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…

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…

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…

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,…

The rising cost of living is impacting everyone, but particularly individuals and families on low incomes and it looks like the situation will worsen over the winter. Data from the Citizen’s Advice Bureau shows that more people are hitting crisis point than in previous years. Prices are rising, especially energy, food, broadband, water, council tax…

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…

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…

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…

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…