Prove the difference your volunteer programme has made

Best practice questions answered by Evelyn Rodrigues, VCTH Training and Best Practice Manager Q: We are looking to gather information on the difference our volunteer programme has made. How should we go about this? A: Great question! It is important to measure the impact, or the change that happens as a result of our volunteering…

Read More

Including Volunteering in Funding Bids

Question: What aspects should be considered when writing a funding bid for a project that includes volunteers? Answer: This is a timely question, as the Mayor’s Community Grants Programme should be opening for applications in April 2023. Many organisations have volunteers helping to deliver services, but fail to include all the necessary volunteer programme costs…

Read More

Volunteer Induction Checklist

Providing a thorough induction is key to having happy and effective volunteers. Here is a checklist of good practice that you can use to assess your volunteer induction programme. Is the language you use plain English and free of internal or sectoral jargon? This is helpful for all volunteers, as well as those whose first…

Read More

Involving Volunteers with Mental Health Issues

These top tips were shared at our recent peer learning session on ‘Involving Volunteers with Mental Health Issues’. We heard from Richard Howlett, Step Up Programme Manager at Volunteer Centre Hackney, and discussed barriers to volunteering for people with mental health issues, and what organisations could do to recruit and support them. According to Mind,…

Read More

Making the case for volunteering within your organisation

These tips on building support for volunteering within your organisation were shared by Volunteer Managers at a recent VCTH Peer Learning session. Take a collaborative approach. Ask colleagues for their opinions. Try asking open questions like; “If we want to reach more clients, or better support our community, how can volunteers help?” Address concerns colleagues…

Read More

Start planning for Volunteers’ Week 2022

Start planning now for Volunteers’ Week! Volunteers’ Week takes place from 1 to 7 June every year. This year’s theme is ‘a time to say thanks’. It’s a chance for organisations to run activities that showcase and celebrate their volunteers and the contribution volunteering makes to communities. Have you started thinking about what your organisation…

Read More

“My volunteers like to do things their own way”

Best practice questions answered by Evelyn Rodrigues, VCTH Training and Best Practice Manager. Q: A few of my volunteers like to do things their own way and don’t always follow the organisation’s procedures or sometimes exceed the boundaries of their role. I feel uncomfortable addressing the issues with them because they are donating their time…

Read More

Should volunteers get vaccinated?

Evelyn trains Volunteer Managers

Best practice questions answered by Evelyn Rodrigues, VCTH Training and Best Practice Manager.Q: Can we require volunteers to have had both COVID vaccinations before they resume face-to-face volunteering with clients, or come onto our premises? Should we even ask volunteers if they have had the vaccine? A: When resuming face-to-face volunteering you should conduct a…

Read More

Government restrictions are lifted. What now?

Best practice questions answered by Evelyn Rodrigues, VCTH Training and Best Practice Manager.Q: Now that most mandatory government restrictions are being lifted, what should we do to keep our volunteers safe? A: Although legal restrictions have been lifted since 19 July, rates of COVID-19 infections and hospitalisations continue to remain high in Tower Hamlets. Therefore…

Read More