The Importance of Volunteer Management

Volunteer Managers the land over know that their work is crucial in underpinning the thousands upon thousands of people who volunteer.  And now it's time for a bit of recognition of that!

Volunteering England’s Value Volunteer Management Campaign aims to increase awareness of the value and importance of investing in volunteer management. Many organisations have already shown support, including the BBC, Microsoft, Barnardo’s, RSPB, National Trust and PDSA. Find out what’s in it for your organisation at http://www.volunteering.org.uk/valuevolunteermanagement

Volunteer managers / coordinators might also be interested in accessing the new Volunteer Management Portal on the Volunteering England website.  This is a new support resource for people managing volunteers, providing over a thousand links training and development opportunities, information on support, best practice guidance and other resources across England. Check it out and see what you think: http://www.volunteering.org.uk/WhatWeDo/Projects+and+initiatives/volunteer-managers/index

Workshop Invitation for Yorkshire & Humber Volunteering Organisations!

Volunteer-involving organisations in Yorkshire & Humber are invited to attend a workshop on how to harness the enthusiasm generated by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and use it to inspire people to volunteer with your organisation.

This workshop will be delivered by Volunteering England as part of their Inspiration and Legacy from the 2012 Games Project (for which they have teamed up with YouthNet). The project is aimed at enabling all individuals inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to quickly and easily access fulfilling, relevant and local Games inspired volunteering opportunities.

The event is particularly relevant to organisations with volunteering opportunities related to sports, arts and the environment, but is open to all volunteer-involving organisations. You will discover how to create new volunteering opportunities and tailor existing ones to make the most of the advertising that will surround the Games.

Event Flyer:  https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0BxotFB1k7Z-wNGM2NjViMzUtNDAwZi00YTlmLWEwZWUtZmE2ZDRiZjQ4NDE3&hl=en_GB

Venue: The Circle, 33 Rockingham Lane, Sheffield S1 4FW
Date: Friday 23rd July 2010
Time: 1.30-4.30 (registration from 1pm)

For more information on this workshop or for a booking form, contact 0114 2536623 / eventmanagement@vas.org.uk

To find out more about the Inspiration and Legacy from the 2012 Games Project see http://www.volunteering.org.uk/WhatWeDo/Projects+and+initiatives/Games+inspired/Create+Games+inspired+volunteering+opportunities

Enabling Employer Supported Volunteering in Sheffield

Since the launch of the lovely new Volunteer Centre website a few months ago (www.sheffieldvolunteercentre.org.uk/employee_volunteering), interest in Employer Supported Volunteering (or Employee Volunteering) seems to be growing.  Over the past few weeks I have personally had several enquiries directed my way, from employers wondering which charities and voluntary groups could use their help (and who aren't going to charge them fees that they can't afford). 

To that end, I am compiling a list of volunteer-involving organisations who could use the help of employer supported volunteers.  Employers offer a wide variety of volunteering potential, with employees who have a range of skills, motivations, and availability to offer. Some will be looking for one-off opportunities that a group of their staff could undertake together, whereas others are open to the idea of individual employees helping charities and voluntary groups on a longer term basis (perhaps utilising their professional skills such as IT or marketing to help, or maybe wanting a complete change from their day job!). Some companies will be looking for specific outcomes for their staff (e.g. skills development, motivation), whereas for others the primary goal is to help their local community.

So if you're a group or organisation in Sheffield that could use the help of some volunteers from local public and private sector organisations, please complete the questionnaire at the following link by 25th June 2010! www.surveymonkey.com/s/esv

And remember: please don't restrict yourself to the stereotypical ideas of painting rooms or building gardens (although those would certainly be welcomed too!) - consider whether employees could help with other things such as getting involved with service users (maybe they could help create scenery for youth theatre productions or help at social events) or whether they could help to shape your work in some way (perhaps people with marketing skills could help plan your communications strategy).

So fill in the questionnaire now and get on the list! (Sheffield-based organisations only): www.surveymonkey.com/s/esv!