Meet Neil

Neil is the Event Project Manager at England Hockey. In addition to overseeing his team and major events, a key responsibility is volunteer recruitment. Since its launch shortly after 2012, the volunteer initiative, branded as ‘Hockey Makers’, has been crucial in event delivery. Volunteers play a vital role in various capacities, from managing the field of play to bringing mascots Jasper and Jess to life.

Why Team Kinetic?

"Before adopting Team Kinetic, we were using another system but were ready to improve. Transitioning to Team Kinetic has provided us with the tools to efficiently manage our volunteers and maximize their impact."

Successful events management

Having been with us for around 10 years now, Neil and his team are a great success story showing how the system acts as an effective management tool, providing the real-time overview you need to make decisions.

Reward and recognition

"We’re always looking for new ways to use reward and recognition to make the volunteer experience as beneficial as possible. Utilizing features like positive feedback, logging hours and tracking attendance builds up a picture of our volunteers which we can use to both give out rewards and make the right decisions on role allocations."

"The tracking and reporting features have allowed us to build up an accurate picture of our volunteers' history. This has been a time saver when a volunteer approaches us for a reference as we have tangible data on hours, roles, feedback and achievements."

Accreditation - Streamline the process

"The accreditation system has a great feature for events management; it allows everything to remain under one roof. We use this for our international events, dividing the venue, granting access and generating photographic passes. Another useful feature is that volunteers don’t have to sign up to volunteer and to be accredited, we can lift them over to that system. It’s one less step and improves their journey."

Take a look at how our Accreditation module helped at the 2023 World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool:

More than a volunteer management system

"The support has been great and tickets have been answered very promptly, the team have been good at explaining why issues happened and what we can do to prevent it from happening again. If you get a quick and helpful response, then you can’t really ask for much more."

"Beyond direct support, Team Kinetic have been able to broker conversations between ourselves and potential partner organisations, sharing ideas on how to integrate systems and provide more opportunities for volunteers."

What does the future hold?

"Over the next year it’s business as usual, we’re hosting the home leg of the FIH Pro League where England will be playing across six match days. Beyond that, we’re hoping to get involved with more major events over the coming years which will of course be underpinned by massive volunteer workforces."

England Hockey has recently secured the opportunity to host the EuroHockey Championships in 2027, an event which will showcase the top hockey talent from across the continent. England Hockey's proposal highlighted the country's strength as a top venue for the sport, featuring great facilities, enthusiastic fans, and creative promotion strategies to enhance hockey's visibility and accessibility.

Meet Darby

We caught up with Darby Sladdin, the Volunteer and Social Impact Officer at the RFL. He shared with us some of the challenges faced when managing sport and events volunteering and how implementing TeamKinetic had allowed RFL to save on admin time and build a community of dedicated volunteers.

Who are the RFL?

The Rugby Football League (RFL) is the governing body for Rugby League in England. It lives and breathes the sport nationally and works with a fantastic network of volunteers. RFL began using TeamKinetic in late 2022 after being introduced to the platform during the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. The tournament had been postponed for a year due to COVID-19, a disruption all too familiar to those in the voluntary sector.

The Challenge

"We run around 50 events each year, which rely heavily on volunteers. Recruiting and motivating volunteers for each event became an administrative task. After the Rugby World Cup, we successfully built a large pool of volunteers but lacked an efficient way to retain them for future events. Fearing losing them, we started considering volunteer management systems and found TeamKinetic to be a great fit."

How TeamKinetic helps maximise impact

"We love how streamlined the volunteer journey is, it allows new volunteers to easily express their interest, complete their registration, and be quickly matched with opportunities, all while receiving a clear brief on what is expected of them."

"The key communication points being managed centrally just makes it so much quicker. Now that we’ve worked with TeamKinetic for a while we have a clear process in place and wouldn’t want to go back to doing it without the platform."

Building a core volunteer team

"Through improved retention, we’ve built up a core team of volunteers. The volunteers all know each other and the event staff. This has built up trust, and we can rely on the volunteers to turn up and do a great job. From the volunteer side, when they sign up for an event, they can trust that they will be kept up to date before the event and looked after on the day."

"These experiences have built trust and friendship among the volunteers, which helps them consistently perform well and contribute to positive event outcomes."

Customise to your heart's content

"Making your volunteers feel at home is so important. Having our own landing page, ‘Rugby League Volunteering,’ with the logos and images, has been a great feature. It’s simple, and the SEO means it’s really easy for people to find us and get involved."

A great user experience

"I found it pretty easy. I guess initially, when you open any new platform, you have the question of what to do first, but once I was taken through the features, I quickly got my head around it, and everything else became self-explanatory."

Supporting your goals

"Great support helps you get the most impact out of your program and the direct support has been really positive. After raising a support ticket with a request, it was live and working within less than a week which was a great turnaround."

What does the future hold?

"Following the success of building the volunteering team, we’re looking to increase its size and the responsibilities that volunteers hold. This aims to give volunteers a more challenging but ultimately more rewarding experience. We know that there is a demand for this amongst the volunteers, so we’re keen to expand the scope of volunteer roles next year. With the season coming to an end, this is what I’m looking to focus on next.."

Meet Ian

Willowbrook Hospice, known for its exceptional palliative care, relied on manual processes to manage volunteers. While their dedication to patients never trambled, behind the scenes, the burden of managing volunteers was becoming overwhelming.

Ian, Head of Volunteering, found himself drowning in administrative work. Rotas, hours, and volunteer communications were all handled manually, consuming countless hours each week. With the hospice growing and volunteer needs becoming more complex, Ian knew something had to change.

In 2019, Willowbrook made a pivotal decision to introduce TeamKinetic, and the transformation was immediate. What was once a painstaking, inefficient system became streamlined and stress-free, allowing Ian and his team to focus more on what truly mattered: their volunteers and the patients they support.

Q&A with Ian Turnbull

What challenges were you facing before using TeamKinetic?

"We were stuck in a cycle of manual processes for everything: managing rotas, logging volunteer hours, and even basic communication. It was exhausting. I was spending countless hours sorting through paperwork, and it was affecting how well we could support our volunteers. There just wasn’t enough time left for the human side of volunteer management."

Why did you choose TeamKinetic?

"I needed a system that could centralise everything and cut down on administrative tasks. After looking at a few options, TeamKinetic stood out because of its ease of use, automation features, and the level of control it gave to our shop managers."

What were the immediate benefits after implementation?

"The difference was night and day. All our volunteer management tasks were consolidated into one platform, which saved a ton of time. Our shop managers could manage their own rotas and log hours independently - this was a game-changer for us. Plus, onboarding became effortless, even for those without email addresses."

How did TeamKinetic impact your reporting process?

"Reporting used to take days, but with TeamKinetic, it’s instant. I can now generate reports with just a click. This has made tracking volunteer activities, ensuring compliance, and even recognising volunteer contributions much easier."

What’s the biggest change you’ve noticed in volunteer engagement?

"Volunteers feel more connected and valued. The improved communication and transparency have boosted engagement levels. They appreciate the recognition they’re getting, and that’s led to higher satisfaction overall."

What would you say to other hospices considering TeamKinetic?

"It’s an absolute no-brainer. The time saved alone is worth it, but more importantly, it makes managing volunteers easier and more efficient. I’ve already recommended it to other hospices, and I think it’s a must-have for any organisation with a strong volunteer base."

Volunteer Management Made Easier

Since implementing TeamKinetic in 2019, Willowbrook Hospice has experienced a dramatic shift in how they manage and engage with their volunteers.

Administrative work has been reduced significantly, volunteer onboarding has been streamlined, and shop managers now operate with greater autonomy.

The platform has not only improved day-to-day operations but also fostered a stronger connection with volunteers, leading to higher satisfaction and engagement

Willowbrook Hospice transformed their volunteer management by adopting TeamKinetic, a platform that centralises tasks, automates processes, and improves both efficiency and communication

The results were immediate, with reduced admin time, enhanced reporting, and increased volunteer engagement. For any organisation looking to modernise their volunteer management, TeamKinetic offers a highly recommended solution.

Have any Questions?

Ian has very kindly agreed to offer advice and you can reach out via:
Email: iant@willowbrookhospice.org.uk
Phone: 01744 453798

Claire Redford-Kerr, Head of Volunteering at Halton & St Helens Voluntary and Community Action, had long considered implementing volunteer management software. “We’d been discussing it since 2011, but budget constraints made it hard to move forward,” she recalls.

In 2020, her team introduced TeamKinetic. It quickly became an invaluable tool, streamlining operations and enhancing her team's ability to manage volunteers effectively.

The implementation was smooth, and the user-friendly system made onboarding organisations easy, even with limited staff.

Q&A with Claire

Q: What challenges were you facing before using TeamKinetic?
We worked with multiple organisations across Halton and St Helens, and managing volunteers manually was a complex and time-consuming process. It often led to errors and made it difficult to keep everything running smoothly. These challenges only grew, highlighting just how essential it was to find a more streamlined and efficient solution to support our operations.

Q: Why did you choose TeamKinetic?
TeamKinetic offered the flexibility and functionality we needed. It’s highly customisable from overlapping shifts to different shift patterns, it fits our diverse requirements perfectly. The automation features stood out, allowing us to focus on what matters most while the system handles routine tasks.

Q: How has TeamKinetic impacted your volunteer management?
It’s been transformative. The system’s automation is a game-changer; it’s easy to enable or disable features as needed, and it practically runs itself. For example, it simplifies managing roles, criminal checks, and shift patterns. It’s also incredibly intuitive for tech-savvy volunteers, though we’ve found ways to accommodate those who prefer not to use technology.

Q: What’s your favourite feature?
It’s hard to pick just one because the system hits all the marks. The data manipulation and filtering options are fantastic. We can create custom reports, save new data views, and easily track volunteer activities. The standard reports are straightforward and save us a lot of time.

Q: How has TeamKinetic supported your organisation?
The support team is excellent. Whenever we’ve encountered an issue, raising a ticket has been quick and efficient, with resolutions coming promptly. It’s reassuring to know we’re backed by such reliable support.

Q: What would you say to other organisations considering TeamKinetic?
It’s an exceptional system that has everything you could need. The automation, customisation, and robust features make it a no-brainer for organisations with complex volunteer management needs. Since implementing TeamKinetic, I’ve never felt the need to look for an alternative system.

Volunteer Management Made Smarter

Since adopting TeamKinetic, Halton & St Helens Volunteer Centre have streamlined their operations, reduced administrative burdens, and enhanced their ability to support volunteers. From automating processes to customising shift patterns and reporting, the system has proven invaluable.

TeamKinetic has not only simplified our day-to-day operations but also improved our ability to connect with and support volunteers. It’s a system we trust, and I’d highly recommend it to any organisation looking to modernise their volunteer management.

Have any Questions?

You can reach out to us and see how you can kickstart your own volunteer management revolution!
Email: barbora@teamkinetic.co.uk
Phone: 0161 914 5757

Meet Katie

Katie is the Volunteering and Outreach Senior Manager at Durham University, leading a team of ten that oversees a variety of projects, including staff volunteering, student-led initiatives, and Team Durham Community, which encompasses sports volunteering.

Where Does Volunteering Fit into Durham University?

“There are two main aspects. We currently sit within the Student Enrichment Directorate, which provides additional opportunities for students to engage in, enriching their university experience, developing skills, and ultimately enhancing their employability.”

“The other aspect is civic engagement, which ties into Team Durham and staff volunteering.
This is one of the ways we give back and build relationships between the University and
our community. Our volunteering initiative also serves as an attractive benefit for staff
recruitment, especially when we’re able to demonstrate the impact we have on local
charities.”

The Challenge Before TeamKinetic

“When I took over the role of Volunteering Manager in 2018, we had been using a
participation management database for a number of years. Data wise it worked,
but lacked any user experience and was overly administrative. This made volunteering
less accessible, and many students relied on personal recommendations rather than easily
discovering opportunities themselves.”

Why TeamKinetic?

“We did a lot of market research, testing various systems, and what really stood out about TeamKinetic was its ability to offer volunteer management tools to each part of the University with a volunteering project. From a student leader’s perspective, using a volunteer management tool is a great skill to have.”

“I also find it so easy to use, and I’m not great with technology. During the pandemic, it could have been a steep learning curve, but TeamKinetic felt like the easiest system to navigate. Being the technophobe that I am, I feel more than happy to log in and carry out my admin tasks.”

Key Successes

“There have been unexpected benefits, with the LinkWide function being a standout. It allows staff and students to share volunteering opportunities across platforms seamlessly. We've also built partnerships in the North East, creating a LinkWide pathway that connects our volunteers to external opportunities without requiring them to make another account or log hours twice. Additionally, we're collaborating with Durham County Council on a major event this year, with over 100 staff and students signing up, capturing data we've never had before.”

“We’ve also been working on reward and recognition using the badge system. When our student volunteers reach their bronze award, they receive a certificate, which is recorded on their student record. Additionally, we’ve utilised ‘opportunity badges’ to promote low-commitment and remote volunteering opportunities. This has encouraged participation from students who face barriers or cannot commit to regular projects.”

Changing how we engage

“It has been fantastic for providing choice and helping people find the right volunteering opportunities to fit their interests and schedules. Our student leaders now gain hands-on experience managing activities and responsibilities. Before TeamKinetic, staff and student volunteering operated separately, but now they work together seamlessly. Plus, more community partners and charities are engaging with our platform, reducing pressure on my team as they can manage their own opportunities, something that wouldn’t have been possible at this scale before.”

What’s Next?

“This is the year of collaboration. We’re working closely with different areas of the University to align community engagement efforts. It’s remarkable how many departments engage in volunteer initiatives, and we’re actively connecting those dots.”

“Looking ahead, our next focus is on linking volunteer opportunities with future career pathways. By partnering with academic departments, we aim to match students’ career aspirations with relevant volunteer experiences.”

Before TeamKinetic, staff and student volunteering operated separately, but now they work together seamlessly.

Have any Questions?

Reach out to us and see how you can start boosting your own student and staff volunteering programme!
Email: finn@teamkinetic.co.uk
Phone: 0161 914 5757

Meet Luke

Luke is the Volunteering Manager at Royal Holloway, University of London, where volunteering is an integral part of the careers service. The university offers a wide range of projects, enabling students to gain valuable experience while making a meaningful impact.

“We support various initiatives, from student-led projects such as teaching refugees, conservation work, and assisting the elderly to broader community action and research opportunities. These projects allow students to collaborate with community partners and develop key skills. We also facilitate international and sports volunteering opportunities. Last year over 500 students recorded volunteering hours.”

Enhancing the Process

In late 2019, Royal Holloway implemented TeamKinetic to streamline what had previously been a
time-consuming and manual system.

“We faced several challenges. From our perspective, managing volunteering opportunities
was time-consuming, and we had no efficient way to update content. From the students'
perspective, there was no simple way to search for opportunities without manually
trawling the website.”

Choosing TeamKinetic

“When selecting a platform, we needed something intuitive that allowed our community
partners to manage their opportunities with minimal assistance. We also wanted an
easy-to-use system for students to discover opportunities and log their hours effortlessly.
TeamKinetic delivered on both fronts.”

“One of the most crucial features is that the system always keeps listings up to date, ensuring students only see active opportunities. This gives us confidence in the accuracy of the opportunities we promote. Additionally, while TeamKinetic’s volunteering app was still in development when we adopted the platform, we saw its potential and are happy to see it fully integrated to the product.”

A Comprehensive Solution

“One of the greatest benefits of TeamKinetic is having a single system that encompasses all aspects of volunteering. Previously, when someone expressed interest in volunteering, we had no unified platform to direct them to. Now, we do!”

“The platform has also proven valuable in an academic context. Students enrolled in voluntary work modules must log their hours to meet course requirements, ensuring structured engagement. Furthermore, our student coordinators gain hands-on experience by creating and managing opportunities within their projects.”

Enhancing the Student Experience

“Well, the app has been a hit, particularly for logging hours. Leaders have even integrated it into their sessions, prompting students to record their hours immediately. As a result, we are capturing more volunteering activity that might have otherwise gone unrecorded. It’s truly a game-changer in making volunteering more accessible and convenient.”

Looking Ahead

“Although it’s still early days, we’ve already seen a promising impact, with 180 new registrations this year alone. As we continue to track engagement, we look forward to exploring how TeamKinetic can further support our reward and recognition initiatives, particularly within University skills awards.”

Overall, we’re very pleased with TeamKinetic and excited for what the future holds.

Have any Questions?

Reach out to us and see how you can start boosting your own student volunteering programme!
Email: finn@teamkinetic.co.uk
Phone: 0161 914 5757