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.
You can find TeamKinetic on social media and listen to our podcast:
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?
You can find TeamKinetic on social media and listen to our podcast:
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.
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!
You can find TeamKinetic on social media and listen to our podcast:
Looking to supercharge your volunteer reward and recognition? Well, within the TeamKinetic volunteer management system, you can now give your volunteers Tempo Time Credits for all their hard work.
Who are Tempo? What are Tempo Time Credits?
Tempo is a registered charity that builds local and national organisation networks by bringing people together in their local communities to carry out valued voluntary work.
The Time Credit model recognises and rewards volunteers for the hours they give. Volunteers can exchange Time Credits for experiences, products or services – like cinema tickets, entry to visitor attractions or even a coffee and a slice of cake! These experiences, products, and services are provided by their ‘Recognition Partners’.
How does Tempo work within TeamKinetic?
Volunteer reward and recognition has never been easier. Within TeamKinetic, Admin users will control the whole process. They can decide which opportunities merit Tempo Time Credits and determine how many credits are available.
Meanwhile, your volunteers can seamlessly join Tempo. They’ll gain instant access to their credit balance and local offers directly from their TeamKinetic dashboard. Once volunteer hours are confirmed, the conversion process is a breeze. They can effortlessly exchange their hours for Tempo Time Credits, giving them the freedom to spend or gift them as they choose.
Getting started with this integration depends on a few factors. Are you a TeamKinetic Enterprise user? And do Tempo have a recognition network set up in your area?
See below for a map of where Tempo presently operates:
If Tempo aren’t in your area, fear not! You can discuss your options with Tempo’s CEO Rachel. Also, if you’d like to become a recognition partner yourself, there is opportunity to do that. This would involve offering experiences for volunteers to redeem with their Tempo Time Credits.
The Impact of Tempo Time Credits
Not convinced yet? Read all about the impact Tempo can make for volunteers and communities below:
And see this great video for a visual look at Tempo’s impact:
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get started?
Please see the graphic below for more instructions.
Can you provide more details on the specific benefits or incentives offered through Tempo Time Credits, such as examples of experiences, products, or services that volunteers can redeem?
How does TeamKinetic ensure the security and accuracy of volunteer hour tracking within the system to facilitate the seamless exchange of hours for Tempo Time Credits?
Only provider-confirmed hours will contribute towards the amount of Time Credits available for redemption. Furthermore, limits can be set on how many credits can be redeemed per opportunity/in a certain amount of time. Rolf will work with you to set these guidelines.
Are there any potential costs or fees associated with integrating Tempo Time Credits into the TeamKinetic volunteer management system, either for organizations or volunteers, and how are these managed or mitigated?
Yes, you will have to set up a contract with Tempo. However, on the TeamKinetic side, there is no extra charge to get this activated within your system.
In the meantime, you can read more from Tempo themselves. Their CEO Rachel was kind enough to write us a lovely guest blog all about Tempo and the great work they do.
You can find TeamKinetic on social media and listen to our podcast:
Look out for a new way to reward volunteering with TeamKinetic and Tempo, in the meantime, enjoy this guest blog from Rachel Gegeshidze, CEO of Tempo!
Our mission at Tempo is clear and compelling: to build a national network of communities dedicated to making positive societal change. We believe in harnessing the power of individuals whose contributions are not only recognised but also valued. We achieve this through the innovative Tempo Time Credits system.
History of Tempo
Founded in the Welsh Valleys in 2009, Tempo has emerged as a leading UK-based community development organisation committed to creating connected, fair, and healthier societies. Our extensive history is marked by successful partnerships with communities and public services, specialising in front-line delivery, strategic planning, and fostering collaboration among diverse entities.
Our experienced team, composed of community practitioners, public sector specialists, and trainers, works collaboratively with citizens, communities, organisations, and services to co-produce solutions at the grassroots level. We see ourselves as the thread that connects people, services, and businesses, serving as the key that unlocks the potential for them to create communities where they can thrive. We focus on creating pathways to volunteering, emphasising community involvement and recognising people’s skills and strengths – a paradigm that accentuates what’s strong rather than what’s wrong.
Tempo’s Impact
At the heart of Tempo’s transformative initiatives is the Time Credit tool. A groundbreaking concept designed to motivate individuals to contribute their time to community causes. Since its inception in 2011, Tempo has empowered over 35,000 individuals to donate their time to local projects, actively involving them in the design and delivery of public and community services. In our 2023 annual survey, an astounding 40% of respondents had never or only occasionally volunteered before receiving Time Credits, underscoring Tempo’s success in cultivating a culture of civic engagement.
The impact of our programs is profound, touching the lives of individuals, communities, and organisations. Tempo remains unwaveringly dedicated to shaping a future where communities thrive, individuals are empowered, and societal well-being takes precedence. As a beacon of progress, Tempo stands as an exemplar of the positive change achievable through dedicated community development. Join us on our journey as we continue to build a national network of empowered communities and contribute to a brighter, more connected future for all.
Tempo’s vision
Together, we forge a connected, fairer, and healthier society. With the belief that everyone has something to contribute, we leverage Time Credits to unlock local community assets. Our greatest strength lies in our people.
The 18-month journey with TeamKinetic has been transformative. Aligned with TeamKinetic‘s ‘Volunteer First’ mantra, we aim to engage and support individuals on their volunteer path, providing information and choices while recognising and valuing their time, skills, and knowledge.
The exciting synergy of our platforms now talking to each other heralds the launch of our collaboration to communities. This breakthrough will amplify the benefits of volunteers, empowering more individuals to contribute, be valued, and recognised for their time.
Rachel Gegeshidze, CEO at Tempo
How Time Credits Reward Volunteering
Tempo Time Credits are a unique and innovative tool developed by Tempo. Time Credits serve as a community currency that individuals earn for volunteering their time in various community projects and initiatives. The earned Time Credits can then be redeemed for accessing services, events, or activities within the community. This not only encourages and rewards volunteerism but also promotes a sense of community engagement and reciprocity.
Individuals receive Time Credits via Tempo’s Time Credit platform. They use the platform to search for opportunities to redeem Time Credits in Tempo’s local and national recognition network. This includes a wide range of community organisations as well as higher profile opportunities such as the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, the Tower of London and the Millennium Centre.
Time Credits can be used across the Tempo national network. Time Credits received in Cardiff can be used in London or gifted to a family member to share the gift of time.
After a long period of development, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of the new TeamKinetic App! The app is free for all, and our Enterprise users have the option to adopt their own white-labeled version.
The Power of TeamKinetic at Your Fingertips
The new TeamKinetic app brings the power of our desktop platform to your pocket.
Our new app is more user-friendly and modern with a redesigned and intuitive interface. We’ve ensured that the user experience is consistent across Android and iOS devices, so no matter what platform your users prefer, they’ll enjoy a seamless and unified experience.
With the new app, your volunteers will now have access to features such as expenses, roles, the ability to apply for opportunities, document uploads/downloads, and profile management.
The base TeamKinetic app will be free for all users, including all the material and support required for everyone to use and share with their volunteers.
However, if you’re an Enterprise user, you can access the exciting new ability to have your app white-labeled.
White-labeling
All enterprise users can have a branded version of the TeamKinetic app tailored to their organisation’s unique identity.
Your logo, brand colours, and unique app store name will be used, creating a seamless extension of your brand. Customisation will not include functional elements; all apps offer the same features.
White-labeled applications will also allow volunteers to register directly within the app, streamlining the onboarding process.
The yearly cost for a white-labeled application is £800 per year and can be added directly onto your existing yearly fee. All white-labeling will be done on a first-come-first-served basis as we have to roll these out gradually.
How to download the 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.
We can’t wait for you to explore the enhanced capabilities of our new app.
You can find TeamKinetic on social media and listen to our podcast:
We’re quickly closing in on the end of the year and approaching 2024, so what better time than now to take you all on a walk down memory lane with our TeamKinetic 2023 Roundup?
January – March
At the start of the year, we created some new user guides to support everyone on TeamKinetic. This included a new volunteer guide and a new provider guide.
We also published a new episode of TeamTalk with Richard Evans and Danielle Hogan from England Netball. Chris, Imo, Richard and Danielle had a great discussion about how organisations can improve their accessibility and inclusion for everyone, including volunteers. Listen below.
We had our first minor release of the year with version 2.3.0. This brought new search filtering options, the volunteer action log, printable opportunity PDFs, and more.
We closed out season 2 of our TeamTalk podcast with a thought-provoking episode with Piers Martin. Piers is Head of Leadership and Academy Workforce Development at the Premier League and the Chair at UK Deaf Sport. Chris, Imo, and Piers discussed a variety of aspects of the current state of volunteering and beyond, including accessibility and the importance of having representation at the board level. Listen below.
In May, we were treated to a home Eurovision. Taking place in Liverpool, we were honoured to be a part of the event as we provided our tools for the Eurovision team to manage their volunteers.
In June, we celebrated Volunteers’ Week. Every year we acknowledge the contribution volunteers make to society. But of course, we should remember to thank volunteers every day, not just one week a year!
We also released another TK update. In our 2.3.1 Minor Release, we made reporting on volunteers easier, more search filters, and more.
July – September
We kicked off Season Three of our TeamTalk podcast with a visit from Rob Jackson. They spoke about Rob’s career in the sector and how volunteer management and engagement are changing due to the influence of external factors such as the cost of living crisis and new advancements in technology.
In late July through to the end of August, Alex (that’s me!) jetted off to Australia to watch the Women’s World Cup. It was an incredible event led by thousands of volunteers – over 5000 to be precise. They even got a shoutout before kickoff at every game!
England made it to the final, but it wasn’t to be as Spain emerged as the champions of the world. Even so, it was an amazing experience.
In September, we hosted the 2023 TeamKinetic Conference. This year, we brought together voices from across the sector to discuss the changing world and its potential impact on volunteering. Once again, thank you to everyone who attended, spoke, and contributed to discussions. It was a fantastic event and we hope to see you all again next year.
October – December
In October we attended the Why Sports conference in London. The conference highlighted some great work being done to improve health and increase activity amongst the general public. Chris also hosted a panel debate titled: We Can’t Keep Doing the Same Things and Expect a Different Result! How volunteers hold the key to a sustainable revolution in how we deliver for our communities. This panel brought together Bryony Hudson, Lee Malkin, and Leila Bendrimia to discuss what volunteering means to their organisations. Read more on this here.
Next, we put our longstanding plans of developing a Digital Toolkit for volunteer managers into practice with an online roundtable discussion with volunteer managers from across the sector. The discussion was hosted by Gethyn Williams, facilitated by AVM, and brought up some great points to think about as we start to put together the toolkit. We hope to have more information for you on this in early 2024.
So what’s next?
We have a few exciting developments in the works, you’ll all be pleased to hear that we expect the new and improved TeamKinetic app to be ready for early January. We’ll be in touch with more information when we properly come back to the office in 2024. We also have some exciting new integrations with Tempo and First Advantage that we will bring you as soon as possible.
In the meantime, we hope you have an amazing break over the holidays and a very happy new year!
You can find TeamKinetic on social media and listen to our podcast:
