Tag: volunteering Page 5 of 19

How To Manage Volunteers Effectively: Top Tips For Success

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On 26th April 2023

In Volunteer Management

Managing volunteers can be challenging, especially if you want to maximise their engagement and impact. Opting for a volunteer management system can help you manage your volunteers successfully. Here at TeamKinetic, we’ve put together our top tips for managing volunteers effectively to help you lead a fantastic team of volunteers.

Clearly define roles and opportunities 

One of the essential elements of effective volunteer management is to clearly define the roles and expectations of each volunteer. This includes what tasks they will perform, how much time they are expected to commit, and what skills or experience are required. Having a clear understanding of expectations and roles helps to minimise confusion, reduce misunderstandings, and ensure everyone is working towards a common goal is a key starting point for managing your volunteers effectively. By using a volunteer management system such as TeamKinetic, you can write detailed role descriptions when creating opportunities. 

We have a blog post all about how you can get the best out of your opportunity descriptions which you can read here.

Recruit volunteers strategically 

To build an effective volunteer team, it’s important to recruit strategically. This involves recognising the skills, knowledge, and experience needed for each role and targeting specific demographics or groups. You can use social media, community events, and word-of-mouth referrals to attract potential volunteers. We have a blog post about what qualities to look for when recruiting volunteers which is useful to read. 

Consistent communication 

Effective communication is key to managing volunteers successfully. Establishing clear communication channels is essential, including regular team meetings, email updates, or newsletters. 

With our volunteer management system, you can keep in close contact with your volunteers at all times. Within our system, there are a range of customisable automatic emails and other ways you can contact them using system notifications, SMS texts and opportunity chat rooms to help you maintain strong relationships with your volunteers.

Read our guide to effective communication with volunteers here.

Opportunity chat rooms within the TeamKinetic system

Provide sufficient training 

Volunteers may need suitable training to perform their roles effectively. Therefore, it’s crucial to provide adequate training to ensure that volunteers have the knowledge and skills they need to complete their tasks. Training can include onboarding sessions, mentoring, and ongoing coaching to help volunteers develop their skills and stay motivated.

Offer flexible schedules 

Volunteers often have other commitments, such as work or family, so offering flexible schedules can help with retention. At the end of adding an opportunity within the TeamKinetic system, you are given a choice to list your opportunity as a flexible or individual session. A flexible opportunity is when you need a volunteer for a certain role but it’s not always on the same date when it’s needed. Meaning you have the date you want the volunteering role to be completed but you are flexible about when the volunteer attends. 

Option to choose individual or flexible sessions on the TeamKinetic system

Reward your volunteers

Volunteers dedicate their time and energy to support your organisation, so showing appreciation is crucial to keeping them engaged and motivated. 

You can easily reward your volunteers with our system. We have a few ways you can reward volunteers including achievement badges and even our Unique HourTrades feature which allows volunteers to swap their logged hours for special rewards. TeamKinetic will also send automated messages to your volunteers on milestones, such as their birthdays or when they reach a new achievement level. 

Provide feedback 

A positive culture can help volunteers feel valued and included, increasing engagement and retention. You can create a positive culture by encouraging a sense of community, providing opportunities for volunteers to socialise, and promoting a shared mission. Within the TeamKinetic system, you can have two-way feedback on every opportunity, which ensures your volunteers are kept happy and fulfilled.

Track performance and progress 

Monitoring performance and progress is essential to ensure that volunteers are meeting their goals and making an impact within the organisation.

Real-time, detailed, and effective analysis of all aspects of your volunteer programme helps you tell a clear story of your organisation’s social value. With TeamKinetic you can receive two-way feedback on every opportunity, so you can ensure volunteers are kept content and fulfilled.

Example of the Reports & Analysis Quick Stats page within the TeamKinetic system 

Key Takeaways

In conclusion, effective volunteer management is crucial to maximising engagement and impact. With these top tips, you can build a successful team of volunteers that make a meaningful contribution to your organisation’s mission.

Interested in speeding up your volunteer registrations and reducing administrative burden? Why not start with a volunteer management system? With TeamKinetic you can start a FREE trial today over on our website or book a demo!

Make sure you follow us to receive regular updates about the voluntary sector and learn more about the TeamKinetic system. 

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

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Building Community Through Heritage Volunteering

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On 19th April 2023

In Community, Heritage & Culture

Heritage volunteering offers a unique opportunity to not only contribute to preserving and promoting cultural heritage but also to build and strengthen community ties. As volunteers work together to preserve historical sites, they become a part of a group. In this blog post, we share ways heritage volunteering can be used to create a community.

Shared goals

Volunteering for a heritage site allows people to come together around shared goals. Volunteers who are passionate about history and culture can work together to ensure that these sites and artefacts are preserved for future generations. As they collaborate, they share their knowledge and experiences, so they can build a sense of belonging to a group.

Sense of Ownership

Volunteering for a heritage site also creates a sense of ownership and pride in the community. When volunteers give their time and energy to preserving local heritage, they get a rewarding feeling for making an impact. They are invested in their work, and this creates a feeling of attachment and belonging to the community.

Social Connections

Volunteering for a heritage site is a great way to meet new people and make social connections. Volunteers come together and share a common interest in preserving and promoting heritage. As they work together, they get to know each other and develop friendships, which strengthens the sense of community and means people are more likely to continue volunteering.

Education 

Volunteering for a heritage site provides opportunities for education and engagement. Volunteers learn new aspects of history and culture, and they can share that knowledge with others. Volunteers can also learn new skills through volunteering. As they engage with visitors and other members, they develop a sense of purpose and value in their work, which contributes to the sense of community.

Key Takeaways…

In conclusion, heritage volunteering can be a powerful tool for bringing people together and building community. Heritage volunteers can feel part of a group and benefit from this. So why not consider volunteering at a heritage site in your community? You may be surprised at the impact it can have on you and those around you.

If you’re looking for a volunteer management system, why not take a look at us? You can start a FREE trial over on our website or book a demo! 

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 G2, we’d really appreciate it! We’ll even send you a little thank you.

Get Ready For Volunteers Week 2023!

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On 12th April 2023

In Community, News & Views, Volunteer Management

Volunteers Week 2023 is fast approaching, so here are some ways to prepare for it! Volunteers Week is the annual celebration of volunteers in the UK. The important week is all about recognising and celebrating the hard work of volunteers. 

When is it taking place?

Volunteers Week will be taking place from the 1st – 7th of June. The week takes place in the Month Of Community, which is a whole month of dedicating time to come together to celebrate everything that makes communities great. Other events in the Month Of Community include Small Charities Week and The Big Lunch.

Volunteer-involved organisations across the UK will run activities to honour volunteers. Various activities will be taking place from volunteer recruitment events and open days to celebration and recognition events.

A range of partners help to make Volunteers Week special each year. This year’s partners include National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Volunteer Scotland, Volunteer Now (Northern Ireland) and Wales Council for Voluntary Action. Click here if you are interested in getting in touch and becoming a partner for 2023!

How to prepare and get involved

Volunteers Week is just a couple of months away so it might be a good idea to start planning now. There are many small ways you can recognise your volunteers which don’t need to break the bank! 

Social Media 

Social media is an easy, free and effective way of recognising your volunteers which can be shared with all of your followers. Use the hashtag #VolunteersWeek to say thank you to your volunteers. You can share stories of the impact your volunteers have made and encourage them to share their own volunteering journies. 

Celebrations

You could host small parties or awards nights to celebrate your volunteers. Highlight your volunteers’ successes to show them how their hard work has helped your organisation. You can show them the impact they have made within the organisation and reward them with a certificate. Volunteers Week have a free certificate template you can use here. 

Events

Running an event is a great way to get everyone together and spread the message. The Big Lunch is a great example of this. The event for neighbours and communities takes place every year in the UK. Running an event doesn’t have to be expensive, it can be run online or in a local park. You can then spread the word by promoting the event on social media! 

Here are some tips for planning your event.

Recruit and support

You can use Volunteers Week to promote the benefits of volunteering to help gain interest and encourage others to volunteer for your organisation or volunteering programme. You can also promote training for your volunteers to keep them supported, NCVO offers plenty of training material which can be found on their website. 

We have some ideas from previous blog posts for celebrating and recognising your own volunteers’ hard work which you can read here and here. 

Resources to use

The Volunteers Week website has lots of free resources you can start using now to promote the week. You can encourage your volunteers to share the resources on their social media pages too! 

Start getting involved and celebrate and inspire volunteers around the UK!

If you’re looking for a volunteer management system, why not take a look at us? You can start a FREE trial over on our website or book a demo! 

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 G2, we’d really appreciate it! We’ll even send you a little thank you.

TeamTalk: Season 2, Episode 6 – Piers Martin

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On 12th April 2023

In News & Views, TeamTalk Podcast

Welcome back to Season 2 of our TeamTalk podcast. This season, we are talking to thought leaders, customers and stakeholders from the world of sport and physical exercise as we dive deeper into the world of volunteering.

We are also joined again by our co-host Imo Greatbatch. Imo is currently the Head of Volunteering at England Netball, she is passionate about volunteering in sports and is offering her knowledge and insight on the topic. 

In this TeamTalk episode, we were super excited to be joined by Piers Martin from Premier League. The Premier League is the highest level of the English football league system.

Piers is Head of Leadership and Academy Workforce Development at the Premier League and the Chair at UK Deaf Sport. He has worked with a range of organisations such as Sports Resolution UK, Manchester Metropolitan University, British Basketball, and British disabled fencing to name just a few. During this episode, Piers discusses his journey through sport and shares his leadership knowledge.

Thanks to Piers for joining us!

A big thank you to Piers. It was great to catch up and hear his journey into how he got to his role at Premier League. It is without a doubt that you will finish this episode feeling inspired! 

Listen now on Spotify and all other podcast streaming platforms:

You can also access the episode on YouTube below with subtitles:

If you have any topic or guest requests- let us know! Contact us over on our socials, send over an email (isabella@teamkinetic.co.uk) or contact us over on our website. 

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

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Top Tips for Managing Event Volunteers

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On 5th April 2023

In News & Views

There’s no doubt about it that without volunteers many events would, quite simply, not be able to function. Just look back to your last event and think about how many of your team consisted of volunteers, what difference did they make? A big one I’m sure…

Ensuring your volunteers are engaged, informed and pumped for the event is crucial for making sure they show up, and for getting the most out of them on the day. Get this right, and as a force, they can be one of your most valuable assets.

To help you get started (as often that’s the hardest part) we’ve pulled together our “top tips for managing event volunteers”. Take ten minutes to read through them, and in no time you’ll be winning over a loyal tribe of people as passionate as you are about making your event a success.

TOP TIPS FOR MANAGING EVENT VOLUNTEERS

    1.   Recruit your volunteers early

    2.   Communicate before, during and after the event 

    3.   Match their talents with responsibilities

    4.   Prepare for no-shows 

    5.   Avoid “boring” briefs – get them pumped

    6.   Value them and their time

    7.   Share your success

Birds-eye-view of group of event volunteers with hands in together

 

 1. Recruit your volunteers early and win their loyalty

When planning your event, ensuring every element is covered can be a daunting task. And when you need to recruit a hundred or so people that you’re not paying to be there, you may just find yourself breathing deeply…but no fear, a little organisation in advance can help you be way ahead of the game.

Recruiting your volunteers early is crucial. It’ll give you time to build loyalty so they are invested and ready to get involved, and do the job at hand – all with a smile!

Here’s how you can attract the kind of people you want to be your volunteers:

  • Be the energy you want to attract in everything you post during the recruitment process. That way you’ll attract people that fit the mould.
  • In your recruitment content, using testimonials from previous volunteers can be really powerful.
  • Harness the power of Social media – spread your message through groups and pages that relate to what you’re about.
  • Build a community for your volunteers through social channels. It will make them feel a big part of it the event. Plus it’s a great way to keep in touch with the tribe making recruitment a breeze next time.
  • Encourage current volunteers to get their friends involved.
  • Promote benefits from helping at your event. Whether that’s free tickets, some freebies or the chance to meet some famous faces.
  • Make sure your opportunities look great and sound exciting.

2. Communicate, communicate and communicate some more

Communication is key, and I’m not just talking about the day. If you want to win your volunteer’s loyalty, you need to keep them informed before, during and after the event.

You’ll need to provide information prior to the event on the logistics, when and where to arrive etc. But don’t forget, these people have most likely chosen your event to volunteer for because they have a genuine interest in what it’s all about.  

To get them really engaged, keep them up-to-date on how the planning is going, what the event’s going to look like and even things like how many sign-ups or attendees you have so far. The more they feel involved early on, the more they’ll feel a sense of responsibility for making the event a success.

Throughout the event, use TeamKinetic as your direct communication channel between you and your volunteers. This will enable them to fulfil their role effectively and will also make your job a lot easier – it’s like having eyes and ears everywhere. Handy right?!

It’s super important you follow up with your volunteers post-event. Thanking them for their time is a top priority, but make sure to include updates on what you’ve got coming up next. It’s a perfect way to keep them engaged with your organisation.

You’ve done all that amazing work to recruit them, make your life easier next time by keeping in touch so you can call on them again. They’re part of your tribe now – keep it that way!

hands in the air at event with the word 'community' lit up


3. Give your volunteers responsibilities that match their talents

With all those volunteers you’ve got on board you’re going to have a seriously broad skillset at your disposal – make sure you use it. 

Now you’ve got your awesome lines of communication set up and an incredibly engaged group of people, you can collaborate directly with them to identify the right people for the right roles.

Some will be happy to be placed anywhere, but if there’s an opportunity to let people put themselves forward for specific roles, then do it. They’re human after all, and we’re all more likely to commit to something we actually want to do.

It’s also key to ensure you define their roles early so they can be fully prepared for the event. 

Try our tools to help assign roles and schedule volunteer slots.

 

4. Prepare for no-shows

No matter how meticulously you organise and how coveted your volunteer slots are, you have to face the fact you’re still going to end up with no-shows. There are lots of things you can do to try and prevent this, particularly through your comms prior to the event. But no matter how diligent you are, there will be some missing faces on the event day.

TeamKinetic allows volunteers to tell you they can’t make it, and as the event gets closer you can add additional on-screen messaging to really drive home the importance of attending.

Plan for this in advance by booking in “floaters” – volunteers with good general skills who can fill any required role. We suggest a buffer of an additional 15% of your volunteer force. Even if every single volunteer shows up (one can dream) you’ll still be able to find jobs for those spare super skilled floaters.

5. No ‘boring’ briefs allowed – get your info across AND get your volunteers pumped!!

Remember; your vibe attracts your tribe – you want energy, you want enthusiasm and you want switched-on volunteers to help you run your event. Get the important stuff across in your brief, but encourage them to have fun too.

The important bits might sound like this:

– The expectations of the day

– Any equipment required

– Get them to download Blerter where they can find the outline of the day and can communicate with you

– Answer any questions they may have

– Sign-ups  

Get this stuff across as succinctly as possible, you don’t want to waste precious time or have your volunteers switching off before they’ve even begun. But remember, your briefing time is also an opportunity to get your volunteers pumped up. They turned up (high-five) so they’re ready to make it happen and muck in where needed. The more energy they have, the more they’re going to put into it – harness that.

6. Value them and their time

We’ve already determined you couldn’t run your event without your volunteers, and they’re a lot more likely to keep giving you their time if they feel appreciated. For the little time, it takes to say a “thank you” every now and again, you get a lot in return so make sure you do.

Keep in mind a few other things you can do to acknowledge you value them and their time:

  • Be organised and communicate instructions clearly and succinctly
  • Load them up with swag, freebies and event sponsor goodies
  • Give them access to the event outside of their volunteer hours, so they can enjoy what they helped create
  • Organise social events or a special volunteer-only workshop where volunteers can get behind the scenes, meet the stars, build rapport with each other, or learn new skills
  • After the event, ask for their feedback – it shows you care about their experience too. Plus they’re an engaged bunch of people who saw every aspect of how your event was delivered (very useful for your post-event reviews)

A poster that says 'Give thanks' held up in frame by woman in a field

7. Share your success

You’ll be communicating with your volunteers post-event to send them your gratitude. This is also a great time and place to share with them the overall success of the event. Most of your volunteers will have a vested interest in what your event is all about so they’ll be keen to know how it went. Plus, they are a huge part of delivering it on the day and deserve to share in its success.

Share pictures, stories, and stats about the day – and don’t forget to call out your incredible tribe of volunteers, encouraging them to come back next time!

How Can AI Help Volunteer Managers?

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On 5th April 2023

In News & Views, Volunteer Management

Artificial intelligence solutions are changing the world of business with new AI-powered chatbots such as ChatGPT. The chatbot has the ability to increase efficiency and productivity and has the potential to make your life as a volunteer manager a whole lot easier. AI can be a valuable tool for volunteer managers in various ways. 

It can help with recruiting volunteers 

ChatGPT can be used to engage with potential volunteers and answer their questions about the organisation, opportunities, and requirements. This can help with the recruitment process to provide a more personalised experience for potential volunteers. It can also help volunteer managers identify the most suitable candidates for a particular volunteer role.

Describing roles and opportunity descriptions 

Define the requirements of each volunteer role, including the skills and experience needed, the time commitment required, and the role’s location.

How useful can ChatGPT be?  

Below I have tested out some ways that you can use ChatGPT which with some minor edits made here and there to cater the answers to your organisation can save you a lot of time. 

Firstly, ChatGPT could help with writing recruitment material like examples of questions to ask volunteers during the recruitment process. You can cater the question for the specific role you are interviewing the volunteer for and then just like that a list of 15 adequate questions to ask your volunteer!

Question asked: “What are a list of questions I could ask during a volunteer interview for the role of a charity shop assistant?”

The response that was generated: 

  1. What inspired you to apply for a volunteer role as a charity shop assistant?
  2. What previous experience do you have in retail or customer service?
  3. How do you handle difficult customers or situations?
  4. What skills do you think are important for this role?
  5. How would you describe your communication skills?
  6. Can you describe a time when you demonstrated teamwork and collaboration?
  7. What is your availability and commitment to volunteering?
  8. How do you prioritize tasks and manage your time effectively?
  9. What are your expectations from volunteering at a charity shop?
  10. How would you describe your approach to fundraising and promoting the charity shop’s mission?
  11. Are you comfortable working with cash and handling financial transactions?
  12. How would you respond if you noticed a colleague or customer engaging in unethical or inappropriate behaviour?
  13. What do you know about the charity or cause that this shop supports?
  14. How would you respond to a donation that is not in a saleable condition?
  15. Are you comfortable with standing for extended periods of time and performing physical tasks, such as lifting and carrying items?

We all know the importance of recognising the hard work of volunteers and it’s important to show you appreciate their hard work. So I then asked ChatGPT to write me a thank you letter which can be sent to a volunteer to acknowledge their efforts. Again with some minor edits to cater towards the role and your organisation, it’s quite a sufficient letter. 

Questions asked: “Put together a thank you letter for a volunteer who has completed charity shop work”

The response that was generated:

On behalf of [Charity Shop’s Name], I want to express our heartfelt appreciation for your hard work and dedication as a volunteer. Your time and effort have made a significant impact on our organization, and we could not have achieved our goals without your support.

Your commitment to serving our customers and ensuring that our shop operates smoothly has not gone unnoticed. You have demonstrated a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and excellent communication skills throughout your time with us.

Your contributions have helped us to raise much-needed funds for our charity, and your efforts have enabled us to continue providing support to those in need. Your enthusiasm for our cause has been contagious, and your kindness and compassion have touched the lives of many.

We are so grateful for the time you have given to us, and we hope that you have found the experience to be rewarding and fulfilling. We would be honoured if you would consider volunteering with us again in the future, as your presence would be greatly missed.

Once again, thank you for your invaluable contributions to our organization, and for being a part of our mission to make a difference in the world.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Charity Shop’s Name]

Lastly, I tried asking the bot to write me a role description. Writing role descriptions can be time-consuming so knowing that ChatGPT can write you a generic role description is valuable. 

Question I asked: “Can you create a role description for what a charity shop volunteer might do?”

The response that was generated:

Role: Charity Shop Volunteer

Overview:

As a charity shop volunteer, you will play a vital role in supporting the day-to-day operations of the shop and helping to raise funds for our charity. You will work alongside other volunteers and staff members to ensure that the shop runs smoothly, provides excellent customer service, and generates revenue to support our charitable mission.

Responsibilities:

Greet customers and provide a friendly and helpful shopping experience
Assist customers with their purchases, answer questions, and provide information about our charity and its mission
Sort, price, and display donated items, ensuring that they are clean, in good condition, and meet our quality standards
Manage the shop’s inventory and restock shelves as needed
Operate the cash register, handle cash and card payments, and reconcile daily sales
Ensure that the shop is clean, organized, and safe for customers and volunteers
Assist with other tasks as needed, such as social media marketing, fundraising events, or donation pickups

Requirements:

A commitment to our charity’s mission and values
Strong communication and customer service skills
Ability to work well in a team and follow directions from staff members
Attention to detail and the ability to sort and organize donated items effectively
Comfortable handling cash and using a cash register
Ability to stand for extended periods and lift or carry items up to 25 pounds

Benefits:

The opportunity to support a worthy cause and make a difference in your community
Gain valuable retail and customer service experience
Meet new people and work as part of a friendly and supportive team
Develop new skills and knowledge related to retail operations, inventory management, and fundraising

Time Commitment:

We ask for a minimum commitment of 4 hours per week, ideally on a regular schedule. However, we understand that schedules may vary and can be flexible to accommodate your availability.
Training and Support:

We provide comprehensive training on all aspects of the role, including customer service, cash handling, inventory management, and safety procedures.
You will be supported by our staff members and other volunteers, who will be available to answer your questions and provide guidance as needed.

Key Takeaways…

Overall, AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT can help volunteer managers save time, increase efficiency, and improve the effectiveness of their volunteer programs. With some editing to cater towards your organisation, using ChatGPT can create a good starting point for writing opportunity descriptions, recognition letters and interview questions. However, it is important to also use your own expertise and not rely completely on AI as it may not always be accurate.

If you have any other ideas for how ChatGPT could help the workload of volunteer managers, have a go for yourself and test them out then tweet them to us @TeamKineticUK

If you’re looking for a volunteer management system, why not take a look at us? You can start a FREE trial over on our website or book a demo! 

 

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

Twitter       Facebook       LinkedIn       YouTube       Instagram       Podcast

What Qualities To Look For When Recruiting A Heritage Volunteer

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On 29th March 2023

In Heritage & Culture, Volunteer Management

When recruiting volunteers, quality may be better than quantity. Volunteers that are a better fit for your heritage organisation will be more effective than lots of volunteers that don’t have qualities that suit the organisation. To be an effective and impactful volunteer, certain qualities are essential in helping the success of the organisation. 

A passion for heritage

A suitable heritage volunteer is passionate about history, heritage, and cultural preservation. They should understand the importance of preserving and promoting cultural heritage.

They are likely to be very knowledgeable about the subject and share their understanding with others encouraging people to get involved. If your volunteers have a strong interest in what your organisation does they are more likely to be productive and efficient in their work as they are enthusiastic about the organisation’s goals.

Reliability 

Reliability is crucial when recruiting volunteers. If your volunteers don’t show up on time or cancel with no warning then it will have a big impact on your organisation. 

Heritage volunteering requires a significant commitment of time and effort. A reliable volunteer is someone who shows up on time, is responsible and follows through on commitments. This is particularly important in the heritage sector, where volunteers may be tasked with valuable artefacts.

Ensure when recruiting the volunteers you clearly state the hours they will need to commit to. 

Flexibility 

Heritage volunteering often involves working in dynamic and changing environments, and volunteers need to be adaptable to changes in plans or unexpected situations.

An adequate heritage volunteer is open-minded and willing to learn. They understand that cultural heritage is constantly evolving and changing, and are open to new ideas and approaches. They are also willing to take on new roles and responsibilities to fill in for others if necessary. 

Interpersonal skills

A sufficient heritage volunteer has strong interpersonal skills and is able to communicate effectively with a diverse range of people, including other volunteers, staff, and visitors. This also means they will be able to share their knowledge and expertise with others. 

Organisational skills

Volunteers need to be organised so they arrive for shifts on time without needing a reminder. However, if you do want to give your volunteers an extra prompt to ensure they remember their shifts TeamKinetic allows you to keep in close contact with your volunteers at all times. There are a range of customisable automatic emails and other ways you can contact them using system notifications, or SMS texts. You can read more about communication with volunteers here. 

Overall, volunteers with sufficient qualities can bring significant benefits to your heritage organisation. Therefore, it is important for organisations to recognise and value the qualities that volunteers bring and provide them with opportunities to grow and develop these skills.

 

If you’re looking for a volunteer management system, why not take a look at us? You can start a FREE trial over on our website or book a demo! 

 

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 G2, we’d really appreciate it! We’ll even send you a little thank you.

Heritage Volunteer Strategy

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On 22nd March 2023

In Heritage & Culture, News & Views, Volunteer Management

As mentioned in a previous blog, one of the challenges heritage organisations face is a lack of volunteer strategy across heritage organisations.

A report from The Heritage Volunteering Group, states that 45% of heritage organisations in the UK depend on volunteer work that is critical to their operations but 40% of them have no volunteering strategy.

Volunteers make a significant strategic contribution to heritage organisations, delivering results that support the organisation’s ambitions around community engagement, diversity and inclusion. To achieve this, leadership teams need to become more engaged with the strategic development of volunteering. In the report, they make a key recommendation that volunteer engagement, and support for volunteering, needs to become more strategic.

Writing a strategy 

A volunteer strategy is simply a strategy your organisation writes that shows what you want to accomplish with volunteering and how you are going to achieve it. The report from The Heritage Volunteering Group suggests that as a heritage organisation, you should develop a strategy as it will help with your volunteer engagement. 

Your approach to volunteering is key to include in your strategy. To access this, create a questionnaire for your current volunteers so you can collect evidence to help you access your approach. Questions to the volunteers could include what the organisation could improve on, why they got involved in volunteering for the organisation, skills gained from volunteering or reasons for continuing to volunteer. This research can help you to create an accurate aim of volunteering within your organisation. It can also help you produce an effective and engaging volunteering programme. 

Ensure to include in your strategy how volunteers will contribute to your organisation’s aims and how your organisation plan to recruit and support them. Include the missions that your organisation want to aim for with the help of volunteers. This could be promoting inclusivity and diversity within your volunteer programme. One of the aims of The Royal Parks volunteer strategy is to create learning opportunities for volunteers to provide expert training which will help to support volunteers.

A final key point to think about is how your organisation plans to deliver the strategy. Include an estimation of how long the strategy will take to be delivered and then review your strategy on an annual basis so you can respond to challenges and trends your organisation might face.

Some good examples of a volunteer strategy are from The Royal Parks and George House Trust, which will provide you with plenty of inspiration for your strategy.

 

If you’re looking for a volunteer management system, why not take a look at us? You can start a FREE trial over on our website or book a demo! 

 

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 G2, we’d really appreciate it! We’ll even send you a little thank you.

The Importance Of Volunteers To Help Preserve Heritage Sites

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On 15th March 2023

In Heritage & Culture, News & Views, Volunteer Management

We currently work with several heritage organisations such as The Pankhurst Trust, The Whitworth Gallery, Manchester Museum and more! It’s important to manage your heritage volunteers efficiently as they play such a vital role in the preservation of heritage sites. 

Why preserving heritage sites is necessary 

Economic Importance: Heritage sites can drive tourism, providing economic benefits to the surrounding community. Heritage sites attract many visitors helping the organisations to run.

Environmental Value: Many heritage sites are also natural wonders, featuring ecosystems and landscapes. Preserving these sites helps to protect and show the importance of the environment.

Historical Significance: Heritage sites offer us a chance to look at the past, helping us to understand our history. These sites help create a memorable experience for visitors and allow people of all ages to learn about historic events.

The importance of heritage volunteers 

Volunteers play a crucial role in preserving heritage sites for a variety of reasons.

They can help to promote heritage sites and increase public awareness. People can become ambassadors for heritage sites, providing tours and sharing information with visitors. This can help to raise awareness of the site’s history and can encourage more people to visit and support the site. 

Many volunteers are passionate about history and cultural preservation and can use their skills, knowledge and expertise to help protect and preserve heritages. Volunteers can engage with communities, creating opportunities for people of all ages to learn about and appreciate history. 

Volunteers can assist with the maintenance and upkeep of heritage sites. These sites require regular cleaning, repair, and restoration work, and the help of volunteers can be valuable in ensuring that these tasks are completed.

How can TeamKinetic help you manage your heritage volunteers

TeamKinetic can help make managing your volunteers easier within your heritage organisation. With our system, you can recruit more volunteers than ever before, fully customise your site and volunteer registration, communicate with your volunteers efficiently, and more!

Our current customers at The Whitworth Art Gallery have been using our system for over two years now. Fiona Cariss, Volunteer Manager at The Whitworth has said: 

Quote from Fiona Carris, Volunteer Manager at The Whitworth. Reads "We chose TeamKinetic as they're a local organisation to our gallery and already supply the volunteer system for Manchester City Council's volunteering opportunities. The Whitworth is in partnership with Manchester Art Gallery, along with Manchester Museum, so it means in the future we could look at sharing our volunteers and opportunities across the partnership through TeamKinetic."


If you would like to try out our system for yourself you can start a FREE trial today or book a demo! 

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 2, Episode 5 – Richard Evans And Danielle Hogan

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On 13th March 2023

In News & Views, TeamTalk Podcast

Welcome back to Season 2 of our TeamTalk podcast. This season, we are talking to thought leaders, customers and stakeholders from the world of sport and physical exercise as we dive deeper into the world of volunteering.

We are also joined again by our co-host Imo Greatbatch. Imo is currently the Head of Volunteering at England Netball, she is passionate about volunteering in sports and is offering her knowledge and insight on the topic. 

In this TeamTalk episode, we wanted to feature guests that explore inclusion and accessibility needs. We explore Danielle and Richard’s roles in England Netball and how we create that sense of belonging in the sport.

Listen to Season 2 Episode 5 here:

England Netball

England Netball is responsible for overseeing and promoting the sport of netball in England at all levels. They manage the England national netball team, which competes in international competitions such as the Netball World Cup and the Commonwealth Games. They also develop and implement policies and programs to grow participation in the sport at the grassroots level. This includes coaching, officiating, and volunteer development. England Netball also works with other organisations and partners to develop netball’s infrastructure and facilities, and to promote the sport to new audiences. They also have some role in managing the domestic leagues and competitions.

Danielle Hogan 

Danielle is the diversity and belonging business partner for England Netball. Danielle’s background is in business psychology but she has always played Netball and been a big fan of basketball, her life has always been sports outside of any work.  

Richard Evans

Richard is the strategic lead for disability at England Netball. Richard discusses how his parents played a big part in why he does what he does today as he had been brought up in a volunteering role. Richard had his first volunteering role at just 15 years old! He then carried this on all throughout university and onwards, all throughout his journey as a non-traditional physio Richard worked in a sport setting. 

Thank you to Danielle and Richard for joining us on the podcast, and sharing their insightful knowledge! It was a pleasure to have you both as guests.

Useful links: 

Episode link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2VgnAGQ2auTPKqS3NJ4xoS

England Netball website: https://www.englandnetball.co.uk/

England Netball Twitter page: https://twitter.com/EnglandNetball

Imogen’s Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imogen-greatbatch-024b2823/

Danielle’s Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielleshogan/

Richard’s Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-evans-81a425198/

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

Twitter       Facebook       LinkedIn       YouTube       Instagram       Podcast

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