage.
Challenges in Volunteer Management for Heritage Preservation
While their contributions are incredibly valuable, managing heritage volunteers still comes with its own set of challenges. These include recruitment struggles, providing adequate training, coordinating schedules, and retaining engagement. It’s no doubt that heritage organisations face a fair few hurdles when optimising their volunteer programs.
Volunteer diversity can be a big issue for organisations in the sector. A 2019 report from the Heritage Volunteering Group raised questions about the lack of diversity and the roles volunteers play. Is this still the case in 2024?
Over the years, some great resources have been developed to address this issue. For example, take a look at this Make Your Mark webinar on how you can remove class barriers to heritage volunteering. This is just one of the factors which might be limiting your volunteer diversity.
Digital resources and tools can help you mobilise a wider range of volunteers as you can recruit outside of your usual ‘bubble’ in a quick and easy way.
The Importance of Effective Volunteer Management
Effective volunteer management is the cornerstone in overcoming these obstacles and maximising impact. By implementing streamlined recruitment processes, offering comprehensive training modules, and fostering open communication channels, heritage organisations can fulfil the true potential of their volunteer base.
Best Practice Volunteer Management for Heritage
To ensure the success of a volunteer programme, organisations must prioritise best practices. This may include establishing clear roles and expectations, providing ongoing support and recognition, and embracing technology to streamline administrative tasks. For example, a volunteer management system. A VMS can save you countless admin hours and help you cultivate a great community of volunteers.
Within TeamKinetic, volunteers are allowed to self-serve – meaning they have an active role in filling out their profile, choosing which opportunities to join, and following opportunity types that interest them.
Overall, volunteer management stands as a powerful tool in heritage preservation. By recognising the invaluable contributions of volunteers and implementing effective management strategies, we can safeguard our cultural legacy for generations to come.
How are we involved with the heritage & culture sector?
We recently announced our partnership with the Heritage Volunteering Group. This collaboration marks a commitment to the preservation of heritage sites and their volunteers.
Our shared aim is to foster community engagement and amplify the impact of volunteer efforts within heritage and culture organisations. In line with this, we are supporting all HVG events as well as their 2024 conference.
HVG’s annual conference is taking place on the 26th and 27th of November. Make sure you get the date in the diary by clicking on this link.
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These terms and conditions govern the use of the promotional offer provided by TeamKinetic to members of The Heritage Volunteering Group. By taking advantage of this offer, you agree to comply with these terms and conditions.
1.Offer Details: 1.1. TeamKinetic offers members of the Heritage Volunteering Group (HVG) a discount of 25% off the standard rate for the TeamKinetic volunteer management system. This offer is valid from 23/04/2024 – 30/09/2024.
1.2. The discount applies only to the first year of subscription for any version of the TeamKinetic volunteer management system.
1.3. Organisations can take advantage of this offer by reaching out directly to TeamKinetic, either by starting a free trial, or emailing info@teamkinetic.co.uk with notice of their intent to redeem this offer.
2.Eligibility: 2.1. To be eligible for this offer, users must be members of The Heritage Volunteering Group at the time of purchase.
3. Discount Application: 3.1. The 25% discount will be applied automatically during the checkout process for the TeamKinetic volunteer management system.
3.2. The discount applies to the first year of subscription only. Subsequent renewals will be charged at the standard rate.
3.3. The discount will only be given to organisations that can prove their membership to the HVG. TeamKinetic reserves the right to refuse the discount to any organisation that cannot prove their membership.
4. Payment: 4.1. Users agree to pay the discounted subscription fee for the first year of their TeamKinetic subscription upon purchase.
4.2. Subsequent renewals will be charged at the standard rate unless otherwise stated by TeamKinetic.
5. Modification and Termination: 5.1. TeamKinetic reserves the right to modify, suspend, or terminate this offer at any time without prior notice.
5.2. In the event of termination, users who have already availed of the offer will continue to receive the discount for the duration of their current subscription term.
6. Limitation of Liability: 6.1. TeamKinetic shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising out of or in any way connected with the use of this offer.
7. Acceptance: 7.1. By taking advantage of this offer, users acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agree to these terms and conditions.
8. Contact Information: 8.1. For any inquiries or assistance regarding this offer, users may contact TeamKinetic by email at info@teamkinetic.co.uk or by telephone at 0161 914 5757.
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We are thrilled to announce a new partnership between TeamKinetic and the Heritage Volunteering Group (HVG). This collaboration marks a great step forward in our mission to make volunteering easier for everyone.
Who are the Heritage Volunteering Group?
The Heritage Volunteering Group is dedicated to helping volunteer managers unlock the power of volunteering through collaboration and sharing best practice. They have a fantastic community of passionate individuals committed to driving positive change in the sector.
HVG is open to any organisation that works within the Heritage and Culture sector. This includes volunteer-led organisations, national museums, trusts and groups. They hold an annual conference as well as two networking forums a year. Find out more about HVG here.
Their mission aligns perfectly with ours, making this partnership a natural fit for both organisations.
We are thrilled to be partnering with an organistion who shares our vision for volunteering in the heritage sector. TeamKinetic’s sponsorship of our events programme and our flagship conference, Heritage Volunteering ’24, provides an incredible opportunity for us to enhance our support to heritage volunteer managers across the UK, enabling them to create volunteer programmes that transform organisations, lives, and communities.
Matthew Hick Chair of the Heritage Volunteering Group
How do they fit with TeamKinetic?
At TeamKinetic, our passion is developing volunteer management software that simplifies volunteer management. We want to empower organisations with the tools they need to mobilise, manage, and motivate their volunteers, all while measuring the amazing impact they’re making.
Overall, we just want to help organisations mobilise volunteers and maximise the potential of those volunteers – aligning perfectly with HVG’s mission.
Together, TeamKinetic and the Heritage Volunteering Group will work to produce resources and events for all volunteer managers. Including an upcoming event on April 23rd (read on for more info)…
The Heritage Volunteer Group is one of the most established specialist volunteer manager groups, and we have admired their work for some time. We attended a meeting of the North West HVG group just before Christmas, and it was a pleasure to see the professionalism and support that HVG provided to its members.
When we were offered the opportunity, we were only too happy to support this wonderful network of volunteer management professionals. TeamKinetic is well-established across the heritage sector, so we hope this partnership will provide new and exciting opportunities for collaboration, support and innovation.
Chris martin Co-founder of TeamKinetic
To kick off the partnership, we hosted an event with HVG where we discussed what TeamKinetic can do for heritage organisations everywhere of any size. We’ll also be sponsoring their upcoming future events, including their 2024 conference in November.
TeamKinetic is also excited to offer all members of the Heritage Volunteering Group 25% off any TeamKinetic subscription! Not only this, but we’ll also offer free data migration for anyone switching from another volunteer management platform.
How do you take advantage of this offer? Start a free trial today over on teamkinetic.co.uk or contact info@teamkinetic.co.uk to get started.
Welcome back to Season 3 of our TeamTalk Podcast! This season, we are talking to thought leaders, customers and stakeholders from the world of volunteer management as we dive deeper into the world of volunteering.
In this TeamTalk episode, we were joined by Ian Braid. Ian is an exciting guest with plenty of stories to tell from his time in the industry. We could have probably done a whole season with him!
He is currently the founder of DOCIAsport – an award-winning business that supports ‘the people who look after the people’. DOCIA stands for ‘Duty Of Care In Action’ and it’s something that may have been overlooked in the past, but Ian and his team are doing incredible work across the sport sector now.
Listen Now
Join Chris, Imo and Ian as they discuss Ian’s volunteer work and his career. He also discusses his mental health journey, an incredibly important and insightful conversation. One that could have gone on for much longer. We appreciate Ian being so open with us and highlighting this issue in the sector.
Ian consistently tackles the stigma of mental health in sport through his work at DOCIAsport.
He is a member of Mental Health First Aid England, Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity, Professional Body of Sports Leadership and UK Coaching, a member of the UK Coaching – as Coaching Advisory Panel, and Chair UK Coaching Duty to Care Committee.
His past work includes roles as Major Events Director of the British Triathlon Federation and CEO of the British Athletes Commission (BAC) – the union for Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
At TeamKinetic, we understand the importance of appreciating art and culture – and of course, we love a good festival! That’s why we are proud to announce our recent addition as Friends of the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF).
What is the AIF?
The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) stands as a cornerstone for independent festivals across the UK. AIF are recognised as the leading representative body for festivals. They advocate for their members, fostering collaboration, and driving the growth and sustainability of independent festivals nationwide.
At TeamKinetic, we firmly believe that volunteers play an invaluable role in events worldwide. Their dedication, enthusiasm, and hard work are fundamental to any festival’s success. That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with the AIF to enhance the volunteer experience within the events sector.
What does this partnership mean?
Through our collaboration with AIF, we are committed to delivering top-notch volunteer management and engagement services to their members. Our goal is to ensure that volunteers feel genuinely valued, adequately supported, and empowered to make significant contributions to the festivals they serve.
Recognising that the volunteer journey extends beyond the event day, we understand the importance of offering comprehensive support. From recruitment and training to on-site coordination and acknowledgement. By closely collaborating with AIF and its members, we aim to implement industry best practices, streamline processes, and elevate the overall volunteer experience.
Furthermore, our partnership with AIF presents a great opportunity to gain deeper insights into the volunteer landscape within the events sector. By collecting feedback, sharing insights, and fostering open dialogue, we can collaboratively identify areas for improvement. Allowing us to implement solutions that benefit volunteers, event organisers, and attendees alike.
Together with AIF, we are committed to fostering a culture of appreciation, inclusivity, and excellence within the events industry. We look forward to utilising this partnership to support the incredible work of event volunteers.
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But it’s a silly question right? Anyone in the industry knows the answer is a resounding yes. But still, some people don’t realise the true impact of volunteering and volunteer management.
All organisations should ask themselves what would happen if all their volunteers left.
It would make things pretty hard, right?
Try impossible.
Some organisations would almost certainly cease to exist without volunteers. This highlights the incredible importance of volunteer management.
What are the benefits of good volunteer management?
From speaking to volunteers directly, it is absolutely vital that they are made to feel appreciated. When people are appreciated they are more likely to give 100% and be positive about what they’re doing. They need to feel like people not only want them there, but need them.
If volunteer managers can work out what it is that makes volunteers feel appreciated they will have a much higher chance of boosting their volunteer recruitment. For example, if you receive positive feedback from current volunteers and publicise it, you could see a boost in recruitment.
Keeping recruited volunteers happy is also key to the success of any volunteering project. Happy volunteers are motivated volunteers. They are also much more likely to help out on a long-term basis. Great volunteer management is a significant contributing factor to long-term satisfaction. Remember to check in with your volunteers regularly and build lasting relationships with them.
It can help you as well as them…
Furthermore, practising good volunteer management can help you, as a volunteer manager, gain a better reputation. This one is very much from a career development standpoint. If you’re able to show real feedback from the volunteers you’ve managed, it can help you take that next step in your career at a later date.
However, you must facilitate a way to receive this feedback. This can only be done through good volunteer management. How are you currently managing your volunteers? Is there a way to incorporate feedback? If not, is it time to look elsewhere and make your life a bit easier?
An example of feedback left by volunteers within TeamKinetic’s volunteer management system
How can volunteer management be made simpler?
Volunteer Management Software
Are you using volunteer management software? If not, this can be a great place to start. It can help you save countless hours of admin and make your job so much easier. Good volunteer management is far from a ‘one size fits all scenario’, so it’s all about finding the right system for you.
For instance, at TeamKinetic our approach to volunteer management is allowing volunteers to self-serve. This means they take control. They are given their own profile, and they can browse opportunities and join/apply for the ones that suit them. This saves admin time manually adding volunteers to opportunities and gets them more involved in their volunteer work. But fear not – if you have volunteers who don’t want to/can’t engage digitally, admin or provider users can manage everything on their behalf.
A volunteer’s achievement page within TeamKinetic
Another main feature is the ability to track the volunteer journey. From their registration date to logging their 100th hour, everything is recorded within TeamKinetic.
What’s your goal?
Working towards a goal can be a great motivator for any worker, paid or volunteer. But this goal should be made clear to all.
Does this goal reflect your organisation’s values? And does it reflect the values of those who come to volunteer for you?
Incentivisation
It can also help to add incentives based on your goal(s). Now, we know volunteers are selfless. Yet it can never hurt to reward these people for their hard work.
Tailoring your incentives to the demographics of your volunteer cohort is important. That’s why we offer a range of recognition features within TeamKinetic. This includes:
Tempo Time Credits: a new integration that allows volunteers to earn Tempo Time Credits based on how many hours they have logged. These credits can be exchanged for real-world experiences.
HourTrades: similar to Tempo, but totally internal to TeamKinetic. You can allow volunteers to redeem HourTrade vouchers for logged hours. What the HourTrade vouchers equate to is totally up to you!
Achievement Badges: based on how many hours a volunteer has logged, shown within their profile.
Feedback: good old-fashioned feedback. When a volunteer has logged some volunteering time, you can leave feedback for them to say thanks!
Other incentives could include certificates, thank you cards, LinkedIn endorsements, and more.
Knowing your target audience is the most vital part of making sure the volunteers are happy. The best way to find out what the volunteers want from an opportunity is to simply ask them!
Once this part of the research is nailed you could perhaps bring in one-off major incentives. For instance, instead of just a LinkedIn endorsement for a young volunteer, you could dedicate a whole post to them. This type of exposure is important for them and will make them want to do a better job for you.
So, is volunteer management important to you?
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Thank you to everyone who attended our launch event for the new TeamKinetic app and Tempo integration! We hope everyone is as excited about these developments as we are now! If you couldn’t make it, don’t worry, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know in this blog post.
The recording from the session can be watched below, or via this link, please see the chapters for all key moments:
New TeamKinetic App
You can download our app for free on iOS and Android now. Just search ‘Volunteer with TeamKinetic’ or click the links below.
If you are an enterprise user wanting to discuss adopting a white-labeled app, please fill in this form.
Key Questions About the App
Q: When will features such as resources, hour trades and ID badges be available in the app?
A: They’re coming in the next update, hopefully in the next couple of weeks.
Q: Does the app send reminder notifications for upcoming opps, new opps, feedback reminders, messages, etc?
A: It will send notifications (if allowed) about key things such as upcoming sessions. We could look to add further notifications (e.g. for feedback and logging hours) in the future.
Q: Will providers and Admins be able to log in to the app?
A: Not currently. We’re looking at how we can better support these users on mobile, we’re looking at developing a separate app for these users in the long-term. But right now, they can still log in to TeamKinetic through their mobile device’s browser to take TK on the go.
Tempo Integration
If you’re interested in rewarding your volunteers with Tempo Time Credits you can get started now.
See the slideshow below for full details on how to get it set up.
If you need to get in touch to discuss your options, please see the image below to find out who to contact.
Q: Is Tempo looking to create networks in new areas, such as across Scotland?
A: Yes! Tempo are currently working with a few organisations across Scotland to look at how they can widen their network and provide experiences for users in Scotland. If you’re interested in contributing to this, please reach out to Rachel.
Q: Can Tempo account for legacy hours within TK?
A: Yes, that’s a decision you can make when you implement Tempo. This may involve setting a date to determine when hours are counted from.
Q: Can my volunteers use credits for experiences outside of our area?
A: Yes, volunteers can redeem credits for experiences anywhere! They can also gift credits if they’d like.
Q: Do Tempo Time Credits affect benefits?
A: No, Time Credits are seen as gifts so will not have an impact on people’s tax or benefits. Credits always have a time value, not a financial value.
Thank you for reading about the new TeamKinetic App and Tempo Integration. As always, please get in touch if you have any questions.
Thank you for being a part of the TeamKinetic community!
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