volunteer software UK Archives - Page 2 of 2

Tag: volunteer software UK

Four months on from when the pandemic’s first case started and how life has changed! Shops, pubs, restaurants, cinemas and some attractions are finally starting to reopen with COVID-19 safety measures in place. Although an end appears to be in sight (fingers crossed there is no second wave), we are going to have to adapt to what has become the ‘new normal’ for the foreseeable future. What does this mean for volunteer managers?

1. Expect fewer former volunteers

Previously, the volunteer community was largely depended on the older generation. These volunteers have since decreased due to COVID-19 and the urgency to self-isolate. Before COVID-19, an estimated 10 million volunteered at least once a month. Initial findings have suggested that this figure has now halved. This is because many of the former volunteers are now classified as high risk. Meaning they have suspending their volunteering duties to shield or because they no longer feel safe. The knock on effect of this will potentially put millions of older or vulnerable people at risk from the loss of their social relationships by giving up volunteering.

What should volunteer managers do? We think volunteer managers should ensure they are still communicating with all volunteers who are now self-isolating. This can be sending updates in engaging newsletters, or by setting up group video calls to ensure former volunteers still get some form of interaction with their friends. You could also start offering volunteering from home so volunteers can still get involved in helping others, and stay connected.

With TeamKinetic, you can stay in touch with your volunteers through email or text straight through our system. You can also create amazing newsletters using our built in email tools to keep volunteers who are shielding up to date.

2. Target Youths for Volunteering

Another impact of COVID-19 is more young people getting involved in volunteering. Many have wanted to help their local community in hope to reach a sense of normality in life and to help keep people safe. This has seen volunteer levels dramatically shift nationally for the first time since WW2. This change in patterns gives the volunteer sector hope that the number of young people will continue to increase in what had previously been an older volunteer community.

Volunteer managers should continue to try and engage younger volunteers in the ‘new normal’, especially students while schools and universities are closed or online. A key resource to engage younger volunteers is technology. Volunteer managers might consider technology that will allow young people to easily sign up for volunteering opportunities on their phone or laptop.

Here at TeamKinetic, you can take full control on engaging your younger volunteers. Our software is available as a native app from the app store and as a responsive design; meaning you can access the system on any device. This allows the younger generation the find new and exciting volunteering opportunities from one click. Also, did we mention we offer reward systems so you can continue to engage your volunteers?

3. Communication is Key

COVID-19 has undoubtedly caused confusion and uncertainty among the population. This includes volunteers, making the need for communication and transparency in the ‘new normal’ essential for volunteers to feel safe.

With volunteer rates increasing quickly, volunteer managers need to be on top of communication. This includes communicating important COVID-19 information. This is especially important when former volunteers are ready to return to their duties. Volunteer managers need to communicate with volunteers about how their roles might have changed, opportunities available, and ensure they are fully comfortable returning. This all needs to be communicated in an efficient and easy manor.

With TeamKinetic, we ensure you can communicate with your volunteers all from one software, allowing easy communication with volunteers instantly! Also, did we mention this can be done through email or text straight from your dashboard? And to make it even better, you can schedule any texts you want to send!

4. Training is Essential

To help new and returning volunteers feel safe and comfortable volunteering again, training is a must. Volunteer managers should communicate to volunteers the importance of the new way of working. This could be achieved through training or induction days, to help them understand new rules around hygiene and social distancing. These elements may also affect returning volunteers old volunteering roles, so training may be beneficial for volunteers to understand the changes around their roles. This is to ensure they feel safe and make an informed decision about the possibility of returning to volunteering.

When setting up training for volunteers, TeamKinetic allows effective communication. With our software you can easily update volunteers through email, text, or even newsletter to inform them of training and induction days.

For more information on volunteer management software visit our website or call 0161 914 5747

How Can You Really Engage The Youth of Today?

By Alex Evans

On 8th July 2020

In News & Views, Volunteer Management

Can you afford to miss out on the enthusiasm and energy of the youth today? Although, this isn’t a one-way street, many teenagers and younger adults need volunteering experience to help them with future employment to broaden their social networks and develop key life skills. Volunteering in youth boosts academic achievements, health and well-being and teens who participate in an organization that strives to make a difference are more likely to say they will attend higher education.

Despite the many benefits volunteering can clearly have on our young people, organisations still struggle to engage this audience. But hopefully, after reading this you might be able to capture some of that enthusiasm and energy for your organisation!

Be a Known Presence

Visibility for any organisation is always going to be a contributing factor for success, no matter how big or small your organisation is. So, getting on the radar of teens and young adults can help increase your reputation and volunteer numbers. Here are a few ways you can do this…

Attending or hosting events in further and higher education facilities will certainly heighten your visibility and will help get you talking to this youth demographic. Many universities have events and partnerships with 3rd sector and community businesses. For example, some universities will have connections with their city councils to help find students volunteering roles.
Connect with social media managers at colleges and universities, as most universities have a large social following of past and present students, any posts on their socials are sure to get a loud response.
Getting current young volunteers to post their experiences with the organisation to help increase awareness. Using personalised hashtags (#) with your organisation’s name will help increase your popularity amongst the youth.
Be prepared, post your opportunities well in advance. Post on to local volunteering sites, and with colleges and universities. Try to find where your audience’s presence is.
Be sure to state teenagers and young adults are welcome, they tend to like that!

Speak The Language of The Enigma

Don’t worry, we’re not going to be teaching you youth slang, ‘WYD’ and ‘LOL’ are firmly not on today’s agenda. However, social media is a major form of entertainment for young and old with ‘almost 4.57 billion active users globally in April 2020′. That’s ‘9 out of 10 teenagers aged 13-17 [who] use social media platforms’.

Social media is a huge way to keep in contact with this generation, here’s how…

Most young people, including myself, would much prefer to do everything via our phones, book a table, book tickets and sign up for volunteering roles. Giving teens this opportunity will increase your amount of volunteers.
Reaching out on social media is one of the best ways to interact with teens. With Facebook being the highest used platform with 77.3% of 15 – 25-year-olds using it, to Twitter being the least-used platform with 48.6% using it. Create your social media pages on the most popular sites so you can reach out to the youth of today.
Know your audience. Create events and opportunities specifically designed for teens and young adults. Having a role which is attractive to the younger crowd will give you that boost in numbers you need.

Stay Engaging

Getting the youth market to fixate on something is tricky. Most young people tend to lose interest when something becomes well… boring. So engaging is essential and can help retain younger volunteers and recruit new ones. Take a look below at ways you can do this.

Give young people a voice. Allow younger volunteers to be a part of the team when planning. This will help give your organisation a better insight into the mindset of your younger volunteers.
Teens and young adults tend to prefer working more creatively, so motivate them, let them develop new ideas and be supportive of the things they want to try. Always encourage, be open and create an environment where their ideas are respected.
Make events and opportunities fun! It’s simple. You could include music, time to socialise, creative activities and the chance to work with friends. Use your existing youth volunteers and imagination to help make your event or opportunity more fun.
Sell your opportunity or event as interesting and exciting. Gloss it up a little, identify key roles and outline the responsibilities that the volunteers will have and how it may help that volunteer develop that all-important experience they desire.

Pulling Down The Barriers

Finding time to get to know your volunteers can be tricky especially when you have a million and one other things to do. getting to know your younger volunteers might seem a bit tricky, working out how you can relate, but here are some simple ideas you could try.

Get to know your volunteers. You can do this by saving 10 minutes to talk to one or two volunteers. Get to know what they like and don’t like, what interests them, and why they are there.
Communication is key. Be available and be welcoming.
Update and make yourself a known social presence. Create a mailing list of youth volunteers who might want to be emailed, and send out a weekly email or blog sharing stories of success and great efforts.

How TeamKinetic Can Help You!

So, I can only assume you are wondering how on earth you will be able to do all of this and still manage ALL other volunteers. Well, TeamKinetic is here to help. With TeamKinetic you will be able to manage all of your volunteers in one convenient space, giving you more time to focus on promoting to new volunteers.

You can also:

Create and manage opportunities
Send bulk emails to certain groups
Gain unlimited volunteer registration (no cap)
Internal email communications
Volunteer opportunity feedback
DBS checks
Reward and recognise your volunteers

The software gives your volunteers the chance to sign up online to volunteer roles, log their own hours and leave feedback. They can also then post via socials the volunteering they have done which will attract more volunteers.

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

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Overcoming COVID-19 as a Community

By Rolf Herbert

On 7th April 2020

In COVID-19

Volunteers are cementing their value in society. After the call for NHS volunteer responders was made by the government, five people per second enlisted to volunteer.

Volunteers from across local councils and community groups have not been shying away from COVID-19. In fact, they have more than risen to the occasion, by offering their support to those most vulnerable and keyworkers – despite the increased risk of being exposed to COVID-19 themselves.

The community at the heart

Communities and councils have been working together throughout COVID-19 in order to provide help to those most at risk. Since the start of the virus 2,700 grassroots groups have formed with a total of 2.5 million group members – these figures are increasing daily. Volunteers in the community have signed up to these groups to help deliver food and amenities. Figures like this really show the power of human resilience and determination to make the world a better place even in the darkest of times, which we find ourselves in now.

Find volunteering groups near you

For prospective volunteers who are seeking roles in their local community, it would be well worth your while looking at Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK. This organisation has been responsible for coordinating the many volunteering groups which have risen all across the UK. Their website displays a map which contains various known local volunteering groups. The site also allows you to add your own volunteering group by connecting your own group’s social media channels and website.

Clap for our NHS workers

#ClapForOurCarers was a brilliant community effort from all across the UK. With people showing they’re appreciation for those working non-stop during this pandemic, with masses of applause from balconies, gardens, front doors and windows.

Common uncertainties facing communities

Despite many communities having many enthusiastic volunteers, some uncertainties still lie when volunteering during this pandemic.

Firstly, you can leave your house to volunteer to provide help to those vulnerable, providing volunteering can not be done from home. But if you fall into the high-risk category, being over 70 or having health conditions please try to find volunteering opportunities from home via the computer or telephone.

You haven’t got to be a superhero to help out so don’t be afraid of not knowing what to do at first. But at the same time don’t feel pressured to volunteer, it is optional and you should only volunteer if you want to.

You don’t even have to sign up to anything to be a good person, you could easily keep an eye out in your neighbourhood. Perhaps you know of an elderly person who lives around the corner, it wouldn’t hurt for you to check if they’re ok. Or maybe an NHS worker lives nearby and doesn’t have time to get food in for themselves after work, perhaps you could grab something for them while your shopping yourself? These little things may not seem like traditional volunteering but you are making a difference and having a positive impact on someone else’s life with nothing in return, so maybe you can volunteer without even knowing.

Stay safe, stay positive we can overcome this together

International Volunteer Day 2019

By Rolf Herbert

On 5th December 2019

In Community, News & Views

Today is the chance to celebrate your hard work, so sit back and bask in the efforts you have achieved over the last year. Today isn’t about anyone else. It’s all about you.

Let’s take a minute to see what exactly you’ve been up to.

Youth Hostels Association

YHA began recruiting more youth volunteers, the aim was to get more young people work-ready. YHA partnered with North Lindsey College, where students were encouraged to take a minimum of 30 volunteering hours of work experience. Students could take part in a number of projects including building bug houses, decorating, gardening and many more projects. As we all know qualifications are only half of your CV, having experience is just as essential. So congratulations to the YHA volunteers, in preparing the younger generations for the world of work!

Humanity Road

Every year Humanity Road have helped thousands of people around the world which have been affected by disasters. In 2018 alone, Humanity Road volunteers responded to 68 events in 31 countries. These events included 21 earthquakes, 17 floods, 7 wildfires, 12 hurricanes, 4 tornadoes, 5 volcanoes and 1 technology event. Humanity Road’s volunteers really excel themselves by aiding people to points of rescue in unpredictable disasters. If anyone deserves a day, it’s definitely you. Truly amazing work, done by people that care.

Nightstop

Nightstop volunteers allow young homeless people who require emergency accommodation to stay in their own homes overnight. Volunteers provide accommodation, a bite to eat and somewhere safe, where people are no longer in a vulnerable environment. We had the opportunity to visit Nightstop earlier in the year and we have to say the team of volunteers we met were incredibly friendly with many great stories. So a special happy volunteer day goes out to Nightstop and volunteers Helen Patrick, Peter Conroy, Rosemary Grovestock, Dave Batchelor and organiser Beth.

Liverpool Football Club Foundation

Liverpool FC works with local communities in and around Liverpool, aiming to deliver long-term change which is sustainable within these communities. Not just for current generations, but for future generations as well. In 2018 to 2019, LFC’s programmes attracted 28,630 children which took part in activities.

But a lot of the work LFC does couldn’t go without a helping hand from their volunteers. Me and Alex witnessed the contribution volunteers have first hand. We witnessed this earlier in the year when we volunteered alongside the experts of LFC’s volunteering team, which was a true pleasure to be apart of.

Happy International volunteer day to Dawn Georgeson, Michael Murray, Anas Usman, Paul and everyone else at LFC. I wish I could name you all but I’d be here all day.

Dreams Come True

Here at TeamKinetic, we have only recently begun working with Dreams Come True, so this is not only just the opportunity to say Happy International Volunteer Day, but also to say welcome aboard. Dreams Come True has a simple aim of enriching the lives of young people who have serious life-limiting conditions.

The volunteers and staff at Dreams Come True ensure that every young person and child has an unforgettable experience which fulfils their dreams and creates life-lasting memories. They aim to go above and beyond, treating all young people and families with the most respect through what can be challenging times.

TeamKinetic Volunteer Management

Uniting communities and bringing people together through volunteering is one of the main foundations of TeamKinetic. One of the many benefits of this job is meeting lots of fascinating people, who are all so driven to achieving various objectives and helping others before themselves.

Happy International Volunteer Day 2019