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How you can Reward your Volunteers with Virtual Badges

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On 26th May 2026

In News & Views, TeamKinetic Features, Volunteer Management

Volunteers’ Week is just around the corner! With that in mind, how do you currently recognise your volunteers’ contributions? If you’re looking to improve your volunteer engagement, TeamKinetic’s versatile badge system is a great way to reward and recognise volunteers, validate their training and skills and guide them towards the most suitable roles. 

Badges and reward pathways introduce gamification to volunteering, making it a driving force in volunteer retention. Using automated reward pathways ensures that no milestone is missed and volunteers are recognised at each stage of their journey. 

Different Badges in TeamKinetic:

Achievement Badges 

These badges provide a linear reward pathway, allowing the volunteer dashboard to become a Trophy Case.

Once a badge is earned, it’s featured prominently on the volunteers’ dashboard and is downloadable via their achievement record, which they can take onto future opportunities.

Customisation is the key here! Whilst TeamKinetic provides a default set of badges, you can redesign these badges, change their name and alter the hour count required to achieve each level.

Introducing a VMS shouldn’t mean a personal touch is lost, and badges are a great way to add your own flair.

If you’re stuck for ideas, think of any emblems associated with your organisation and incorporate them into the design!

Award Badges

Custom Award Badges allow you to get really creative with how you recognise volunteers.

Here you can design and upload Open Badges to record details around skills and achievements. Or you can upload your own designs to recognise Long Service, Volunteer of the month or other awards specific to your organisation.

Similar to Achievement Badges, Award Badges also appear on the volunteers’ dashboard and form part of their achievement record.

As part of the celebrations, we’ve created this custom TeamKinetic 2026 Volunteers’ Week Recognition Badge that anyone can use to recognise their volunteers between the 1st and 7th June.

Creating a custom badge like this from your organisation is a super simple way to show your volunteers that they’re appreciated.

Opportunity Badges: 

Badges are not only given to people; they are also used as fully customisable visual indicators attached to specific volunteering roles.

Administrators can tag opportunities with badges such as “Great for Corporate Teams”, “Micro Volunteering”, or “Suitable for Duke of Edinburgh Awards.” These visual cues allow volunteers to search for opportunities more fluidly and select their preferences more easily.

The TeamKinetic badge system helps you reward every effort, from major milestones to micro-volunteering tasks.

We challenge you to get inventive with your badge designs and reward pathways for Volunteers Week. The more personal and specific the recognition, the more valued your volunteers will feel!

Learn more about Reward and Recognition

On Wednesday 3rd June, Steve will be leading a Masterclass on volunteer reward and recognition within TeamKinetic. We’ll be showing you all the top tips to get you into the swing of things with Volunteers’ Week!

TeamKinetic users can book now for free via their system: Help & Support → Masterclasses & Training.

Digital in Volunteering Community of Practice

The CoP also has a lot of great resources for volunteer managers looking for tips on reward and recognition. A webinar back in September 2025 took a deep dive into all about the different ways you can say thank you to your volunteers. We heard from speakers from Volunteer Glasgow, Tempo, and Tickets for Good. You can read all about this session and watch the recording back here (membership is completely free).

The Digital in Volunteering Toolkit also contains a whole chapter about reward and recognition, which you can also access here.

Access Resources for Volunteers Week

The official Volunteers Week website has an array of great resources. Including materials for engaging with the campaign online, hosting events (both virtual and in person), top tips, and much more. Access these here.

The Volunteers’ Week Padlet

They’ve created a Padlet – a collaborative online pinboard where you can share and explore inspiring stories, photos, and messages of appreciation related to volunteering.

Whether you’re highlighting your own volunteering journey or thanking someone who’s made a difference, the Padlet is the perfect space to celebrate the incredible impact volunteers make every day.

Share your experiences now. Help them build a vibrant wall of gratitude and celebration!

Volunteers’ Week Padlet

Find TeamKinetic on socials:

TeamTalk May 2026

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On 5th May 2026

In Newsletter Roundup

Hello and welcome to TeamKinetic’s monthly Newsletter. We had a pretty busy April so we have another big dose of news from us, our partners, and the wider sector for May. Grab a brew and tuck into all the latest!

This roundup is designed to keep you up-to-date with what’s going on at TeamKinetic, our partners, and across the third sector in general.

We hope you find value in this TeamTalk. As always, we really appreciate feedback, so feel free to leave a comment, shoot over an email, or message via social media.

If you’d like to subscribe to the TeamTalk newsletter, please send an email over to me at alex@teamkinetic.co.uk, and we’ll get you on the list!

To read our roundup of stories we think you need to know about, click to go to the next page below, or choose a story from the list:

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TeamTalk April 2026

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On 2nd April 2026

In Newsletter Roundup

Hello and welcome to TeamKinetic’s monthly Newsletter. April comes with another big dose of news from us, our partners, and the wider sector. Grab a brew and tuck into all the latest.

This roundup is designed to keep you up-to-date with what’s going on at TeamKinetic, our partners, and across the third sector in general.

We hope you find value in this TeamTalk. As always, we really appreciate feedback, so feel free to leave a comment, shoot over an email, or message via social media.

If you’d like to subscribe to the TeamTalk newsletter, please send an email over to me at alex@teamkinetic.co.uk, and we’ll get you on the list!

To read our roundup of stories we think you need to know about, click to go to the next page below, or choose a story from the list:

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TeamTalk March 2026

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On 2nd March 2026

In Newsletter Roundup

Hello and happy March! Welcome to TeamKinetic’s monthly Newsletter. We have a good dose of news for you to sink your teeth into this month, so grab a brew and tuck into all the latest.

This roundup is designed to keep you up-to-date with what’s going on at TeamKinetic, our partners, and across the third sector in general.

We hope you find value in this TeamTalk, as always, we really appreciate feedback, so feel free to leave a comment, shoot over an email, or message via social media.

If you’d like to subscribe to the TeamTalk newsletter, please send an email over to me at alex@teamkinetic.co.uk and we’ll get you on the list!

To read our roundup of stories we think you need to know about, click to go to the next page below, or choose a story from the list:

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TeamTalk February 2026

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On 2nd February 2026

In Newsletter Roundup

Hello and happy February! Welcome to TeamKinetic’s monthly Newsletter. We hope you’re getting into the swing of 2026! I’m not sure about you, but it’s been a very busy January over here at TeamKinetic. We still have a good chunk of news for you to sink your teeth into, so grab a brew and tuck into all the latest.

This roundup is designed to keep you up-to-date with what’s going on at TeamKinetic, our partners, and across the third sector in general.

We hope you find value in this TeamTalk, as always, we really appreciate feedback, so feel free to leave a comment, shoot over an email, or message via social media.

If you’d like to subscribe to the TeamTalk newsletter, please send an email over to me at alex@teamkinetic.co.uk and we’ll get you on the list!

To read our roundup of stories we think you need to know about, click to go to the next page below, or choose a story from the list:

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The Heart of Your Programme: Volunteer Reward and Recognition

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On 16th January 2026

In Application Features and Tutorials, News & Views, TeamKinetic Features, Volunteer Management

We all know that a simple “thank you” goes a long way, but in the busy world we live in, it’s easy for volunteer reward and recognition to slip to the bottom of the to-do list. However, acknowledging the time, skills, and emotional energy your volunteers give is actually the backbone of a healthy and sustainable programme.

By acknowledging the time, skills, and emotional energy volunteers give, you’re doing more than just being polite; you’re making a strategic investment in your organisation’s future.

Why recognition matters more than you might think

Most people volunteer for altruistic reasons. They want to help or feel a personal connection to a cause. However, as Ruth Leonard and Jurgen Grotz note, while people aren’t usually hunting for thanks, they certainly notice if it’s never given!

‘Most of us like to be appreciated and recognised for what we’ve done. This doesn’t mean that people are consciously looking for thanks, rather that it becomes noticed if it’s never given. Probably, the most important thing that can be done in order to continue a relationship with volunteers is to make sure they know that they and what they do are valued.’

Grotz & Leonard (2022)

Focusing on appreciation isn’t just a “nice” thing to do; it makes great business sense, too. It leads to:

  • Lower Turnover: Volunteers stay longer, which means you spend less time and money on constant recruitment and onboarding. NCVO’s Time Well Spent research found that 81% of satisfied volunteers plan to continue over the next year, compared to just 26% of dissatisfied ones.
  • A Supportive Community: When you recognise volunteers, they start to recognise each other, creating a friendly, reciprocal environment.
  • Better Results: High engagement usually leads to better outcomes for the people or communities you serve.
  • Attract Younger Talent: Recognition is especially important to younger volunteers. While 40% of all volunteers value it, that number jumps to 49% for those aged 18–24.

Simple Ways to Say Thanks

You don’t need a massive budget to make someone feel valued. In fact, research shows that the most popular form of recognition is just a verbal or written thank you.

  • Personalised Notes: A quick email or a handwritten letter can mean the world.
  • Validation from the Top: Having a thank-you note come from a senior leader or the head of your organisation can make a volunteer feel their work is being noticed by the whole charity, not just their immediate supervisor.
  • Tangible Proof: Certificates remain a classic and effective way to celebrate a job well done.

Keeping it Legal: The Tax Bit

Before you start handing out gifts, it’s important to keep HMRC in mind. To avoid accidentally creating an employment relationship, rewards should be occasional, low-value, and unexpected.

An image showing a green box with what are considered safe bets. These include: Reimbursing out-of-pocket expenses (always keep receipts!), small tokens like a mug or flowers, and training that is directly related to their role. It also has a red box with things to avoid. Including: Regular cash payments, high-value vouchers, or promises of future paid work, as these can trigger tax liabilities and employment rights.

Making it Easier with TeamKinetic

If you use the TeamKinetic system, there are some built-in tools that can help you automate these “thank yous” so they don’t get forgotten. If you use other tools, you can still use these ideas as a blueprint for your own recognition strategy.

The “Ice Cream Sundae” of Feedback

We love this metaphor for giving great feedback. Rather than a “cookie-cutter” message, try layering your appreciation like a sundae:

  • The First Scoop: The base—a simple “thank you” for their time.
  • The Sprinkles: A personal detail about something they did well (e.g., “You were so helpful with the registration desk today!”).
  • The Cherry on Top: A warm invitation to come back again soon.

Milestone Badges (Gamification)

You can create Custom Award Badges for anything you like—from “Volunteer of the Month” to “Length of Service” milestones. Some organisations get creative, using nature-themed badges where a new volunteer starts as a “Seed” and grows into a “Veteran Tree” over time. These digital badges appear on the volunteer’s profile as a permanent record of what they’ve achieved.

HourTrades: Exchanging Time for Perks

HourTrades allow volunteers to “swap” the hours they’ve logged for small rewards.

  • What to offer: This could be some branded kit, like t-shirts or mugs, or even better, training opportunities like a first aid course or a coaching qualification.
  • How it works: You set the “price” (e.g. 10 hours for a t-shirt), and the system handles the request for you.

High-Value Perks at No Cost

Through our integrations, you can offer some pretty cool perks without spending a penny of your own budget:

  • Tickets for Good
    Gives volunteers who have logged a set amount of hours access to free/discounted tickets for live music, comedy, and sports events.
  • Tempo Time Credits
    A national scheme where volunteers earn credits in exchange for volunteering hours. They can then spend credits on various experiences.

Are you a visual learner?

In this recent TeamKinetic masterclass, Rolf went through some of the most effective way to thank you volunteers. He shows you how to use TeamKinetic to effectively reward and recognise your volunteers.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, you don’t need any fancy methods of reward and recognition. You just need to be consistent and sincere. Whether you’re sending quick feedback after they’ve completed an opportunity or setting up a badge system for long-term achievements, the goal is to make sure your volunteers know that what they do truly matters.

You can access a full training guide for reward and recognition here.

If you’re a TeamKinetic user, why not jump into your super admin menu today and try creating your own Achievement Badges or add some HourTrade vouchers? If you aren’t using the system yet, why not contact us to see how we can help you.

What’s next?

Next up in our Masterclass series, we’re joined by Tobi Johnson. Tobi is an expert in all things volunteer management and has been sharing her wisdom via VolunteerPro since 2015. She’s joining us to discuss how to re-engage lost volunteers. Or, in her words, “How to Plan a Wildly Successful Volunteer “Win-Back” Campaign”!

TeamKinetic users can book now via their system (Help & Support → Masterclasses & Training), everyone else can use this Eventbrite page to reserve their place. We think this will be a popular one so get tickets while you can!

Register on Eventbrite

TeamTalk January 2026

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On 12th January 2026

In Newsletter Roundup

Hello and happy new year! We hope you’re all ready to tackle the year ahead. As always, we have some exciting things in the pipeline here, and we can’t wait to get started with it all.

This roundup is designed to keep you up-to-date with what’s going on at TeamKinetic, our partners, and across the third sector in general.

We hope you find value in this TeamTalk, as always, we really appreciate feedback, so feel free to leave a comment, shoot over an email, or message via social media.

If you’d like to subscribe to the TeamTalk newsletter, please send an email over to me at alex@teamkinetic.co.uk and we’ll get you on the list!

To read our roundup of stories we think you need to know about, click to go to the next page below, or choose a story from the list:

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TeamKinetic 2025 Roundup

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On 19th December 2025

In News & Views

As 2025 comes to a close, we’d like to reflect on what has been a busy, ambitious and genuinely exciting year at TeamKinetic!

From major product releases and mobile app improvements, to deeper engagement with the volunteering sector and our growing community, this year has been about helping organisations support volunteers better, with tools that are powerful, practical and built around real-world needs.

Here’s a look back at what we’ve achieved together in 2025…

January

We kicked off 2025 by tackling something we know can be a headache for volunteer managers: onboarding.

In January, we rolled out digital ID and background checks inside TeamKinetic. The aim was simple: to cut down on manual processes, make things clearer for volunteers, and help organisations stay on top of safeguarding without it becoming overwhelming.

It was a practical change, but one that makes a real difference when you’re onboarding people at scale.

February

A lot of our time in February went into listening, reviewing feedback and making sure the things we were building next actually lined up with how TeamKinetic is used in the real world.

We kick-started the release of TeamKinetic 2.6.0 at the end of the month, bringing new features like admin to do tasks, volunteer check-ins, and loads of other improvements.

March

In March, we shared stories that showed every side of volunteering and its impact.

Barb took a trip up to Glasgow in March to volunteer for War Child at one of their Brit Week events!

Whether it was staff getting involved in volunteering themselves or shining a light on new research into how digital tools like TeamKinetic can support volunteering. Everything reflected our mission, which is to support people doing good work and promote connection.

April

April was a busy one! We launched a series of guest masterclasses, inviting people from across the sector to share their experience and knowledge.

The masterclasses aim to provide our users with practical tips, based on the realities of volunteer management.

We also pushed out updates to the TeamKinetic mobile app, making it easier for volunteers to log hours, keep track of what’s going on and stay connected, wherever they are.

Finally, our own Barb went along to the Hospice Volunteer Managers Network’s 2025 Conference and shared her experience and the lessons learned.

May

In May, we focused on providing more added value to our users and the wider sector.

We had our first guest masterclass from Joanne Irvine, who delivered a great session on how to capture and showcase the social value of volunteering.

We also launched the Digital in Volunteering Community of Practice – a space where volunteer leaders can learn more about using digital tools in their volunteer management processes and connect with other professionals.

June

Approaching the mid-point of the year, looked at how the year’s changes were landing. What were people using most? And where did we need to focus next?

We received a good load of responses from our users in a mid-year user satisfaction survey!

Keeping a good feedback loop between our development team and our users helps us avoid building things for the sake of it, focusing on what actually helps volunteer managers do their jobs.

If you have any feedback for us, you can always pop it in an email, jump into the system live chat, or open a support ticket at any time.

July

July was about the wider volunteering community and our partners.

We shared more about the value of professional networks, such as the Association of Volunteer Managers, with their regular events and the support they offer to volunteer managers.

Meanwhile, we were delighted to announce our sponsorship of the Heritage Volunteering Group’s Volunteer Leader of the Year Award.

Staying connected like this helps make sure TeamKinetic keeps pace with what volunteer managers actually need from the sector and the software they use.

August

In August, we released another mobile app update, continuing our push to make TeamKinetic work better for your volunteers on the go.

As volunteering becomes more flexible, having tools that fit into volunteers’ lives, rather than the other way around, is increasingly important. These updates were all about keeping things simple and accessible.

September

September was another big month for us! We achieved ISO 27001 certification! Proving that we take data security seriously, and that our users can trust us with their data every day.

We also hosted our 2025 Conference, bringing people together to talk honestly about what it takes to move beyond recruitment and build volunteering programmes that last. It was a fantastic day full of great sessions and lots of key lessons to take away.

October

October focused on key takeaways from the TeamKinetic Conference.

First, we published a practical guide on measuring the impact of volunteers, based on sessions from Joanne Irvine and Will Watt.

Next, we took a look at some of the trends shaping the future of volunteering off the back of a great session from Gethyn Williams. A great read as we go into the new year, especially!

And finally, we thoroughly enjoyed Tobi Johnson and Ruth Leonard’s use of gardening as a metaphor for volunteering. They encouraged attendees to consider how to best cultivate their volunteer culture.

We hoped this post-conference series would support better decision-making, stronger conversations with stakeholders, and more confidence in planning ahead.

November

November saw the release of TeamKinetic 2.6.1, probably one of our biggest minor updates! It brought improvements to permissions, reporting and flexibility. Things that are all designed to make managing complex volunteering programmes feel more manageable.

We also marked one year of the Digital in Volunteering Community of Practice, reflecting on what we’ve learned so far and inviting the sector to help shape what comes next with this short survey (which is still open via this link if you fancy chucking your 2p in!)

December

December so far has been about wrapping things up, supporting users through the recent update, and getting ready for what’s next.

More than anything, it’s been a chance to say thank you. Thank you for the feedback, the questions, the challenges and the ideas that help shape TeamKinetic into something genuinely useful.

As we head into 2026, we’re taking all of this learning forward: continuing to build software that adapts to real volunteering practice, amplifying sector voices, and supporting organisations to create better experiences for volunteers.

Thank you to everyone who has shared feedback, attended events, written guest posts, participated in research, or simply used TeamKinetic day-to-day. You’ve helped shape everything we’ve achieved this year.

New volunteers registered: 58,201

Opportunities created: 15,577

Hours logged: 701,505

We’re excited about what comes next.

TeamTalk December 2025

By

On 2nd December 2025

In Newsletter Roundup

Hello and welcome to TeamKinetic’s TeamTalk December newsletter in blog form! Well, we’ve made it to the end of the year and hasn’t it flown by! We’ve achieved so much this year, so stay tuned for our full 2025 summary coming soon too.

This roundup is designed to keep you up-to-date with what’s going on at TeamKinetic, our partners, and across the third sector in general.

We hope you find value in this TeamTalk, as always, we really appreciate feedback, so feel free to leave a comment, shoot over an email, or message via social media.

If you’d like to subscribe to the TeamTalk newsletter, please send an email over to me at alex@teamkinetic.co.uk and we’ll get you on the list!

To read our roundup of stories we think you need to know about, click to go to the next page below, or choose a story from the list:

Next Page

TeamTalk November 2025

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On 3rd November 2025

In Newsletter Roundup

Hello and welcome to TeamKinetic’s TeamTalk November newsletter in blog form!

This roundup is designed to keep you up-to-date with what’s going on at TeamKinetic, our partners, and across the third sector in general.

We hope you find value in this TeamTalk, as always, we really appreciate feedback, so feel free to leave a comment, shoot over an email, or message via social media.

If you’d like to subscribe to the TeamTalk newsletter, please send an email over to me at alex@teamkinetic.co.uk and we’ll get you on the list!

To read our roundup of stories we think you need to know about, click to go to the next page below, or choose a story from the list:

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