Volunteering in Place
Insights from volunteers to accelerate positive change in communities
Written by Sarah Tranter, Learning and Storytelling Officer
The Vision for Volunteering is for everyone within the volunteering ecosystem – that means volunteer managers, organisations who work with or rely on volunteers, but also volunteers themselves! We worked with Volunteering Matters to speak directly to volunteers from different place-based local projects to better understand and amplify how volunteers relate to the Vision.
Volunteering Matters held workshops four place-based activities:
Young people that have been engaged in youth social action in Ipswich, the UK’s first Town of Youth Social Action
People with learning disabilities or additional support needs across Norfolk
Refugees and those seeking asylum in Warwickshire
Children and adolescents who require specialist support in their education in London
From these conversations with volunteers, Volunteering Matters found that organisations that support volunteering are making significant strides in embedding the themes of the Vision for Volunteering within communities, their operations and culture. Feedback from volunteers consistently highlights the positive impact of these efforts, pointing to an overall satisfaction with how their roles are facilitated and valued. The passion driving both individuals and organisations is clear, demonstrating a shared commitment to nurturing a supportive and impactful volunteering environment.
Some things that volunteers think organisations are doing right in bringing the Vision for Volunteering to life within local communities (linked to the themes of the Vision):
Equity and Inclusion: Providing opportunities to be part of a wider community by bringing individuals together and fostering a strong sense of belonging and unity. This can be particularly profound for individuals with additional support needs and those new to their locality.
Equity and Inclusion: Creating inclusive spaces in the community where everyone feels comfortable and welcome. Already established spaces are becoming places that encourage diversity by acknowledging and respecting differences in backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.
Power: Involving volunteer voices in projects so that initiatives resonate deeply with those involved. It ensures that projects are shaped in a way that utilises the unique insights volunteers bring, enhancing the project's relevance to its place.
Experimentation: Facilitating self-development and personal growth. Through volunteering, individuals gain new skills, broaden their perspectives, and strengthen their sense of community connection, which ensures that the volunteer can continue to enrich communities where they are involved.
Collaboration: Providing effective training, development and support for volunteers, equipping them with essential skills such as safeguarding and handling challenging situations. Such environments enable collaborative work to flourish, ensuring that everyone involved can contribute effectively and without hesitations.
Whilst the Vision for Volunteering is an ongoing, collaborative endeavour, it is not something to be achieved and finalised but rather a dynamic process that will continuously evolve and adapt to the changing context of our community. The things that volunteers would like to see for the Vision for Volunteering to be fully realised in their places are (again, linked to the themes of the Vision:
Power: Connecting people to local decision-makers, to guarantee that those decisions are informed and shaped by the lived experiences of those they affect. Everyone has a stake in their community, and the connections provided by volunteering often give individuals agency to take control and occupy their rightful and equity place in communities.
Experimentation: Supporting long-term funding and sustainability. Sustainable, long-term financial support reassures volunteers, allowing them to concentrate on addressing the community's needs without the constant worry of funding running out. It enables projects to plan ahead, innovate, and implement strategies that require time to mature and show results.
Awareness and Appreciation: Showcasing a positive future for volunteering, in particular by highlighting the positive impact volunteering can have. This is especially true among younger generations, who might feel particularly despondent about what lies ahead, and volunteering emerges as a beacon of hope. It underscores the power of collective action in tackling societal challenges and bringing communities closer together.
Equity and Inclusion: Being more strategic in supporting diverse spaces by listening and collaborating with volunteers and beneficiaries to shape environments they are eager to engage with, rather than making assumptions. It's vital to shift our approach from merely making existing spaces accessible to intentionally designing new ones that are strategically built around the needs and desires of the communities we partner with.
Collaboration: Shaping projects around people rather than according to organisational agendas. A bottom-up approach ensures that initiatives are tailored to the specific needs, cultures, and aspirations of the communities that we serve, fostering a sense of ownership and engagement among participants. By placing communities at the heart of project design, we can build initiatives that truly resonate, deliver tangible benefits, and cultivate lasting change.
How can you use these findings to improve the experience of volunteers in your local place?
You can view the full report from Volunteering Matters below:
Volunteering Matters and Vision for Volunteering would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all volunteers and staff members involved in delivering these workshops and putting this report together.