Guest Blog, written by Ruth Leonard
As one of the Digital in Volunteering partners, I’ve been described as a Luddite more than once.
Usually, it’s because I’ve not immediately jumped on board the latest bit of kit or I’ve asked whether technology is really solving the problem we think it is. It’s rarely intended as a compliment.
But the more I think about it, the more comfortable I am getting with the label.
The original Luddites weren’t simply against technology. They were asking questions about how it was being used, who benefited from it, and what might be lost along the way. As volunteer managers, I think those are questions we should still be asking.
As we mark International Volunteer Managers Day and reflect on this year’s theme of legacy and leadership, I’ve found myself thinking about the people who shaped my own approach to volunteer management. None of them are memorable to me because of the systems they introduced or the processes they designed. What I remember is how they worked with people.
They knew when to follow a process and when to use their judgement. They listened. They built relationships. They understood that volunteering is wonderfully human and often a bit messy.
Technology has transformed our profession, and in many ways for the better. We can reach more people, reduce administration and make volunteering more accessible. I use AI myself and can see enormous potential in it.
But I do sometimes worry when I hear phrases like, “The system won’t allow it.” As in, “we can’t add in this step of a volunteer journey because the platform doesn’t support it”.
At that point, it’s worth asking whether the technology is supporting our decisions or starting to make them for us.
I don’t believe AI will replace volunteer managers. If anything, I think it makes the human parts of our role even more important. A system can identify patterns, but it can’t build trust. An AI tool can draft a message, but it can’t make someone feel welcomed, valued or understood.
Those things still happen between people.
Maybe that’s why I’ve become more interested in decision literacy than digital literacy. Of course we need to understand technology, but we also need the confidence to question it. To ask whether a process reflects our values, whether the data tells the whole story, and whether the most efficient solution is actually the best one.
When people remember our legacy as volunteer managers, I don’t think they’ll remember the platforms we used. They’ll remember whether someone took the time to listen, encourage them and help them find a meaningful place to belong.
So perhaps I am reclaiming my inner Luddite.
Not because I’m against technology, but because I believe volunteering will always be, at its heart, about people.
And that’s a legacy worth protecting.
Find out more about International Volunteer Managers Day via their website.
