{"id":16992,"date":"2025-10-14T10:55:31","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T09:55:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teamkinetic.co.uk\/blog\/?p=16992"},"modified":"2025-10-15T15:27:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T14:27:17","slug":"growing-a-thriving-volunteer-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teamkinetic.co.uk\/blog\/2025\/10\/growing-a-thriving-volunteer-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing a Thriving Volunteer Culture: Lessons from Tobi Johnson and Ruth Leonard"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>What does volunteer management have in common with gardening? According to experts Tobi Johnson and Ruth Leonard, when it comes to creating a thriving volunteer culture, quite a lot!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In their session at our latest conference, they invited everyone to rethink how they nurture volunteers, drawing powerful parallels between cultivating healthy soil and building supportive environments where people can thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Together, they explore how thoughtful planning, experimentation, and care can transform a volunteer programme into a living, self-sustaining ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Planting the Right Seeds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Every garden begins with planting. For volunteer managers, that means thinking carefully about how you bring new people into your organisation. Just like seeds, each volunteer holds unique potential. With the right support at the right time, they can grow in unexpected and valuable directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"629\" height=\"354\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IKGMJ8Bj9bw?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-GB&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key takeaway:<\/strong> Recruitment isn\u2019t only about filling gaps. It\u2019s about creating the right conditions for volunteers to thrive in ways that support both their own motivations and your organisation\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nurturing Growth with Care and Consistency<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A healthy garden needs consistent watering and care. And so do your volunteers! Tobi and Ruth highlighted the importance of communication, recognition, and trust as the \u201cnutrients\u201d that sustain long-term engagement. Volunteers who feel valued and supported are far more likely to stay and contribute meaningfully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key takeaway:<\/strong> Build regular check-ins and feedback into your volunteer programme. Even simple recognition, like saying thank you and sharing achievements, keeps your volunteer culture resilient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Embracing Experimentation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not every plant grows where you expect it to. The same applies to volunteering. Given the space to experiment, volunteers often uncover strengths or skills they didn\u2019t even know they had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key takeaway:<\/strong> Flexibility is powerful. Allow volunteers to try different roles or projects, and be open to evolving opportunities. This can bring fresh energy and reveal hidden talents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Diversity Builds Strength<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Just as biodiversity makes a garden more resilient, diversity enriches volunteer culture. Different perspectives, experiences, and skills create stronger, more adaptable teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key takeaway:<\/strong> Actively nurture diversity and inclusivity. A broad mix of volunteers doesn\u2019t just reflect your community, it strengthens your organisation\u2019s ability to grow and respond to new challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Protecting and Celebrating the Harvest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Gardeners know the importance of protecting their crops and celebrating the harvest. Volunteer managers should do the same. Protecting your culture means ensuring contributions remain meaningful and aligned with your purpose, while celebration reinforces a sense of shared achievement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"629\" height=\"354\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3ju1gQIOPlw?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-GB&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key takeaway:<\/strong> Don\u2019t only measure outputs, celebrate outcomes. Share stories, recognise milestones, and show volunteers the bigger picture they\u2019re helping to create.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tobi and Ruth\u2019s session was a great reminder that volunteer management isn\u2019t just a process, it\u2019s something you nurture. With a bit of planning, care, creativity, and a focus on diversity, volunteer managers can grow a vibrant culture that keeps thriving year after year. Like a garden!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At TeamKinetic, we know how important your role is, and we\u2019re here to give you the tools and support you need to grow your own flourishing &#8216;garden&#8217; of volunteers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/teamkinetic.co.uk\/?getintouch=open\">Get in touch today<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-social-links is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-social-links-is-layout-1 wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-x  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TeamKineticUK\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M13.982 10.622 20.54 3h-1.554l-5.693 6.618L8.745 3H3.5l6.876 10.007L3.5 21h1.554l6.012-6.989L15.868 21h5.245l-7.131-10.378Zm-2.128 2.474-.697-.997-5.543-7.93H8l4.474 6.4.697.996 5.815 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volunteer management have in common with gardening? According to experts Tobi Johnson and Ruth Leonard, when it comes to creating a thriving volunteer culture, quite a lot! In their session at our latest conference, they invited everyone to rethink how they nurture volunteers, drawing powerful parallels between cultivating healthy soil and building supportive [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":17081,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":false,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[184],"tags":[761,624,96],"class_list":["post-16992","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-volunteer-management","tag-tkconf25","tag-volunteer-engagement","tag-volunteer-management"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.10 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\r\n<title>Growing a Thriving Volunteer Culture: Lessons from Tobi Johnson and Ruth Leonard - TeamKinetic<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are you thinking about how you can create a thriving volunteer culture? 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