SSO is a way of leveraging existing accounts from trusted sources to make logging in more secure, quicker and easier. It mostly utilises Oauth 2 to create a connection between us and the trusted source we are trying to authenticate with.
We have added Facebook, Google, and LinkedIn (admin and providers only) to our login on TeamKinetic.
Why?
As we interact online we are frequently asked to create accounts, along with a password and most usually our email address. We can forget passwords for sites we don’t use often or can get irritated having to login time and again.
Using SSO we can ask a trusted source, such as Facebook, to authenticate your email address. If you are already logged into Facebook with a matching email address you’ll get logged in immediately simply by clicking the login with Facebook button. You won’t need to enter your email address or password at all! You don’t need to remember another password and you don’t need to type in your email address and password over and over.
Do I share my personal data?
When we connect with Oauth we have to tell the source we are using what information we want back. In the case of SSO its just your email address. When you first sign in using Oauth you will notice that you have to say yes to sharing that information. That is the only information that we will be able to obtain.
What will it look like on the TeamKinetic?
We are starting to roll out this feature to all users and it will look like this. Keep an eye out for it appearing for you before Friday 7th February.
Students are continuing to volunteer more and more as the years go on. But how can you continue to support the retention of your student volunteers during their time at university?
Get the opportunities right
Providing the right opportunities to present to your students, is of course, rule number one. Research shows that 95% of student volunteers are motivated by a desire to improve things or help people. This should be taken into account when providing opportunities for your students.
Try to remember that students have many different needs therefore a wide spectrum of opportunities will help recruit and retain them. It should also be noted that many students have other commitments running alongside their degrees. Commitments restrict the time students can volunteer, but by creating one of the opportunities, students have more flexibility and don’t have to commit to a specific time frame each week, making participation higher.
Engage
Engage students by promoting upcoming opportunities. Take advantage and use the connections in your university network as a platform to promote. For example, the student union, sports centre, and careers centre. This will then attract a wider range of students to your opportunities. Student union officer and also previous volunteers will also be able to spread the word of volunteering opportunities amongst students. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to get students volunteering.
Support and report
Consistent support and feedback will be essential to retaining your volunteers. Volunteers want to feel valued for their efforts.
Volunteers should be aware of who their first point of contact is and how to connect with them. Students first point of contact may be ambassadors, volunteer managers or the coordinators.
Besides members of staff and ambassadors, students should be given the option to join drop-in sessions with other student volunteers. This then allows students to meet and interact with new people who have similar interests.
But most importantly, just say thank you by any mean possible. You’d be amazed by the number of people who just forget those two magic words.
Keep students in the loop
Stay alert! Make sure to be in touch with interested volunteers within 24 hours of them making initial contact. To say thank you for showing interest in volunteering, and to let them know of any upcoming important dates which they could be apart of.
Don’t get beside yourself on no shows or last-minute drop-outs. Students are very busy, so continue to keep them in the loop for future volunteering opportunities.
Be meaningful and impactful, but you don’t need to be deadly serious all the time, loosen up a little. Create space for having a laugh and a banter.
If you want more information about how TeamKinetic’s volunteer management software can help you and your organisation, feel free to visit our website.
Recently I had the opportunity to speak with Aisha Labefo-Audo from The University of East London. She has given TeamKinetic some amazing feedback relating to how they use TeamKinetic volunteer management over at UEL and why they continue to enjoy our service to this day.
Let the interview begin…
What is your role at UEL?
“Civic Engagement and Volunteering Coordinator.”
Why did you start looking for volunteer management software?
“We began looking for volunteer management software because we wanted students to be able to apply for volunteering opportunities and allow organisations (providers) to be able to upload their volunteering opportunities as well. Also, we wanted a volunteer management system where students could log their volunteering hours.”
How did you come across TeamKinetic?
“We found TeamKinetc volunteer management software online almost five years ago.”
What benefits has TeamKinetic volunteer management provided for UEL?
“A lot to say the least. One of the key benefits of the system to our university is allowing students to browse through opportunities, apply/join and log in their volunteering hours.”
How was the implementation process of TeamKinetic?
“It was okay. We had a school visit from Steve, who talked about the benefits of the system and we were more than happy to proceed.”
Does TeamKinetic meet the needs of the universities volunteering department and why?
“Yes it does, although most things are done manually and we have to encourage students to log in their volunteering hours and open and reopen opportunities. But it is a nice platform to capture students volunteering.”
How do students find using the software?
“Most students find using the software easy enough. Some students just need a little hand in logging their volunteering hours, but once they’ve been shown they seem to grasp using the system.”
On average how many opportunities do you advertise for students?
“Over 60 sometimes more opportunities. This varies as opportunities open and close all the time. We advertise different kinds of roles that will support students to gain the skills and experiences they need for the real world of work.”
Are you satisfied with the training support from TeamKinetic?
“So far so good. I am hugely happy and satisfied with the online support from TeamKinetic.”
Would you recommend other universities to get in touch with the TeamKinetic volunteer management?
“Definitely, I did so last term. Someone wanted to decide if they should go for TeamKinetics and I gave them the pros and cons of the system. The pros were far more than the cons.”
Any other comments?
“We have been using the platform for almost 5 years now and we have really enjoyed using it. Sometimes I feel somethings could be improved a little. However, one thing I have come to realise from looking at all kinds of different systems, is that there is no perfect volunteer management platform out there. I look forward to what TeamKinetic has to offer in the future.”
Again thank you soo much Aisha for honest and detailed feedback.
If you want more information about how TeamKinetic’s volunteer management software can help you and your organisation, feel free to visit our website.
Find us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. call us on 0161 914 5757, we’re always happy to chat!
By now, students will be settled into their year at university. Whether you’re in your first or final year, you’ll have already completed seemingly endless amounts of assignments. Now, of course, university isn’t for everyone. However, as someone who has spent two years at university (so far), I can say that it is hard. It’s hard to balance all these new aspects of your life – self-motivated study, meeting new people, house-hunting, food shopping, finding a club that your random mix of mates can all enjoy, cooking, and actually finding the time and summoning the effort to clean your house. Despite this, I’m about to tell you to add volunteering to the mix.
Now, I’m not going to pretend like the majority of students don’t see volunteering as a CV booster. But these same students then realise that volunteering can offer so much more than a bullet point on a piece of paper. It can offer you essential life skills that you can’t develop anywhere else. The issue is that these benefits aren’t often highlighted by universities. As a result, students may not be getting into volunteering in the first place.
The Benefits of Student Volunteering
Meeting new people
Whether you’ve been at uni for a few years already or you’ve just started this year, it’s never a bad time to meet new people. These people could become your friends, best friends, or even future partners. Even if you never talk to them again at least you’ve met someone you can give an awkward wave to when you pass them in public.
Aside from gaining some mates, volunteering could also be a good opportunity for networking. Sounds strange but you never know who you might meet through volunteer work. Also, in a recent catch-up with El Afzal, she noted that people have contacted her through LinkedIn about her vast volunteer work and offered her potential future work.
Giving back to the community
Let’s face it – the vast majority of us have had a few embarrassing nights as a result of the student lifestyle. What better way to say sorry to our local community for all the drunken shouting and traffic cone theft (yes, it’s a big thing) than to volunteer for a local cause. Whether it’s the classic charity shop work or a local park clean-up, you can give back to the community you’ll be calling home for the next few years.
Relieving all that student stress
I don’t mean to scare any prospective students, but university is stressful. It’s all fun and games during fresher’s week but suddenly you’ve been there for two months and are already drowning in assignments and lecture notes you should have somehow organised. Volunteering can be a great way to distance yourself from all the hustle and bustle of university life for a couple of hours a week (or more!) You may be wondering how you’ll fit volunteering into such a busy schedule, but you’re lying if you say you don’t procrastinate for at least a couple hours a day – whether you’re scrolling through social media or binge-watching that new TV show.
Also, research shows that if you volunteer during your student years, you’re likely to continue throughout your life. Wouldn’t it be nice to live a life full of voluntary work? I think it would.
How can TeamKinetic help?
Are you a student looking to get into volunteering? Check with your university’s student union or sports department for any active opportunities. You could also give this blog by The Student Room a read – it includes some helpful information about student volunteering!
Perhaps you work for a university wanting to commit more to student volunteering? This blog might be better for you! Find out how TeamKinetic can work with you to recruit, manage, and retain your student volunteers byvisiting our website or calling us on 0161 914 5757.
Whether you’re student or staff, you can find us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. We share and create content suitable for anyone interested in volunteering!
You can also read our other blogs on student volunteering here and here.
Many children dream wildly about becoming a firefighter when they’re older, many children would consider this to be their ultimate dream job. It certainly was mine for many years. Sadly, of the many that dream, few actually become firefighters later in life.
However, those who continued to dream heroic fantasies have been continuing them by helping to fight the detrimental fires that have been taking place in Australia.
Becoming a volunteer firefighter in the UK is not well-renowned. But in America and Australia volunteer training is highly extensive, requiring hard work and valiant commitment to the community. Smaller towns and villages in such places rely on volunteer firefighters to respond quickly to incidents, perform firefighting duties, and provide assistance and support to full-time paid firefighters.
Ultimately, ‘volunteering’ means there are no monetary benefits for volunteer firefighters risking their lives. However, many volunteer firefighters are honoured and proud to be able to serve and protect their local communities – which is the greatest reward of all.
Australia
Volunteer Firefighters
The Australian wildfires are expected each year during the summer, marking it the fire season. Hot and dry conditions permit perfect conditions for a blaze to start. This season is always particularly dangerous proving more so than ever this Australian summer, the worst seen in decades. The last significant wildfires were Black Saturday 2009.
Wildfires have swept across 17.9 million acres of woodland and national parks, also effecting the largest cities Melbourne and Sydney – with the state of New South Wales being the worst struck. A total of 27 people have died and over 480 million animals.
The video above is merely human kindness towards a fellow friendly koala. Many people, like those above, have taken their own actions to help desperate wildlife.
The bushfires are continuing to blaze and challenge the brave and noble volunteer firefighters which are risking their lives to save their country. Many firefighters have been injured and lost homes and their own lives.
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) is the largest in the world, with 70,000 members across 2,002 brigades. The NSW RFS has received a spike (five times their usual amount) in applications of people wanting to become volunteer firefighters due to the ongoing events.
The Australian Prime Minister recently announced that volunteer firefighters will receive up to 6,000 Australian dollars if called out to battle blazes for more than 10 days. The Prime Minister said the compensation was necessary so that the NSW fires commissioner was able to continue to call out the volunteer force from their usual jobs – as the bushfires continue.
TeamKinetic volunteer management software
Our thoughts are with those in Australia and those being directly impacted by the fires. Please support The NSW RFS here. These horrific events should not be ignored.
Recently TeamKinetic spoke with one of our current University clients, The University of Manchester. We had the chance to speak with Ellen Stephenson who works in sports development. The university has been using TeamKinetic to manage their student volunteers for a number of years now, having developed a good relationship with the university we thought it was only right to get some honest feedback about our system.
Ellen over to you…
What is your role at The University of Manchester?
Sport Development Coordinator – Employability and Workforce.
Why did you start looking for volunteer management software?
We were using an old system called Coachweb and as part of a Manchester volunteering group recommendation, we were all advised to move to TeamKinetic.
How did you come across TeamKinetic?
My colleague knew Chris Martin and was introduced to the Manchester volunteering group.
How was the implementation process of TeamKinetic?
It was not too painful. Moving to a system which would make life easier in the long run always gives you hope. We had a lot of support from the development team and the support of a TeamKinetic FaceBook users group which had regular meetups to share ideas, see new features and ask questions.
Does TeamKinetic meet the needs of the universities sports department?
Yes! For volunteering at our sports department it really works.
How do students find using the software?
When I have explained how to use the software generally most students are happy and confident enough to use the system.
Are the staff at TeamKinetic helpful and happy to help, can you recall any experiences?
The team are very happy, friendly and helpful and we have a good rapport because we have known some of the team members for such a long time. If I need a quick answer I would not hesitate to pick up the phone, but I do try to use the online help for technical issues.
Would you recommend other universities to get in touch with the TeamKinetic and why?
I would recommend that universities do make contact with TeamKinetic and enquire how the software can be used to fit them, it’s been very beneficial over the years. Maybe it can be beneficial to others.
We’d like to thank Ellen for her answer and her time. It’s greatly appreciated.
For any University or any organisation for that matter interested in learning more about volunteer management software, visit our website or call us on 0161 914 5757. We are always happy for any inquiries and any information we can possibly give.
In 2016, more than 725,000 students volunteered. This may seem like a big number, but it was actually only around 31% of the total student population. We think it can be much higher. The benefits of volunteering are massive. From improving students’ confidence to making a difference in the local community, volunteering can be a valuable activity for any organisation to place emphasis on. As a result, we believe that every university should have volunteer management software.
There are many different types of volunteering for your students to get involved with. Popular uses of volunteer management software for universities often relate to careers, student placement services, the student union, and sport. Sport is a popular area here at TeamKinetic; Cardiff Metropolitan, Nottingham, and Manchester Metropolitan are just some of the many academic institutions already using our system for their student volunteers.
Why not take a look at one of those websites to get a better idea of how our systems work?
It appears that people are getting involved in volunteering from a younger age. 70% of 18–24-year-olds reported volunteering at some point. This age range probably accounts for the vast majority of university students, so why not support them by giving them a better system to volunteer through? Why not take the plunge and get volunteer management software?
(Figures from NCVO’s Time Well Spent report, you can view the report here.)
So… why should you use volunteer management software?
With UK plans to double the percentage of students who study, work or volunteer as part of their degree by 2020, investing in a good volunteer management system now would be beneficial to any university.
Universities making an appropriate investment in high quality provision of student volunteering, they not only support students and their communities, but they can derive benefits aligned with their strategic plan and improve the value added to students beyond their studies.
Volunteer management software has a range of features that you can put to good use!
Any good volunteer management system will save you massive amounts of time. Especially in terms of registering volunteers and making them aware of volunteering opportunities. While also reducing the need for paper-based documents which can make your offices cluttered and disorganised.
Easily creating reports and collecting data on your volunteers is another benefit of volunteer management software. You should have the ability to see how many volunteers are registered to your system, how many opportunities have been advertised, how many hours have been logged, and more. This will also save you bags of time and make data collection more fun than ever! (Might have gone a bit too far with that one… Let’s just say it will make data collection less tedious!)
One increasingly essential aspect of volunteer management is the communication between providers (the university) and volunteers (your students). With volunteer management software, you can easily reach out to your volunteers about, well, anything really. Volunteers can even chat amongst themselves on some systems. This is especially helpful if they’re nervous about volunteering alone or for the first time – something that can be common among students.
While volunteer management software can really help your university, it can also be of substantial benefit to your students. As a student myself, I know I’d much rather sign up to a volunteering system and instantly see all active opportunities than drop someone an email and wait for them to get back to me.
How TeamKinetic can help
As a Manchester-based company, we’re quite pleased about the number of hours logged by our local universities in the North West! Grafters.
We already work with a range of universities across the UK. Our software isn’t all about how many hours have been logged. Yet it’s still nice to take a step back and appreciate all the hours of hard work put in by students over the years! See how many hours have been logged by region to the right… Perhaps your university could help add to these hours!
Specifically, our system has features that will make your life as a volunteer manager easier, while encouraging your students to sign up to volunteer.
Through volunteer grouping, you could sort volunteers by sports club, society, or degree type. This can allow you to invite students to volunteer for things you know they’ll be interested in.
Our reports can help you collate data around: gender, ethnicity, group, as well as the type of opportunities your students are getting involved with most. We can also offer custom reporting services to help you get the most out of our software.
Our achievement levels sort volunteers by how many hours they’ve completed. This can be used by you to offer your students bespoke rewards based on their time spent volunteering. It’s always nice to give back to volunteers, and it keeps them coming back!
Don’t just take our word for it – hear from people who have used the software!
Previous MMU Volunteer Coordinator – Emily Roche
How has the TeamKinetic software helped you manage your volunteers?
“Team Kinetic software has given our volunteering team the ability to oversee the diverse range of volunteering we have going on at the University. We can also now create a Reward and Recognition scheme which covers all of these roles by tracking the number of hours across these voluntary roles.”
What specific features of the TeamKinetic system do you find most useful?
“The most useful feature of Team Kinetic is the fact that it links to other networks in Manchester. This means that students can get involved with a variety of opportunities without us having to go out and search for the right contact for them. We can then also keep track of where this is happening, what students are interested in doing, and contact these organisations ourselves.”
A study by the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagementfound that many students volunteer at festivals to gain skills and/or develop their career prospects. However, a ‘substantial’ selection of universities don’t work with festival organisers to advertise these roles to students. As a result, this should be a key focus for universities to expand their engagement activities for the benefit of their students and the general public.
“I’ve always loved helping people. I’ve been volunteering from a young age back home and received a few awards from it. So I wanted to continue that during my studies. It’s a humbling and rewarding feeling when you volunteer and help others.”
What did you get out of volunteering?
“Besides the benefits of receiving MMU Sport colours and tiered rewards for logging hours, I was able to receive great references for my new job while enhancing my character and views of people.”
Would you recommend volunteering to new/current students? And why?
“Yes definitely! Even if it’s like an hour a week that could help change someone or a charity or a group. There are events that are one time things that are great if you can’t commit to a fixed schedule. You get to meet new people and even sometimes potential companies, depending on your degree and where you volunteer. It’s also a great opportunity to put down on your CV for the future as well.”
Why not give your students the same benefits that MMU and their students, such as Sophia, receive while volunteering at university?
Still need convincing?
Read our other blogs on how we’ve helped universities with their volunteering systems below:
The Christmas holidays are here, children, teenagers and young adults, will all soon be, if not already, happily nestled at home enjoying the Christmas break. Lucky for them, unfortunately, some of us are still at work. But wherever you are this Christmas, home, with friends or at the grandparents, I hope you’re surrounded by people you love at this festive time.
However for some, Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year, it’s quite the opposite. Thousands of people across the UK will not have a family to go to this Christmas, or friends to be with or grandparents to eat biscuits with. Which in this country of plenty is tragic, and I believe not fair, because surely everyone deserves to be happy this Christmas.
More than 5% of adults admit to being lonely, women more so than men. According to age UK, 1.7 million older people haven’t met up with a friend or family member in over a month. Many just describe Christmas as ‘just another day’. It’s a time of the year that exacerbates loneliness, so reach out, re-connect, and make someone less lonely this Christmas.
Step aside materialism, Christmas is the season of giving
Share your love
Volunteering this Christmas might just hit the spot for you. The true spirit of Christmas is giving, so why not give your time to help others? Many foodbank providers this Christmas are expecting to be very busy. See Lifeshare, a food bank local to us here in Manchester, helping to give those less fortunate a warm, safe and welcoming environment.
The quickest way to find your nearest foodbank is simple, just conduct a quick Google search I’m sure there will be one near you. As there are 800 more food banks in the country than there are McDonald’s, and I’m sure you know there’s a lot of them!
Reach out to old pals
F R I E N D S do we really need them? YES
Many of us have old friends that have been almost forgotten with time. Well now is the time to reconnect. It’s not uncommon losing touch with friends, as people face many different changes in their lives, career changes, moving to different cities, and new relationships. As we all become consumed by busy lives, close friends soon become distant and the messages become less and less.
So make contact and reconnect, a simple Christmas card, text or email would easily break the silence that should have never been.
Be an open book
Open and free
Try being honest and open about how you are feeling. There are a lot more benefits to being honest and open than there are to being closed off. Honesty attracts honesty. People who are trustworthy and honest attract trustworthy and honest friends. And those are the best friends to have.
Being an open book will allow you to release stress and tension. Keeping your feelings to yourself can reflect negatively on your mind. Talk to those close to you, don’t allow your thoughts to fester it will only make things worse.
So do try not bottling everything up this Christmas be open to everyone and improve your social presence. Enjoy yourself.
Netflix and chill
Such a terrible phrase, I have to admit. However, with the festive season fully locked on our digital platforms, it would not be right to ignore it. Many people help tackle their loneliness by diving deep into a good box set. And I have to agree, box sets are a perfect way to switch off and relax.
A personal touch I’d like to add is a glass of mulled wine and some Camembert, it’s not necessary, but snacks are essential.
Let’s be honest, Christmas time is a mixed bag. Some people love it, some hate it. For some, it’s a time full of family, friends, food, and celebration. For others, it can be stressful or lonely.
Activities and events hosted by volunteers can be essential for many over the holidays. Being surrounded by happiness when your own situation is the opposite can be awful. But these activities give people a much-needed boost.
Now of course, volunteering isn’t just for Christmas. The work of volunteers is essential throughout the whole year. However, we live in a time where it’s been revealed that: – There are around 800 more foodbanks in the UK than McDonald’s branches. – Around four million children are currently living in poverty in the UK. – Almost a million older people feel lonelier at Christmas. – At least 135,000 children will be homeless and living in temporary accommodation across Britain on Christmas day. It’s fair to say that we all need to spread a bit of love and compassion this time of year and beyond.
So… what can you do to help?
If you’re yet to set plans this Christmas, why not check out volunteering opportunities near you? There may be a place offering food to the less fortunate, or a service preventing people from spending the festive period alone.
For students staying in their university’s city over the holidays, volunteering can be a great way to spend free time. It gives you something to do while helping locals and generally improving the community. Check out your university’s volunteering page (they should have one!) for things you can get involved with. Or you can try and find opportunities here.
You could also check out local organisations and clubs, both online and at their offices/HQs. For example, me and Milo went to volunteer at the Liverpool FC Foundation over summer and had a great time. Usually, community-based organisations will have a lot of activities on over the festive period that you can help out with.
In additon, you can help out local charities by acting as a fundraiser for them. People may be strapped for cash around Christmas but will often spare a few pennies for a good cause!
Still stuck for ideas? You could see if Crisis or Shelter have any opportunities near you. They both provide help for homeless people at this critical time of year. By volunteering with organisations like these, you can make a real difference to people experiencing homelessness.
Does it really make a difference?
Short answer: yes. Multiple stories can be seen reported in local media outlets of how volunteers have helped to improve the Christmas period for individuals and groups. One example describes a man who was helped by volunteers and was then inspired to give back to his community.
While volunteering helps others, it can also help you. It has been found to lower stress and increase happiness. A perfect combination just in time for Christmas!
If you need help organising your volunteers over this busy festive period, don’t hesitate to reach out to see how TeamKinetic can help! Give us a call on 0161 914 5757 or visit our website.
We have decided to give you all a few tips on how you can get into the holiday spirit. This is the time of year for giving. How can you help others at this time?
Giving back to your community
In December there are usually lots of events on that will give everyone the chance to become engrossed in the community. This your chance to do good for society. People are the lifeblood of any community and effort into helping others can go a long way. Not everyone will have the ideal family Christmas this year and the things you do could really make a difference to them.
Things you can do vary with how much time you have. It can be something big like organising a Christmas fare or as little as helping someone with their shopping. All of these things help the community.
All these acts can go a long way, How are you going to help out this year?
Be kind to everyone
This point goes without saying. Being kind should be a trait we should have all year round. We feel this is particularly important at Christmas. Everyone should be treated with kindness regardless of their circumstances. Random acts of kindness can help brighten anyone’s day and can do more than you think in this Christmas period.
As said before not everyone will have the perfect Christmas. Doing good for others will make the world a happier place and usually, all this takes is a bit of time and love.
Spend time with your loved ones
Giving up the time to spend with loved ones can be challenging, but it’s not impossible! During busy periods we can often forget the things that are most important to us. Friends, Family, having fun and just taking a seat back and doing nothing!
The average person now works more hours than ever before due to the growing pressures of having tasks complete on time. Research found that more than 5 million workers did around 2 billion unpaid hours of work during 2018. Teachers and educational professionals work the most unpaid hours on average each week, at 12.1 hours. Chief executives worked 11.4 extra hours per week, followed by legal professionals at 10.2 hours more.
We think here at TeamKinetic that your happiness and health comes first. So this Christmas, make time for your loved one and enjoy the holidays because deep down that is what really matters.
