Category: Community Page 4 of 5

Do You Have Pride in Volunteering?

Manchester Pride Parade, volunteering, pride volunteers, LGBT, volunteer management
Manchester Pride Parade

Pride season is in full swing and many events across the UK have already run smoothly thanks to the work of thousands of volunteers. However, it’s not over yet as we look ahead to one of the biggest Pride events in England: Manchester Pride. The festival is taking place over the August bank holiday weekend – as it does every year. There are plenty of activities to get involved with. This year, these activities are spread across Deansgate, Gay Village, and Mayfield.

This year’s festival takes place from the 23rd to the 26th of August and is still looking for volunteers. They plan to have 300 volunteers, covering a range of roles including:
Stewards
Fundraisers
Parade Troupe
Green Team
Superbia Weekend

Why Volunteer at Manchester Pride?

Like most voluntary work, you will be given a new opportunity to enhance your social skills, meet new people, and give back to the community. You don’t have to be part of the LGBT+ community to be a pride volunteer – it’s open to anybody and everybody!

If that wasn’t enough to convince you, volunteers will receive a range of benefits, such as free entry to the festival. This includes the live Saturday and Sunday acts such as Ariana Grande and Years & Years (if you’re over 18)! This may be especially effective as an incentive after Manchester Pride ticket prices increased heavily for 2019.

(Note: you must be over 16 to volunteer at Manchester Pride.)

We are currently looking through volunteer applications so if you’d like to apply we’d recommend doing it as soon as you can.

Manchester Pride (23/07/2019)

Find out more from Manchester Pride themselves:

Lack of Pride in Volunteering

Sometimes we forget the importance of volunteers. Tens of thousands of people attend Manchester Pride every year, making the work of volunteers all the more important. Without them, the event probably wouldn’t be able to go ahead. In fact, Isle of Wight’s 2019 Pride was cancelled due to a lack of volunteers. Later, thanks to community help, it was announced that the festival would return. This situation may highlight the lack of awareness around volunteering and it’s necessity for public events like these. Pride events are incredibly special to a range of people worldwide and depend on the generosity of volunteers to run efficiently.

Can’t Volunteer at Manchester Pride?

Even though pride season is coming to an end, there are still a large number of volunteering opportunities you can get involved with this summer across the country. If you’re under 16 or can’t get to Manchester but still interested in volunteering for LGBT organisations or events, check out more places to find opportunities here and here. Alternatively, you can search for volunteering near you through the Do-it site for a wide variety of opportunities.

For more information about TeamKinetic’s volunteer management software, visit our website or call us on 0161 914 5757

Why Volunteer Locally?

Local Town Hall

Across the UK 20.1 million people volunteered via a group, club, or organisation between 2017 and 2018, and over one in five people volunteer at least once a month. A small amount of compassion will improve someones day or even their week, but this is not just a one way experience. Volunteering can help improve your own health and develop your skills – no one said it had to be boring! You don’t just need to stack shelves in a library.

Leo Buscaglia
– L.B. American Author

“Don’t spend your precious time asking “Why isn’t the world a better place?” It will only be time wasted. The question to ask is “How can I make it better?” To that there is an answer.”

Leo buscaglia

Why volunteer locally?

Volunteering locally can help expand communities by uniting people in a common cause. But most people have no idea of how and where to begin. Don’t worry! Here is some inspiration and practical help on how you can start to make a small difference go along way.

Be apart of your local Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers

74th Silverdale scout group
74th Silverdale Scout group

Scouting first began in the early 20th century founded by Robert Baden Powell. Attracting boys and girls from all age ranges to participate in a variety of educational, and fun activities focused on the outdoors. Scouting groups heavily rely on volunteers to run weekly club meetings and trips. Could you help in your community?

I was a part of The Silverdale 74th scout group located in the ex-mining village in Stoke on Trent. Personally I have witnessed the true good scouting can have on the local community. Scouting encouraged me to give back to the local community, and help out with local community events and fund raisers. Silverdale scout group also provided me with a second home after I had finished a school day, keeping me occupied and off the streets. I would add that scouting equipped me with many skills and qualities, that are essential for a developing young person.

Today The Silverdale scout group continues to grow within the local community. Equipping the younger generation with life skills and valuable behavioral qualities. Over the years Silverdale’s scouting group has matured, but the scouting code remains firmly in place. To help other people at all times.

Volunteer at your local sport club

Swimming Club
Swimming Club

Sports clubs provide a real benefit to the surrounding communities. My son is a part of the local swimming club in Manchester. Swimming is a hobby he is highly enthusiastic and passionate about – which I am very pleased about as a parent. The club does not only provide him with lessons so he can learn how to swim. Better yet, it is also a place where he can chat and giggle with many of his friends from school, and make new ones along the way.

However many community clubs suffer from being over crowded and under resourced. Long waiting lists are a result of this overcrowding, in consequence clubs are in desperate need of an extra pair of hands to help out.

The sports club survey of 2013 by the Sport and Recreation Alliance, reckoned there were 151,000 sports clubs in existence across the UK. An average club has over 100 members and 24 volunteers. Which is somewhere in the region of 3.6 million volunteers helping out local sports clubs!

With participation growing at a greater rate than volunteer recruitment, now is a perfect time to find a local sports club you want to help out.

Volunteer to help the homeless

Manchester preventing homelessness
Manchester preventing homelessness

TeamKinetic is homegrown in Manchester and we see first hand the increase in homelessness on our cities streets. Deaths in relation to homelessness increased from 7 people in 2010, to 123 in Manchester by 2018. It is estimated that 2,627 people have died from rough sleeping since 2014 across the UK.

However there are opportunities that can help tackle this rising social issue. There are a number of group support networks which aim to help the homeless across many of the big cities within the UK (London, Birmingham, Liverpool). The Street Support network, or NightStop in Manchester are two examples of many that provide a gateway where prospective volunteers can help the homeless locally.

Across the local community of Manchester volunteers from networks such as NightStop can be found to be, allowing homeless people into their own homes for a night. Providing them access to: a hot shower, comfy bed, hot meal, and a friendly ear to console with. These are just some of the basic essentials volunteers are providing that we all take for granted. But can mean the world of difference to someone sleeping rough.

Act Now Not Later

Find resources below on how you can volunteer today.

Volunteer centre

Local accredited volunteer centers are everywhere but you may not have even realised it yet. There an excellent way for first time volunteers to get involved, by understanding your interests they can match you with suitable volunteering positions.

Try volunteering

TryVolunteering.com ran by TeamKinetic, encourages all people from all walks of life to get involved by volunteering. TryVolunteering.com also allows people to set up accounts as providers, providers can then advertise volunteering opportunities – but don’t worry its all FREE! The simple selfless act of kindness is only one click away, benefiting individuals and communities.

Do-it.org

Don’t just do it for yourself, do it for someone else. That’s the true motivation behind volunteering. Do-it.org connects potential volunteers to volunteering opportunities from all around the country. From 1 mile to 50 miles away from you, try Doit.org and find the opportunity that best suits you.

Charity Job

Charity Job is the UK’s largest site for charity jobs and volunteering. Thousands of positions can be found up and down the UK, no matter your location there will be something near you.

How TeamKinetic is supporting volunteers

TeamKinetic encourages communities to expand and be brought together through volunteering. Supporting any organisation which aims to allow volunteers to help make a difference. Helping organisations connect with volunteers in the simplest way possible is a problem our volunteering management software solves.

Find out more about our volunteer management software or contact one of our team members on – 0161 914 5757

How to adopt digital technology into your organisation

Evidently, over the last 10-20 years, technology has made big advancements and has impacted almost everything that we do. The debate still goes on however, there are those that have really embraced it and those that want nothing to do with it at all.

Failure to innovate

Volunteer Management Software, Netflix, Blockbusters, Volunteering, Better Impact, Volunteer software, volunteer managers
Netflix Pacman eating a block busters sign

Innovation is the development of a certain value that meets a new need of your volunteers, staff, supporters. In the early 2000s Blockbusters was one of the biggest DVD rental companies in the world. But they failed to innovate and adapt, which led to their demise. Blockbusters didn’t envision a future for digital, after enormous opportunities to take over Netflix. Now, look at who’s leading the way for streaming services world wide.

Toys R Us is another example of an organisation that wasn’t willing to change due to its dominance in the market, that was until Amazon showed up!

With the browsing experience becoming digitised, most of us can find anything we are looking for on our phone from the comfort of our home. Toys R Us could have shifted to offer a fully integrated online experience but instead was left stranded with no online presence and the near-impossible task of catching up.

The take from this is that the world is changing and the third sector just as much as any private organisation will be affected. But the true lesson is small and large organisations alike need to continue to put time and budget into innovation or prepare to fail!

Why all third-sector organisations need to be using digital technology

Technology is present in everyone’s daily life, from how we get about, shop and communicate. So it’s no surprise that technology is developing the connection between volunteers and non-profit organisations.

As of June 2018, 55.1% of the world’s population had internet access. More than 3 billion people around the world now use social media each month, with 9 in 10 of those users accessing their chosen platforms via mobile devices.

So why do all third-sector organisations need to be using digital technology?

Tell your story to the world

volunteering, world wide web, volunteer management software, charity, volunteer systems, Free volunteer management,
World Wide Web image

People can’t support you if they don’t know who you are. So having a strong website is one of the most important resources organisations can have.

A website can also allow visitors to donate, view events and even volunteer for you. Implementing these functions can make it easier to develop relationships with a wider audience and increase support towards your organisation.

Having your own volunteer website allows visitors to interact with your organisation directly. A good website will communicate your mission to the world and showcase your community impact!

Don’t go extinct, get online

Volunteer management software, volunteering, volunteer management system, technology, cloud based, social media, non-profit, charity
Image of social media icons

If you’re not online, you’re pretty much non-existent. All non-profit organisations should be active on social media and engaging with hundreds of potential supporters and volunteers.

Social media can have a huge impact on non-profit organisations. Individuals can volunteer from the comfort of their homes with the use of just a mobile. A great example of this one of our international clients Humanity Road.

Humanity Road pioneered the new generation of humanitarian relief through social listening. When disaster strikes, Humanity Road helps to solve critical needs through innovative applications of technology and the power of social media!

Take advantage of cloud based software

volunteer management software, website, cloud based software, volunteering, volunteer systems, volunteer managers, sport
Cloud based software image

Often the goal for a non-profit is to achieve organisation milestones whilst keeping operating costs down. Switching to a volunteer management software may seem costly, but the reality is, IT’S NOT!

Cloud-based software can save you hundreds even thousands of pounds in the long-term. Having a SaaS (Software as a server) means you only pay for what you need and most cloud solutions scale on demand to meet changing needs.

Good cloud-based software will allow you to work from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection. With more people using mobiles than ever, this on-the-go access can transform and increase opportunities amongst your team.

If you’re still unsure try our FREE volunteer management system and give your volunteer program the revamp it needs.

What TeamKinetic is doing to make a better impact

We believe that technology has the capability to change the world for good. TeamKinetic helps to build better volunteer communities by providing great tools for volunteer managers that save time, make a better impact and improve insight. Our goal is to make volunteering easy for everyone no matter what. But don’t take our word for it, why not check out our customer review

For more information on volunteer management software visit our website or contact one of our team members on – 0161 914 5747

The impact of volunteers on England Lacrosse and its players

TeamKinetic recently got to the chance to chat with Daniel Eckersall on his preparation for the upcoming world indoor lacrosse championships held in Canada.

Get to know a little background to how he got started and the impact volunteers have had on Lacrosse as a sport and the players involved.

volunteering, TeamKinetic, Lacrosse, Volunteer management software, managing volunteers, sport, Better Impact, Events, Better Impact
Daniel Eckersall with his Team mates

A little bit about Daniel

Daniel started to learn and play the game of field Lacrosse at Cheadle Lacrosse club, he later made the move to play for Stockport. He has been playing Lacrosse for the last 7 years and only getting better!

During this time he has won the junior Flags and league multiple times whilst also competing in Ghent where Stockport were crowned European champions twice. Daniel has also had the honour of leading the North West side to a plate victory in 2018. More recently he has captained his side to win the cup at the Nick Kehoe Invitational.

Dan was introduced to Box Lacrosse when he played for Heaton Hornets in the 2015 Tasko cup and later joined the London Knights. His success led to being selected to represent England at the Ebox before being selected for the upcoming World Indoor Lacrosse Championships.

TeamKinetic, volunteering, volunteer management software, sport, events, volunteer, England
Daniel going for goal

Creating an impact

What impact have volunteers had on lacrosse and its success

Lacrosse in the UK would cease to exist if it wasn’t for the help and dedication of volunteers, whether that be at the grassroots level or the elite international lacrosse level; coaching, refereeing, transporting and everything else which goes on behind the scenes to keep any sports club running.

Our success as a nation has been built on volunteers dedicating their time and lives to help the sport grow nationwide. This has resulted in England lacrosse winning gold at previous European championships at field and ranking as the 5th highest nation in Indoor.

What you hope to achieve at the world champs?

My aim for the world championships this September is to maintain that top 5 position in the world and hopefully push that up to an even higher ranking. As an offensive player, there is the added pressure to make this happen but I’m looking forward to the challenge!

How do you hope to use your success as a way of motivating younger players to do the same?

My success as a player has come from having great coaches who volunteer their time to develop this great sport even further.

Having the privilege of representing England this September has given me a passion for helping develop this sport even further. Using the success from this I aim to carry on supporting and helping out at events and junior training sessions.

I want to help improve the next generation of Box Lacrosse players so that they can come away with the same experiences I’ve had the pleasure of being part of. It would be great to see them wear the England jersey and play alongside the best in the world themselves!

Lacrosse, volunteering, sport, volunteer management software, managing volunteers, England, TeamKinetic, Events
Daniel walking to the pitch in his London Knights kit

Support

With a 23 man squad travelling out to Vancouver in September to represent England in the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships, funding is required to cover the cost of their trip.

Unfortunately, due to the nature and popularity of the sport in the UK each player is expected to fund all aspects of this privilege from; Entry fee, travel, accommodation, playing kit, off pitch England, branded clothing etc. which has been estimated at around £2,500 each player.

The team has had a lot of success in the past and they hope to capitalise on that during the world championships. Any support would be greatly appreciated and would go a long way!

Here is a link to their MyDonate page where you can help the team achieve the fundraising target and ensure the longevity of the fantastic sport!

Lacrosse, England, volunteering, sport, volunteer management software, volunteer system
England Lacrosshe logo

For more information on how TeamKinetic can assist with your volunteer management and getting the best out of all your volunteers visit our website or contact them on – 0161 914 5757

Why volunteering was the best decision I ever made

Quite the title! But very true.

If you had previously read my introduction blog, you will know that I’m a big advocate for volunteering, regardless of what sector you work in.

volunteering, sports, volunteer management, TeamKinetic, Better Impact, Volunteer management software
Volunteering at the HSBC UK national cycling centre

For me, volunteering is not just about giving up a few hours a week. It’s all about the changes you can be responsible for an organisation or a local community, the benefits you receive and the opportunities volunteering leads to.

Before coming to university, I worked in the third sector, and I knew I always had a passion for the music and events industry. I just did not have the experience or a way into the local industry. Through volunteering for charity events and volunteering at registration desks for music networking events, I was able to build a great set of connections.

This not only led to helping out at events for smaller companies such as Indy Man Beer Festival and Off the Record music conference but also to help land me some amazing jobs with my volunteer experiences.

So for anyone who hasn’t volunteered before, here are my top 5 reasons to start!

You get to meet new people!

Volunteering is a fantastic way to meet people who you may not have crossed path with otherwise and can act as really great networking tools.

You may end up meeting other volunteers working in the job or industry you want to be in, or just cracking people you can stay in touch with and become friends with.

You’ll be giving back to the community

Many volunteering opportunities are linked to community causes: such as Manchester Cares; volunteering for local hospitals or even volunteering for Scouts!

Some of these local causes often have little or no funding, so giving a few hours a week to help the running of these services can be crucial. It can be a great opportunity to give back to the people who need it most!

It is an easy way to develop your skills

Volunteering is a sure fire way to develop new skills and enhance the ones you already possess. There are several volunteering roles available, so it’s best to look at ones which really suit your personality and skill set.

I have often seen volunteer marketing roles for charities which are a great way to build your experience and knowledge without committing to a full-time role in that field. It doesn’t have to be all professional, volunteering is a great way to build confidence and softer skills like communication and teamwork.

Its actually good for your health!

Studies have shown that volunteering is a good way to lower stress levels, help combat depression, provide a sense of purpose and to even encourage happiness.

The more volunteering you do, the more benefits you’ll experience; but don’t think that this needs to be constant dedication or a long-term commitment. Volunteering should always fit around your life and schedule, and remember it’s ok to have a day off every once in a while!

You can gain a new perspective of life

From my own personal experience, I have met wonderful people from all walks of life. More often than not, these people have completely different journeys to mine; by learning about their lives I have been able to see the world quite differently.

Whether you volunteer locally or abroad for a good cause, there’s always a strong chance you will meet someone who will change your opinion and view of the world.

Festival, volunteering, music, volunteer management software, volunteer system, volunteer manager, Better Impact, TeamKinetic
Working at download festival

So, if you’re thinking of volunteering and unsure where to start, check out a few of the websites below.

Best of luck with your volunteering journeys,

El x

For more information on how TeamKinetic can assist with your volunteer management and getting the best out of all your volunteers visit their website or contact them on – 0161 914 5757

DOs and DON’Ts Of Volunteering

Every year people all over the world set them selves new year’s resolutions. Many of which do not get fulfilled, in fact, 66% of resolutions don’t even last a month. What can you do that really makes a difference?

Volunteering is something that you can do all year round. This is a resolution that not only helps yourself but others as well.

DO – HELP SOMEONE ELSE

“We can’t help everyone but everyone can help someone”.

Former US President Ronald Reagan may not be everyone’s cup of tea but he certainly got this one right. Why not make your changes for 2019 ones that can help others. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer all over the UK and worldwide, this year your help really could change a life. TeamKinetic is lucky enough to work with organisations who offer these amazing opportunities and we’d love to help you get started.

DON’T – BE A HASHTAG HALFWIT

Social media gives us an audience never before imagined in human history. It’s so easy to get caught up in what’s trending and follow the crowd. The cringy popular ones every year are ‘#NewYearNewMe’ and ‘#WatchOut2019’. As we’ve seen, less than half of new years resolutions stick, so now we are in February, revisit your new year’s hopes and aspirations. It is great to let people know what you’re planning on doing over the of course of the year. Just do not let it  become embarrassing when come the end of the year you have not acted on your goals. Hashtags are easy, real change needs a little more effort!

DO – USE VOLUNTEERING TO YOUR ADVANTAGE 

Helping out can make you so much more employable. Volunteering does not have to be at a charity or something ‘uncool’. There will likely be opportunities for you to get a voluntary role in your future profession. This will help you stand out from the crowd as people will see you have a genuine passion for your career. Almost every University will have a department that will be able to help, or your town will have a volunteer centre that will have be able to signpost you with volunteering opportunities.  These life experiences can be worth it’s weight in gold in the long term.

DON’T – GIVE UP!

February is coming to an end and I’m sure that many of you have already given up, with most challenging tasks the easiest thing to do is to jack it in!

This is our biggest DON’T.  It’s ok to give up, but don’t give up on trying again, you only need to succeed once to make that difference. If you don’t give up on your volunteering resolution, you will be making a difference to someone else and yourself. Volunteering can genuinely change lives – both yours and those your work supports.

Last year TeamKinetic joined Liverpool Football club to help with a disability football session. We got the chance to speak to volunteers first hand and see what volunteering meant to them and hopefully you can see the difference being involved with something you are passionate about can make to your life and others. Check out how Liverpool FC use TeamKinetic here.

TeamKinetic provides volunteer management software that can work for every organisation. We work with groups of all sizes who have had success with us in recruiting, retaining and realising the potential of their volunteer workforce.

Please visit our website to find out more about our work and how we can help you. Feel free to request a demo so we can show you around and tell you about how we can help you specifically. Alternatively, you can give us a call on 0161 914 5757.

Volunteer management – Understanding your volunteers

Volunteer management isn’t easy, it takes a passion for people, commitment to your cause and bags and bags of organisational skill.

To have an effective and engaging volunteer programme, it is key to know your volunteers and understand what drives them to volunteer.

So can your volunteers be categorised and can that help you understand them better?

NCVO definition

“We define volunteering as any activity that involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that aims to benefit the environment or someone (individuals or groups) other than, or in addition to, close relatives. Central to this definition is the fact that volunteering must be a choice freely made by each individual.”

Oxford dictionary definition

“A person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task.”

Those definitions are pretty broad and all volunteer managers understand the danger of pigeonholing your volunteers,  definitions can be problematic! The term Volunteer holds very different meanings to each individual.

Every volunteer has their own reason, motivation or story to volunteer, and no volunteer is the same. What the data we have collected here at TeamKinetic has demonstrated is that there are some general volunteer categories and themes that we can use to gain a deeper understanding of the types of volunteers you may have within your organisation:

One-time volunteer and Event Volunteers 

One-time volunteers are individuals who volunteer as a one-off and move on to the next opportunity/event or are never seen again! These types of individuals can still be regular volunteers, but will only volunteer when they have the time to do so or do so at events or roles that excite them specifically.

They are often quite self-contained roles that are well-defined and associated with a high-profile and exciting event. That in itself generates excitement for the volunteer to say ‘I was there.’ These are often one-time positions that require minimal training and experience but are fun days out for the individual.

Some of you reading this might think; why would I want to invest in a volunteer that isn’t committed to helping me regularly? 

Research from Glasgow 2014 and London 2012 suggests many of the volunteers who applied were new to volunteering, and sadly many who did volunteer did not go on to do more volunteering after the event, even though the levels of satisfaction from being involved were high.

The sense of community, enjoyment and empowerment of being part of the event can quite quickly fade post-event, but on occasion, it can prove the catalyst some people need to start them on a journey to much greater community involvement.

Micro-volunteer

Research conducted by the NCVO suggests that micro-volunteering is on the rise and has the power to make a difference to organisations. In order to be impactful organisations must engage and appeal to these types of volunteers by providing quality volunteering opportunities that suit their aspirations and lifestyles.  These types of opportunities are often possible via technology, such as phones, tablets or computers. Others have referred to them as ‘Armchair Activism.’

These opportunities are attractive to individuals who often have limited time, but still, want to have the feeling that they are making a difference. Opportunities vary from, the ice-bucket challenge to tweeting your MP. This type of volunteering can also act as a gateway to individuals, and if their experience is positive and they feel they are making an impact, you can look to engage them in further work.

Skills-Based Volunteers

Skills-based volunteers are individuals who often assist with tasks that require additional and specialist knowledge, or they develop this type of knowledge through their volunteer experience. Skills can be varied, examples include updating website data, running the social media accounts, taking phone calls, and providing accountancy or legal advice.

Volunteers often have the desired set of skills that many organisations need. These individuals who possess these professional skills and offer them pro bono may have many reasons for their desire to be involved.  There is always a high demand for these types of Volunteers. As an organisation, it’s important to know why these volunteers want to be involved.  It’s also important to make them aware of the impact they have on the organisation. This can make the volunteer feel appreciated and that their skills are bringing value to the organisation.

Lifelong / Regular volunteers 

Lifelong or regular volunteers are often people who volunteer for an organisation that they feel a significant emotional connection to.  Regular volunteers are happy to help meet an organisation’s expectations and the individual’s commitment to the role can be significant. Roles can vary but include positions such as a charity shop assistant or a coach within a sports club.

Organisations depend on these volunteers as they are core members of the organisation’s community. Regular volunteers usually take on positions that require a higher level of responsibility and therefore need regular training and appropriate support to ensure that they can fulfil what is expected of them.

These types of volunteers are so important to the long-term survival of many organisations, they feel especially close to the cause and their work. They are often overworked and if not managed correctly they can make others nervous to get involved, as the levels of commitment they show are superhuman and this scares off other volunteers from getting involved.

Does Age Matter?

Research has shown that both the 16-24 and 65+-year-olds are the most likely groups to volunteer. This makes sense as many universities provide students with opportunities to develop skills and experience for the world of work, whilst helping great causes. Likewise, many older volunteers provide support to organisations due to being retired but still wanting to stay active and part of the community.

Age will certainly play a role in how you incentivise and communicate with volunteers. As well as the length/type of role, and level of commitment required from them!

An appreciation of your volunteer audience will impact your roles on offer. So it is important to be aware of how you advertise, the language you use and the types of rewards and recognition you may wish to offer. 

Good volunteer management!

The best and most effective way to understand your volunteer is the initial first part of their volunteer experience. By having a well-thought-out recruitment process, volunteer managers can make sure that volunteers are well selected and given roles they can excel at but also enjoy. This also ensures that volunteers are aware of the variety of opportunities available to them.

TeamKinetic’s volunteer management system allows all volunteers to create their own profile. This allows them to search and find opportunities that providers are advertising. Volunteers can also upload supporting documents to showcase experiences they have had in the past making the volunteer management process that much easier.

Volunteer managers are able to review volunteer profiles, run inductions, record data and get an insight into the individual and which roles they would benefit from. This is a key feature in allowing volunteer managers to distinguish between a one-off volunteer for an event, a volunteer with the desired skill set or someone that is able to commit to a regular role and who will form a long-term commitment with the organisation.

Additionally, the system allows volunteer managers to receive and provide feedback to volunteers. A perfect way to evaluate the effectiveness of roles and making sure volunteers are content with the tasks they undertake. TeamKinetic is centralised around helping voluntary organisations achieve their goals, which is why also offer a FREE version of our volunteer management system. 

You can find TeamKinetic on social media and listen to our podcast:

Twitter       Facebook       LinkedIn       YouTube       Instagram       Podcast

 

Have you enjoyed using TeamKinetic? If you could leave us a review on Capterra, we’d really appreciate it! We’ll even send you a little thank you.

The importance of providing volunteers with a disability equal opportunities and access to volunteering

TeamKinetic got to sit down and interview Steve and Dylan, two amazingly enthusiastic volunteers from Liverpool FC Foundation. We discussed their experiences as volunteers with a disability and the impact volunteering has had on them. It was amazing to see all the work they put into the local community as well as the Foundation.  Both men volunteer regularly, at least three times, throughout the week.

Dylan, Steve, Ash and Jerome at Respect 4 All inclusive session at LFC Academy

Heres what they had to say…

How long have you volunteered for and what do you enjoy the most about volunteering?

Steve: “It was in 2008 in September with Mark. He was the disability officer who invited me to join the Respect 4 All program, which allowed me to get into volunteering. I enjoy getting the disabled children involved in sports, especially football. I am very passionate about getting boys, girls, women, everyone into playing football.”

Dylan: “I have volunteered for 2 months now. I like to get involved with the kids and help them with playing different sports.”

Do you feel that younger children look up to you for help and inspiration?

Steve: “Very much so, it’s hard for disabled people to break into sports. I’ve really enjoyed helping the children become better players and better individuals. Before the LFC Foundation, I volunteered for the Liverpool council and I used to go to a special school in Liverpool, so I have always felt passionate about sport for disabled people.”

What does the LFC Foundation mean to you?

Steve: “It means everything to me! I’ve been a supporter for the Liverpool Football club since I was 3 years old. The work that they do, not just in disability but all kinds of projects through the city. They’re a leading light. They impact so many peoples lives. Out of sports, I am generally a quiet person. The Foundation has developed my confidence in coaching. Being around the more experienced coaches and learning from them really helps with my volunteering.”

Dylan: “Everything! I play for the team and I’ve been there for ten years. I’ve improved my people skills and working with others. I want the foundation to keep growing.”

It was clear to see how much being involved with Liverpool FC Foundation meant to Steve and Dylan, Volunteering in football clearly meant a lot to them and their engagement with the young people in the sessions was fantastic.

One of the sessions regular attendee’s was Reiss, He has been inspired not just to keep coming to the sessions by these two great coaches, but also to go one step further, and to register as a volunteer on the LFC Foundation portal powered by TeamKinetic.

Reiss is a 16-year-old Liverpool FC fan and who’s enthusiastic for his club is limitless.  He regularly attends the Respect 4 All sessions and we to know what had made Reiss so keen to do more?

Reiss playing Football at the Respect 4 All session at Liverpool Academy

Do you enjoy the activities at the LFC Foundation?

Reiss: “Yes, I do! It’s really good to get kids with disabilities together and getting them involved in football and learning new skills.”

What would it mean to you to become a volunteer for the LFC Foundation?

Reiss: “It would mean a lot to me to volunteer. I want to help younger children like I have in the past. I hope to be volunteering for the future with the LFC Foundation. Volunteering will allow me to gain more experience and work with others, to better my CV.”

It was a fantastic day at the Respect 4 All event, and all the young people getting involved. The impact the staff and volunteers had on these young peoples lives can be difficult sometimes to effectively explain, but it should never be underestimated. The Liverpool FC Foundation put in tremendous amounts of effort to create a strong community. TeamKinetic is proud to play its role in supporting this work.

 

 

The Liverpool FC Foundation’s impact on volunteers with a disability 

Volunteering organisations like the LFC Foundation are increasing sports participation amongst young people with complex and additional needs, and the positive impact those volunteers have on their community.

We spent a few days volunteering at the LFC Foundation at their Respect 4 All activity day.

Volunteering for the LFC Foundation

Our day as volunteers at the LFC Academy was non-stop from the get-go. We arrived and were given our volunteering kit as well as a detailed briefing about the day ahead. We had just enough time for a quick coffee before people started to arrive.

I could immediately tell that the children looked forward to these events from the big smiles on their faces and the numbers just kept growing and growing. It was going to be an action-packed day for the volunteers and participants.

There were a number of different games, which offered something for everyone there. The coaches split everyone into groups by age categories. My group were all full of energy before the goalball activity. They even insisted on penalty shootouts and racing me while we waited for our next game. I was exhausted!

As the day went on, we all got to find out more about each other, and what activities we enjoyed the most. For me this was the most striking effect of the activity day, not the activities, fun though they were, but the interaction and the positive energy. The inclusivity of the day was amazing and differences in situation and ability were quickly forgotten as everyone got involved.

The event on the day had over fifty participants with thirty parents and guardians attending. It was a great turnout and a brilliant success and I would encourage anyone to get involved.

The impact of foundations on volunteers with a disability

Respect 4 all is Liverpool FC foundation’s inclusive, weekly multi-sport event. The event is for children and young people with complex and additional needs in the Liverpool community.

The Foundation is one of many across the UK, helping get more disabled young people into sports and regular physical activity. The Liverpool FC Foundation is one of many that are funded by the premier league and BT.

Volunteering with a disability

We all know the social benefits that volunteering can generate, both for the individual volunteer and those around them.  These benefits are arguably even more important to a person with a disability.

But, for years there has been an underrepresentation among people with a disability in the voluntary sector. In 2015 only 36% per cent of people with a disability or long-term illness participated in some form of volunteering. However, through the work of Liverpool FC Foundation, the hope is we can help these numbers grow.

30% of grant-receiving organisations, like Liverpool FC Foundation, have reported that they have seen an increase in confidence and development of people skills in their volunteers. This was evident in my interview with Steve and Dylan, two young men who are involved with the ‘Respect 4 all’ programme.

16% of these organisations have also suggested that volunteering has enabled disabled volunteers to gain employment. Disabled volunteers experience a reduction in social isolation, become role models for other disabled participants and develop real-life skills.  These are serious benefits that really impact the quality of peoples lives and should not be taken lightly as to their importance.

So what are the benefits of engaging volunteers with a disability?

Volunteering is an act of kindness, a way of helping others, therefore,  it should be universally accessible. Engaging volunteers with a disability would not only enhance their skills but the capacity of the organisation itself.  It is important to break the social stereotypes.  A diverse voluntary organisation better understands the barriers disabled people face on a daily bases and that understanding can only lead to an improvement in the provision; especially when organisations see the potential disabled volunteers hold.

Overall, our day at the LFC Academy was enjoyable, educative and inspiring. It was amazing to see the high turn out and how much everyone looked forward to these weekly activities. The LFC Foundation has impacted so many peoples lives and by the success of the program, it looks like they will continue to do so.

TeamKinetic is volunteer management software that works and is use by the LFC Foundation to help build their volunteer community. Read our reviews to find out what other volunteer managers think about TeamKinetic.

 

Volunteering Conference – Getting to know Kristen Stephenson

As TeamKinetic 4th annual sports volunteering conference approaches,  we thought it would be an excellent opportunity to get to know some of our guest speakers for the event. The theme of this year’s conference is:

‘What can sports volunteering learn from the wider voluntary sector’. 

This year’s volunteering conference will allow volunteer managers, volunteers, policymakers and academics to come together to discuss best practice as well as insights in the wider voluntary sector.

DAY 1 (TeamKinetic Customers only)

  • FREE event to TeamKinetic customers.
  •  A masterclass by Steven Hall on the TeamKinetic volunteer system.
  • Customers will also be able to discuss the future software developments of TeamKinetic.

DAY 2

  • Denise Larrad – BBC Sports Personality 2017 Unsung Hero award winner
  • Kirsten Stephenson – Head of Volunteering – Sport England
  • Laura Hamilton – Volunteer Management Consultant – Laura Hamilton Consulting and member of the Association of Volunteer
    Chantel Scherer – Director of Marketing, Communications and Member Engagement at Sport & Recreation Alliance
  • Mike Howlett – Volunteer & Citizenship Lead – Sefton Volunteer Centre
  • Claire Jones – Head of Volunteering – Halton and St Helens Volunteer Centre
  • Fiona Liddell – Volunteering Development Manager – Welsh Council Voluntary Action (WCVA)

Kristen will be leading the first session at our conference with a session on…

“Volunteering in an Active Nation: How cross-sector collaboration can unlock the potential of volunteering in sport and physical activity”

Kristen has recently joined Sport England as Head of Volunteering. She leads on managing the 32 projects across Sport Englands Volunteering Funds and supporting the delivery of the strategy ‘Volunteering in an Active Nation’. These funded projects are focused on getting young people involved in making a difference through; social action, sport and physical activity and creating opportunities to get people from economically disadvantaged areas involved in volunteering.

The most important things for you as a volunteer manager at Sports England?

“A key priority for my role is to focus on how we can increase the diversity of people volunteering in sport and physical activity. I manage our Volunteering Funds which are all testing approaches to reaching people who are currently underrepresented; particularly those in lower socio-economic groups and women. This is one of the most challenging but exciting areas of my work! I am really passionate about making volunteering in sport more inclusive so that more people can experience the benefits.”

Your best or most memorable volunteering experience?

“One of my most memorable volunteering experiences has to be helping out at my running club’s midsummer relay race in my local park. It was a beautiful summer’s evening with a great turnout! I was taking on a new volunteer role- timing the runners taking part. This was a bit nerve-wracking, to begin with, and hard work but starting the big race clock and seeing everyone have a great time was totally worth it!”

What to expect from you on the day of the conference?

“Expect to find out more about Sports England’s strategic ambitions for volunteering and hear how we’re working with and learning from the voluntary sector to make these a reality. I hope people will find out more about our work to increase the number and diversity of people volunteering in sport and physical activity and perhaps be surprised at how we are working differently to achieve the aims and objectives of our strategy. I’m also really keen to hear from delegates about their work in this area too and so I hope it encourages people to come to share their ideas and what they are working on too.”

We look forward to having Kristen at the conference and learning about more Sport England’s strategy.  We hope you are as excited as we are TeamKinetic is to hear what our other guest speakers have to talk offer. Above all, we hope to see you there for a great day!

If you’re still undecided,  why not read our six reasons to attend the volunteering conference!

For more information on the volunteering conference and how to purchase a ticket. Please click this link.

 

 

Page 4 of 5

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén