Tag: volunteer management software Page 1 of 36

TeamKinetic 2.6.0 Major Release

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On 26th February 2025

In Technical Updates

This upcoming TeamKinetic 2.6.0 release contains a lot of under-the-bonnet stuff that you won’t really see but will help us support our new and existing customers better. But of course, we’ve added some lovely goodness for everyone as well. We will be working hard to bring these new features to the mobile app but as always they appear first on the web version.

So, let’s take a look at what to expect in this upcoming release…

ToDo Tasks for Administrators

As well as being able to add notes and files to a volunteer’s profile, you can now add ToDo tasks. These can be assigned to any administrator and given a due date.

Administrator dashboards show their assigned tasks with all the information needed to complete them.

We’re interested in your feedback on this new feature, how you envisage using it and what might improve it.

Check In/Out Volunteers

Ideal for our event-driven organisations but also for anyone that wants to know which volunteers have attended and also use the check-in facility to log hours.

Volunteers can present their opportunity QR code or their general ID QR code and admins can check them in when they arrive at a venue and then check them out when they leave.

When checking in, if there is more than one valid session for that day, admins can check them in for one or all of those sessions.

When checking out, admins can choose the sessions to check them out of and also opt to log the hours recorded between the check-in and check-out on that session or in the flexible opportunity.

Improved Bulk Volunteer Adding/Removal Tool

If you ever need to add lots of volunteers to lots of sessions, then the bulk add tool is perfect for this. If you haven’t seen it yet, check the SESSIONS section of your opportunity management page and hit the blue BULK ADD/REMOVE VOLUNTEERS button.

It has now been improved greatly by the addition of day and time filters for the session selector. Want to add a bunch of volunteers to every session on a Monday that is between 9 and 10 o’clock? We’ve got it covered!

Session No-Show Counters

In the log hours section when managing an opportunity, you can record a no-show for a volunteer.


Recording a no-show for a volunteer will now be exposed on the volunteer profile page.


You can filter/search volunteers by the number of no-shows recorded and find those volunteers who might need a little help.

Extended Session Description

Once you’ve added your opportunities, you can now edit individual sessions and add longer extended descriptions to each session to help your volunteers choose the correct session.


The volunteer will be able to see the session description on both the initial opportunity advert page and in their opportunity management area.

HTML Styles and Links in Opportunity Descriptions

This a long sought-after feature you’ll be glad to hear is now available for admins and providers. Using the familiar editor you can now spice up your opportunity descriptions with extra styles, colours and features.

Folders for Organising Resources

This has been on the wish list for a while, and now it’s here. You can organise your resources into folders to make it easier for volunteers to find what they need.

You can create folders and edit your existing resources to place them into your new folders. You can still order your resources within each folder by dragging the resource using the handle in the top right of the resource image.

Improved and Extended Managed Expenses

We’ve overhauled the managed expenses feature and added some important new functions.

Administrators can now set a per-mile rate for travel claims. When a volunteer creates a claim for travel the approximate travel distance is calculated and displayed. This same distance is shown to the administrator when managing the expense.

Additionally, we’ve added vehicle types and set expense reasons that you can use to report and organise your expense claims.


The administrator view for expenses has been updated to include the distance calculation, what the claim is for and to indicate if the claim is more than expected for the journey.

AI Assistant for Creating Opportunity Descriptions

Do you get stuck for ideas or need some inspiration when creating your opportunity descriptions? We have a new AI assistant which, with a few keywords, can create your opportunity description for you.


It’s super easy to use, and you can play with the keywords to get the right tone and content. Once you hit the use button, the description will be put in the regular opportunity description box (now with those extra styles and hyperlink functionality) for you to edit and polish.

Include Volunteer Names in Bulk Emails

Create bulk emails and insert the volunteer’s name to personalise them. Just click the *|NAME|* replacement and it will appear in your bulk email text. This will be replaced by each volunteer’s name when the email is sent.

Flexible Opportunity Availability

We know that volunteers would like some indication of when a flexible opportunity is available, so we have added a days-of-the-week matrix.


Opportunity creators can indicate which days of the week the opportunity is generally available by checking the boxes. This matrix is included in the opportunity advert for volunteers.

Session Reminder Emails

Administrators can enable an option to send volunteers a reminder email containing their sessions for the next day.

The option is in the super admin > options > email notification section. Previously, only those opportunities with custom emails were included. Now, all volunteers on all sessions will be reminded. The email goes out at 08:30 the day before their session.

Custom Field Improvements

Administrators can add ToolTips to custom fields that have extra information about the question to help it get completed correctly.


When searching/filtering on custom date fields, you will now see the familiar date interface with from, after, between, etc options. Previously, it was a simple text entry where you could only match exact dates.

We have added a new NOT ANSWERED entry for custom yes/no questions, so you can also quickly pull up volunteers or providers who have not yet completed this custom field.

Provider Email Improvements

You can now see, edit and resend your provider bulk emails in the same way you can for volunteer emails.


Ad-hoc emails that providers send now always have the provider’s name and contact details clearly in the email. We hope that this enables more direct communication between the provider and volunteer, saving you time and effort.

Improved Layout for Volunteer Profile

There were a few optional portions of a volunteer profile that were separated out, like emergency contact details. In some cases, these were also not editable. They have all been combined into the main volunteer personal details panel now, and can all be editable.


ID and background checks have now been combined into one section, whether you are using digital ID and background checks or manual, everything is in one place now.

The summary details strip has been tidied up, and the last login information is now available across both desktop and mobile.


When adding a custom award badge, you can now adjust the award date so you can retrospectively award badges.


The email delivery checking has been improved to handle more of the special characters that might appear in the subject that was preventing us from being able to match the sent email.

Finally…

There are, of course, many smaller updates and changes, bug fixes and improvements, the most important ones I’ll list below.

All the Other Stuff

  • Accessibility improvements that help assistive tech users skip repetitive sections
  • Adjust location area on self-managed opps
  • Display the friendly custom email name to make it easier to find emails
  • Added a panel to the provider’s dashboard showing outstanding applications
  • Delete and filter roles
  • Reinstated the location details box for opportunities with no specific location
  • Added custom email for expiring background checks sent to volunteers
  • Added an option to make provider feedback on volunteers optional
  • Fixed bug where only the first selected opportunity badge was added when creating opportunities
  • Trusted provider option to use managed expenses
  • Prevented a batch/bulk email send from failing if a single email was bad
  • Added a bulk email log that can be used to recover failed bulk emails
  • Provider search filter for those with empty profiles
  • Higher contrast map pointers on all maps
  • News items are shown on the provider’s dashboard
  • Download the day schedule as a list
  • Improved font sizing on smaller screens
  • Sends an email to the volunteer when a meeting booking is altered
  • New filters on volunteer and opportunity search pages

We encourage you to take a look around the custom email and options area as there are often new emails and options added that you might be interested in. Please get in touch if you have any questions or feedback about this version and remember you can try all this stuff out immediately using your regular admin login at https://beta.teamkinetic.co.uk.

Thank you for supporting TeamKinetic.

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

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Have you enjoyed using TeamKinetic? If you could leave us a review on Capterra, we’d really appreciate it!

Digital ID and Background Checks in App!

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On 27th January 2025

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

We have now completed our integration of the First Advantage suite of digital ID and background checks. You can now initiate an entirely digital ID and subsequent background check with a single button press! The results and updates are fed directly back into your TeamKinetic dashboard.

How does it work?

There is some necessary paperwork to set up your First Advantage account and create the required roles you will be using. This is where you decide if you need to check the adult or child lists and what level of checks you’ll be using. We will guide you through this process and get your account set up quickly and easily.

After that it is just a case of pre-paying for bundles of checks, switching on the option and selecting the volunteers you want to check.

Once initiated the volunteer will receive an email and a text message with the instructions and help they need.

You will be alerted as the checks progress and once complete, the background check details, dates and numbers will be recorded in the volunteer profile.

What does it cost

We sell pre-paid bundles of credits for digital ID and enhanced-level background checks. The digital ID check costs one credit and the background check a further credit. If the digital ID check fails you will only be charged a single credit, you are only charged the further credit if the check progresses to the background check stage.

Credits are available in bundles of 10 for £80.00 or 50 for £230.00 (plus VAT) and you can purchase credits directly from the app via card or bank transfer.

Where can I find out more?

We have a few videos and documents where you can discover the process and how it works.

You can also find this information in the Super Admin > Setup menu under the API and Integrations section.

Interested in taking the next steps towards fully digital and integrated ID and background checks? Open a support ticket or hit the button in the Super Admin > Setup menu under the API and Integrations section.

It’s a great way to streamline and speed up your onboarding process.

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

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Have you enjoyed using TeamKinetic? If you could leave us a review on Capterra, we’d really appreciate it!

TeamKinetic 2024 Roundup

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On 27th December 2024

In News & Views, TeamKinetic Features

As the year winds down, we’re taking a moment to look back at everything that’s happened at TeamKinetic in 2024. It’s been a year full of exciting launches, inspiring conversations, and new ways to support the amazing volunteering community. Here’s a TeamKinetic 2024 roundup of what we’ve been up to!

January: Easing Back Into It

January was all about getting back into the swing of things after the holidays. Sometimes you need a bit of a reset to prepare for the big things ahead – and trust us, there was a lot coming! Behind the scenes, we were working on new updates, upcoming events, and a full rebrand. That meant that January contained a lot of strategy meetings around how we could make your volunteer management smoother than ever.

February: Tempo Time Credits Integration

February was when things really got going, starting with the launch of our Tempo Time Credits integration. This was a game-changer for recognising volunteers’ contributions, making it easier than ever for you to show your appreciation. Volunteers could now earn credits for their time and trade them for amazing experiences like cinema trips or days out. A win-win for everyone!

We also gave the TeamKinetic app a much-needed refresh. With a fresh, modern interface and smoother user experience, the updated app makes volunteering on the go a breeze. It’s all about saving you time and making your life easier.

We held a launch event to celebrate the release of both of these things. You can watch the recording to find out more:

March: Partnerships That Make a Difference

March was all about building connections to expand opportunities for you.

First, we teamed up with the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) to dive into volunteering in events, an area that’s so close to our hearts. Festivals rely on passionate volunteers, and this partnership aims to make their contributions more visible and impactful.

We also joined forces with DoIt, laying the groundwork for our integration that would help you share volunteer opportunities widely, including during The Big Help Out. These collaborations weren’t just about us. They were about creating more ways for your opportunities to reach the right people.

April: Testing New Ideas

April was all about trying new things. We launched our first-ever white-labeled app for Manchester City Council, giving them a customised platform to engage with their volunteers in a way that reflected their unique identity. It was a proud moment for us and a glimpse into what’s possible when technology meets creativity.

In April, Chris and Imo also sat down with Ian Braid for TeamTalk S3E2. Ian, founder of DOCIASport, gave us some brilliant insights into mental health and volunteering in sports.

DOCIAsport is an award-winning business that supports ‘the people who look after the people’. DOCIA stands for ‘Duty Of Care In Action’ and it’s something that may have been overlooked in the past. Ian and his team are doing incredible work across the sport sector now, so check out the episode below:

And that’s not all! We also partnered with the Heritage Volunteering Group (HVG) to support organisations in the heritage sector, opening up new avenues for engaging volunteers in cultural and historical spaces.

May: Big Updates, Big Changes

May was all about delivering on the promises we’d been working on for months. We launched TeamKinetic 2.5, packed with features designed to make managing volunteers more intuitive. From smart searches to better email tools and the ability to merge duplicate accounts, this update was built to tackle some of the most common challenges you face.

The full list of updates was as follows:

  • Creating and saving personalised smart searches
  • New search filters
  • WYSIWYG emails
  • Self-reported volunteering
  • Email delivery reports
  • Hide inactive volunteers
  • Merge volunteer accounts
  • Share private notes
  • The Big Help Out DoIt integration

The DoIt integration for The Big Help Out made it easier for you to promote your opportunities and connect with the surge of people inspired to volunteer. It was all about making sure you could make the most of this nationwide event.

June: Celebrating Volunteers Everywhere

June was another busy month for us!

To kick off June, we joined the Volunteers’ Week celebrations. Between the 3rd and 9th of June, we celebrated the amazing contributions of volunteers around the world. Not only that, but towards the end of the week we saw The Big Help Out take place. With our DoIt integration, your opportunities got the spotlight during The Big Help Out, connecting you with a massive wave of 6.5 million people ready to give volunteering a go.

And that’s still not all! Tobi Johnson hosted an inspiring event, Beyond the Big Help Out, all about improving volunteer recruitment and engagement. We were so excited to sponsor this event, hosted by AVM. During the day, Tobi challenged pre-existing ideas of what a good volunteer strategy looks like and offered some great tips and practical advice to take on.

July: Sharing New Perspectives

In July, we focused on sharing insights and connecting with the community.

Chris appeared on Tobi Johnson’s Volunteer Nation Podcast, talking about fresh ways to think about volunteer data and technology. He shared our mission to simplify volunteering and how TeamKinetic is all about creating tech that drives social good.

On TeamTalk, Rosie Wylie from Historic Environment Scotland joined us to share her journey into volunteering and the challenges faced by volunteer coordinators. It was a great reminder of why we do what we do. Supporting you as you navigate those challenges.

We also shared tips on linking TeamKinetic with Google Analytics. By linking TeamKinetic with Google Analytics, you get the inside scoop on your volunteers and can make smarter decisions about recruitment and engagement.

August: Creativity and Updates

August was all about keeping things fresh and innovative. We rolled out TeamKinetic 2.5.1, a smaller update but packed with meaningful tweaks to make the platform even better for you.

We also explored the power of creativity on TeamTalk with Katherine Perrin, who showed us how LEGO Serious Play can spark collaboration and problem-solving within volunteer teams. It was a fun and inspiring way to think about building stronger connections with your volunteers.

September: Conference Season is Here

September was all about bringing people together! The TeamKinetic 2024 Conference was a big highlight of 2024 for us. We had volunteer managers, sector leaders, and experts from across the UK all in one (virtual) room, sharing ideas and inspiring each other.

The mix of practical insights and big-picture thinking made this year’s conference extra special. We covered everything from the latest trends in volunteering to tips for making the most of tech tools (like TeamKinetic!). Our speakers delivered sessions on creative problem-solving, digital transformation, and volunteer engagement.

For us, the conference is more than just an event. It’s a way to show our commitment to supporting you. Whether you walked away with actionable tips, a new perspective, or just a sense of community, we hope it reminded you why we’re so passionate about what we do.

If you missed it, don’t worry. You can catch all the recordings in this playlist.

October: Talking Strategy and the Future

October was all about stepping back, looking at the bigger picture, and thinking about what’s next for volunteering. We had some incredible opportunities to connect with leaders in the sector and explore how we can continue to support you in managing and inspiring your volunteers.

On TeamTalk, we hosted Alan Stevenson, CEO of Volunteer Scotland. He shared some amazing insights into the trends shaping our sector, particularly for Scotland. From adapting to the challenges of modern volunteering to making sure we’re creating inclusive and accessible opportunities for everyone.

October was also conference month for the Association of Volunteer Managers (AVM), and we were thrilled to take part. The AVM Conference is one of the best places to connect with volunteer managers across the UK, and this year was no different. We had some great conversations, exchanged ideas, and shared how TeamKinetic can help make managing volunteers simpler and more effective.

What we love about events like the AVM conference is that they’re not just about the present, they’re about preparing for the future. Whether it’s tackling the challenges of recruiting younger volunteers, embracing new technologies, or redefining what it means to support your team, these events spark the ideas and actions that shape the years ahead. Not just for you, but for us and the TeamKinetic software too!

For us, October reaffirmed the importance of staying connected to the community. We’re not just here to provide software. We’re here to understand your needs, amplify your voice, and work alongside you to make volunteering the best it can be.

November: Highlighting the Importance of Inclusion

In November, we explored equality, diversity, and inclusion in volunteering with Shruti Saujani from the FA on TeamTalk. Shruti gave us plenty to think about, from breaking down barriers to creating more welcoming spaces for volunteers from all walks of life.

It was a powerful reminder that volunteering should be accessible to everyone and that small changes can make a big impact in building inclusive teams. You can catch the full episode below:

December: Finishing the Year Strong

We wrapped up the year with the launch of the Digital in Volunteering Toolkit, an exciting project we’ve been working on for a long time. The Toolkit was created in collaboration with AVM and Gethyn Williams. This toolkit is designed to help you thrive in today’s digital-first world, packed with tips and resources to make managing volunteers easier and more effective.

It was the perfect way to end a year full of growth and innovation, and we’re so excited to see how you use it to create even more impact in 2025. Stay tuned for more on the Toolkit and Community of Practice. And if you have absolutely no idea what either of those things are, watch the launch recording below and download the toolkit now.

What’s Next?
2024 has been an incredible year for TeamKinetic, and we couldn’t have done it without all of you. Our partners, users, and of course, all the amazing volunteers out there. Here’s to more growth, connections, and opportunities in 2025. Let’s see what the new year brings!

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

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Have you enjoyed using TeamKinetic? If you could leave us a review on Capterra, we’d really appreciate it!

TeamTalk: Season 3, Episode 6 – Shruti Saujani

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On 1st November 2024

In News & Views

Welcome back to Season 3 of our TeamTalk Podcast! This season, we are talking to thought leaders, customers and stakeholders from the world of volunteer management as we dive deeper into the world of volunteering. This time around, we speak to Shruti Saujani.

TeamTalk with Shruti Saujani

Welcome back to TeamTalk with TeamKinetic, the podcast where hosts Chris Martin and Imo Greatbatch delve into the world of volunteer engagement, featuring stories and insights from those leading change.

In this episode, Chris and Imo are joined by Shruti Saujani, the FA’s Senior Lead for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, to discuss her inspiring journey and the powerful work she’s doing to drive inclusivity in sports.

Join us as we explore how sports can drive positive change and promote a sense of belonging for all.
You can listen to the episode in full below:

Empowering Change Through Inclusivity in Sports

Shruti Saujani’s journey in sports is one of resilience. Growing up with a love for cricket and football, she faced the challenges of a male-dominated industry and the feeling of marginalisation that often comes with it.

Her passion for change shines through as she shares her dedication to transforming the sports landscape, particularly for women and women of colour. Her commitment to inclusivity isn’t just personal; it’s about creating a future where everyone can see themselves represented. Listen to discover how Shruti breaks down barriers and champions women in sport.

Volunteering as a Catalyst for Change

Shruti reflects on the role of volunteering, both as a means of personal growth and as a way to bring communities together. Her involvement with the Dream Big Desi Women project highlights the importance of fostering inclusive spaces. Teh project welcomes diverse participants and pushes beyond traditional barriers. In 2022, the Dream Big Desi Women campaign celebrated getting over 2,000 South Asian women involved in volunteering in cricket. You can find out more about the project here.

Driving Inclusivity Across Sports Organizations

Shruti, Chris, and Imo discussed the broader implications of diversity within sports organisations. She highlighted the need for fresh perspectives and youth engagement to keep the industry relevant and inclusive. Her experience creating safe networking spaces – particularly for South Asian women in sports – demonstrates the value of building supportive environments that go beyond sports, addressing mental health and shared experiences.

Looking to the Future

Towards the end of the episode, Shruti shares her vision for an inclusive future. She hopes sports can act as a platform for empowerment and meaningful societal change. Her insights on navigating power dynamics with vulnerability and courage provide a hopeful roadmap for a more inclusive and equitable world.

Huge thanks to Shruti for coming onto the pod. That wraps up season three. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to listen. Whether you’ve tuned in for one episode or all 17 of them!

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

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Have you enjoyed using TeamKinetic? If you could leave us a review on Capterra, we’d really appreciate it!

TeamKinetic Update – 2.5.1 Release

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On 24th October 2024

In News & Views

Hi all and welcome to another stuffed full of goodness, TeamKinetic update.

We’ve got some big changes in the pipeline regarding customising workflows. These are going to take some time to realise properly, so we wanted to get some of the smaller things done and dusted so you don’t have to wait.

Catch the full summary of changes made in this TeamKinetic update via this video, or tuck into all the details in full below.

Data Retention Options and Rules

In this TeamKinetic update, there are two new options that work well with the auto-delete options to handle your data retention needs.

You can now select the level of data you wish to retain when any volunteer is removed, by an admin, by themselves or via the auto-deletion of inactive volunteers.

The first level only saves the volunteer’s hours, anonymously in the deleted hours total that you see in reports. This has been the only available level of data retention to this point.

The second level adds the volunteer’s essential profile information; name, email address etc. to the data that is retained.

Level three adds the volunteer’s opportunity and session history, so you can trace what sessions they were on and where.

Level four adds their email log.

All this information is searchable and viewable in your dashboard and you’ll have the option to expunge data or to extend the retention period, anytime you wish.

The second option sets a data retention period. Once any retained data is older than this it will be automatically expunged.

File Upload Custom Registration Question

A super useful new field type that you can add to the volunteer registration page. Great if there are documents you need from the volunteer as part of their registration.

The uploaded files are stored in the volunteer’s ID section of their document storage. The files are given the label short name you define when creating the custom question and locked to prevent deletion by the volunteer.

File upload questions only appear on the registration page and are not editable from the volunteer’s dashboard.

Text Only Custom Registration Question

If you want to provide more information about any step in the registration process you can now add a text-only section.

The text displayed will be the label you define when setting up the question.

Just like the registration questions these only appear on the actual registration page.

Character Limits on Single and Multiline Text Entry Custom Questions

Add a maximum number of characters that volunteers and providers can enter in these fields.

The limit will prevent users from entering any characters beyond the limit. On average an English word has 4.7 characters, so divide the character count by 5 to get a rough estimate of word count.

The limit defaults to 2500 or 500 words.

User Controllable Cookie Consent

Remember all those annoying cookie consent pop-ups; they’re back!

We were hopeful that these might disappear with our exit from the EU but they haven’t gone anywhere yet.

It is now a requirement to allow users to opt out of various sorts of cookies, like the Google Analytics cookies, as well as the required non-tracking ones for logins etc.

We’ll be adding our pop-up to all our customer sites throughout this release. Your users should only see this annoyance once and then their preferences are set on that machine.

It’s a necessary evil I’m afraid 😞

Easier to Complete Address Lookup

We’ve had persistent issues with users entering their UK postcode but not hitting the search button to select their full address. This stops them from being able to complete the registration but it was not clear to the user why.

Now the search box is triggered immediately that the postcode box is left, so even if they miss this entirely, when they come to hit the registration button it will be clear which fields need to be completed.

Weekly Email Changes

If you have opps that have longer than seven days between being added and being authorised, there is a chance that they will never appear in the weekly email as we used the creation date to choose which opps to show but they still had to be authorised.

If an opp was created on 01/01/2024 but was not authorised till 10/01/2024 it would not be valid for the weekly email till it was authorised on the 10th, but by then its created date was already more than seven days past so it wouldn’t appear.

We now ignore the creation date when selecting the opps for the weekly email which avoids this issue.

Thanks for reading, we hope you enjoy this latest TeamKinetic update.

As always, remember you can shape our future updates by submitting feature requests.
Just go to Help & Support → Support Tickets → Open New Ticket → Ticket Type: New Feature Request

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

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Have you enjoyed using TeamKinetic? If you could leave us a review on Capterra, we’d really appreciate it!

TeamTalk: Season 3, Episode 5 – Alan Stevenson

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On 8th October 2024

In News & Views, TeamTalk Podcast

Welcome back to Season 3 of our TeamTalk Podcast! This season, we are talking to thought leaders, customers and stakeholders from the world of volunteer management as we dive deeper into the world of volunteering.


In this TeamTalk episode, Alan Stevenson (CEO of Volunteer Scotland) joins us to share his extraordinary career journey and the significance of volunteering in today’s world.

From engineering and international marketing to founding a social media consultancy and ultimately leading Volunteers Scotland, Alan’s story is a testament to the power of saying “yes” to new opportunities. He dives into finding purpose in work and the profound satisfaction that comes from making a difference in people’s lives.

Listen now:

Alan’s Journey

He started his career as a mechanical and electrical engineer on oil rigs and in refineries. Later, he earned a master’s degree in international marketing, leading him into technology and business strategy.

In the early 2000s, Alan co-founded one of Scotland’s first social media consultancies, which eventually brought him to Volunteer Scotland. Initially a consultant, he shaped their digital strategy and brand, taking on roles such as Digital Director and IT Manager before becoming CEO.

Initially a consultant, he shaped their digital strategy and brand, taking on roles such as Digital Director and IT Manager before becoming CEO.

Alan has been instrumental in developing the Volunteer Action Plan, a strategy involving over 130 stakeholders to enhance engagement, influence policies, and create inclusive volunteering spaces. Under his leadership, Volunteer Scotland has successfully navigated government funding and strategic collaborations.

Alan’s career journey, from engineering to volunteer leadership, highlights his commitment to purpose-driven work and community engagement.

Purpose, Impact, and the Future of Volunteer Scotland

In this episode, Chris, Imo and Alan explore the transformative initiatives and strategic shifts within Volunteer Scotland, especially post-COVID-19, including the Volunteer Action Plan.

Alan explains the collaborative process that brought together over 130 stakeholders to shape actionable goals aimed at enhancing lifelong engagement, influencing policies, recognising contributions, and creating inclusive spaces for volunteering. Managing diverse working groups and the importance of co-creation and adaptability in driving these efforts are key themes.

In a broader discussion, they tackled the complex relationship between government funding and the social and economic impacts of volunteering in Scotland. Alan emphasised the need for flexible, inclusive approaches that encourage community participation without becoming overly formalized.

They also reflect on the importance of centralised services like the Volunteer Scotland website and the necessity of protecting the infrastructure supporting volunteering initiatives. Alan’s personal insights shed light on the integral role of volunteering in society and the ongoing efforts to nurture this invaluable resource.

Listen Now

Listen now to a conversation that not only provides inspiration, but delivers practical insights into the world of social impact and professional coaching.

Catch the episode on Spotify now.

Enjoyed this episode? Why not listen to more TeamTalk? You can find more episodes including chats with Rob Jackson, AVM and Sport England wherever you get your podcasts.

If you have any topic or guest requests let us know!

You can find TeamKinetic on social media:

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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.

TeamTalk: Season 3, Episode 4 – Katherine Perrin

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On 29th August 2024

In News & Views, TeamTalk Podcast

Welcome back to Season 3 of our TeamTalk Podcast! This season, we are talking to thought leaders, customers and stakeholders from the world of volunteer management as we dive deeper into the world of volunteering.


In this TeamTalk episode, we were joined by Katherine Perrin. Katherine is a Social Impact Consultant specialising in LEGO®SeriousPlay® – a unique, tactile way of exploring topics. The method encourages people to use metaphor – using the LEGO bricks to build models that represent their thoughts and ideas.

Katherine’s Journey

How do you transform a career from local government service to making a significant impact in the voluntary sector? Katherine Perrin, our guest for episode four, shares her “squiggly path” career journey. From working in local government to becoming a certified coach, facilitator, and freelance social impact consultant.

Katherine recalls her experiences at a council for voluntary service and a hospice, revealing the profound personal growth and life-changing insights gained from these roles. Discover how she navigated the bold transition to self-employment, balancing purpose and passion while overcoming challenges.

Katherine also dives into her experience balancing a fulfilling career and personal life within the voluntary sector. We discuss the practicalities of maintaining a work-life balance in a field driven by passion, the struggle against imposter syndrome, and the importance of recognising your own value.

Katherine sheds light on the appeal of self-employment, from the flexibility it offers to the opportunities for collaboration with multiple organisations. In addition, she explains what it truly means to be a coach and facilitator in today’s ever-evolving job landscape as well as the satisfaction derived from witnessing client growth.

In the episode, we unravel the complexities of measuring social impact and how innovative methodologies, like LEGO Serious Play, are transforming discussions and problem-solving sessions.

Katherine highlights the importance of transparent social impact measurement and the challenges faced by organisations in this space. We also touch on the pressing issues of funding and sustainability within the voluntary sector, emphasising the necessity for long-term, trust-based funding relationships.

Listen Now

Listen now to a conversation that not only provides inspiration, but delivers practical insights into the world of social impact and professional coaching.

Catch the episode on Spotify and all other podcast streaming platforms:

Enjoyed this episode? Why not listen to more TeamTalk? You can find more episodes including chats with Rob Jackson, AVM and Sport England wherever you get your podcasts.

If you have any topic or guest requests let us know!

You can find TeamKinetic on social media:

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.

TeamKinetic 2.5.1 Minor Release

By

On 19th August 2024

In Press Releases, TeamKinetic Features, Technical Updates

The TeamKinetic 2.5.1 Minor Release is complete and some of you will have already spotted the new stuff!

Reporting Page Speed Improvements

The reporting page is grabbing ever more data for more reports over longer periods. We’d already noticed some slowdowns and some customers had opened support tickets to report load time of 10 plus seconds. We needed to fix that!

  • We have rewritten some of the queries that fetch the data to make them snappier
  • Delayed the fetching of some data until you open the relevant section
  • Fetched the all time and date limited stats after the page has loaded so it won’t block you looking at other reports

It looks like this when you first load the page and the stats will drop in shortly.


The page will load in less than 4 seconds now for even our largest data customers.

New Help and Info for the Custom App

For our admins that have got their own branded app in the Play and iOS stores, we have added a few areas to help them manage the new app.

In the Super Admin > Setup > Custom App section you’ll find all the information you need to explore and communicate to your users about your new all. It contains QR codes, links to the app and a large version of your app icon.

If you want to find out how many people are using the app, registering via the app and joining sessions via the app we’ve got you covered with a new section in the reporting page.

The little tooltips will let you know how each stat is calculated and what it means and the figures are limited to the dates you choose on the reporting page.

Mobile App Download Prompts

We’ve now reinstigated the screen overlay prompts for volunteers who access their dashboard on a small screen to download the mobile app.

If you have switched up to the custom branded app, then the links and QR Codes adjust accordingly.

There is also a permanent notification in the footer, reminding users they can use the native mobile app.

Improved Volunteer Password Reset

After working through the process with the Wildlife Trust (thanks Jake) that had lot of volunteers to import and on-board, we spotted a few places where the process wasn’t as clear and simple as it could be, so we’ve made these changes

  • A clear message if the reset token (from an old email) a volunteer is trying to use is expired or bad. This appears before they try to reset their password; it used to appear afterwards and so some volunteers missed it and thought they had reset their password successfully.
  • Suppose a volunteer resets multiple times in a short period and the existing token is still valid. In that case, the token is not reset and a new email is sent with the same token as included in previous emails. This stops that reset loop of doom where a volunteer uses the reset link and an email is sent, but they don’t receive the email quickly enough, or hit the reset link again by accident. This would result in multiple emails with different reset tokens only the latest of which would work.
  • If a reset token is not valid the volunteer has only the option of sending the reset email again, so if they miss the fail message they can’t try to login, which would be frustrating as it wouldn’t work yet
  • Changed the wording of some of the messaging to make it clearer

All the changes together lead to a more intuitive process and we’ve been logging the outcomes for a while and we are getting far fewer issues.

Email Notification of Deleted Volunteer

Volunteers can remove themselves from your database, an important ability to fulfil your GDPR responsibilities. Previously, although the hours were anonymised and retained, the admins would have no idea that a volunteer had removed themselves.

We’ve added an email notification to the main admin which will tell them which volunteer and email address has been removed.

This clears the path to a future update that will allow admins to pick the level of detail they wish to retain when a volunteer is removed. Keep an eye out for that update.

Volunteer Registration Form Improvements

We’ve added some new messaging and prompts to aid volunteers in completing the location section, which has been an issue for some.

Volunteers cannot proceed when entering a UK postcode until they have hit the search button and selected an address from those available.

This will help those volunteers who find they cannot proceed but don’t know why.

Session Number Filter

Added a session number filter to the volunteer search so you can filter your volunteers by the number of sessions they have joined in addition to the existing filters for number of opportunities and hours logged.

Length of Service Added to Volunteer Search

Just a little something that might help, next to the registration date for volunteers is a year and months since registration figure so you can quickly see how long they have been volunteering.

New Volunteer Search Filters

You can now filter by;

  • volunteers that have never logged in (imported but not logged in)
  • volunteers awaiting parental consent (remember you can resend the parental consent email and update the parental email from the volunteer management page)
  • Expiry date of qualifications
  • Date a volunteer last applied for an opportunity

We add filters to this area regularly so it is always worth a quick scan down the filter list occassionally.

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 might even send you a little thank you.

Woman using computer

Accessibility Statement

By

On 15th August 2024

In TeamKinetic Best Practice, Technical Updates

Our Commitment to Accessibility

At TeamKinetic, we are committed to ensuring our software platform is accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. We strive to follow best practices and standards to provide an inclusive user experience that caters to diverse needs.

Accessibility Features

We have implemented several features on our website to enhance accessibility, including but not limited to:

  • Keyboard Navigation: Users can navigate through the website using a keyboard, without the need for a mouse.
  • Screen Reader Compatibility: Our content is designed to be compatible with screen reading software, enabling visually impaired users to access information.
  • Text Alternatives: We provide text alternatives for non-text content to ensure that all users can understand the information presented.
  • Consistent Layout: Our website follows a consistent layout and design to facilitate ease of use and navigation.

Limitations and Areas for Improvement

Despite our best efforts, there may be instances where certain aspects of the website are not fully accessible. This may occur due to:

  • Third-Party Integrations: Some sections of our website may include third-party tools or plugins that we do not have full control over. These may not meet our accessibility standards.
  • Technological Constraints: Rapid technological changes may sometimes present challenges that affect our ability to provide fully accessible experiences.
  • Design Trade-offs: Balancing aesthetic design and functionality can occasionally impact the accessibility of certain elements.

Feedback and Assistance

We value feedback from our users and continually seek to improve the accessibility of our website. If you encounter any accessibility barriers or have suggestions for improvement, contact us at info@teamkinetic.co.uk.

Contact Us

For any assistance or to report an accessibility issue, please reach out to our support team:

  • Email: info@teamkinetic.co.uk

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to improve the accessibility of our platform. Thank you for helping us create a more inclusive environment for all users.

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.

TeamTalk: Season 3, Episode 3 – Rosie Wylie

By

On 11th July 2024

In News & Views, TeamTalk Podcast

Welcome back to Season 3 of our TeamTalk Podcast! This season, we are talking to thought leaders, customers and stakeholders from the world of volunteer management as we dive deeper into the world of volunteering.


In this TeamTalk episode, we were joined by Rosie Wylie. Rosie serves as the National Volunteering and Community Development Manager at Historic Environment Scotland and is a Trustee for Volunteer Scotland. She is also an independent assessor for the UK-wide Investing in Volunteers quality assurance award and Vice Chair of the Make Your Mark in Volunteering Campaign Group.

At Historic Environment Scotland, Rosie oversees the national volunteer programme and provides volunteer development support for the heritage sector. Her expertise includes community engagement and development, national engagement programme design, collaborative project delivery, and the organisation of digital and hybrid events and conferences.

Rosie’s Journey

In this episode, Rosie Wylie shares her journey into volunteering, which began at 18 when a six-month trip to Australia turned into a five-year stay. This period of her life boosted her confidence and helped her discover the importance of volunteering.

Returning to Scotland, Rosie continued exploring various career paths through volunteering, highlighting the importance of supportive volunteer coordinators in shaping volunteer experiences and career guidance.

Chris, Imo and Rosie discuss the many challenges faced by volunteer coordinators. The episode also focuses on the “Make Your Mark” campaign, aimed at increasing volunteer diversity in Scotland’s heritage sector. The campaign’s goals include upskilling volunteer managers, developing inclusion tools, and fostering community engagement.

Looking ahead, Rosie highlights the growing demand for workshops and the need for cross-sector knowledge sharing and alignment with the Volunteer Scotland action plan. Key challenges include connecting with volunteers, understanding their expectations, and addressing participation barriers. Collaboration and relationship-building are essential for providing excellent volunteer experiences and adapting to post-pandemic expectations, with ongoing efforts to sustain and grow the “Make Your Mark” initiative and achieve accreditation through Investing in Volunteers.

Listen Now

Listen now on Spotify and all other podcast streaming platforms:

Enjoyed this episode? Why not listen to more TeamTalk? You can find more episodes including chats with Rob Jackson, AVM and Sport England wherever you get your podcasts.

If you have any topic or guest requests let us know!

You can find TeamKinetic on social media:

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.

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