Vision for Volunteering - Experimentation
06/05/2022
The Vision for Volunteering is a 10-year strategy developed by a partnership of organisations (NCVO, NAVCA, Sport England, Volunteering Matters) through a consultation with 350 people and organisations. The pandemic has caused some big changes in volunteering, and the Vision aims to drive future action, harnessing positive outcomes and dealing with barriers and shifts in society attitudes. The output of the Vision is structured around 5 key themes setting out how volunteering should be, with volunteers at the heart of the action.
Each of the themes explores how volunteering must adapt and evolve. The themes are:
- awareness and appreciation of volunteering
- power
- equity and inclusion
- collaboration
- experimentation
In this article we’re exploring the 5th theme: experimentation. The Vision says “the Covid-19 pandemic has made many of us innovate, experiment and embrace flexibility like never before.” And “we need to see the volunteering landscape as dynamic, not static. Experimentation should be incorporated into the way volunteering works day-to-day.”
But what is innovation? For some organisations it might mean shifting an in-person activity to online or managing sign-ups or rotas using new technology. For others it might mean creating a brand-new service powered by volunteers.
Many charities which operate using volunteers will be constantly looking to improve and enhance the volunteering experience. Laura Sercombe describes what this looks like for her organisation: “Girls Friendly Society (GFS) has been recruiting volunteers since 1875. We have always needed to remain innovative. We adjust to meet the need that we exist to support, while recognising what potential volunteers are looking to contribute. What has not changed is the fact that every volunteer needs, and wants, to feel valued and to feel part of a movement to achieve positive change. It has been an absolute priority that all the GFS volunteers feel both.”
Here are some examples of experimentation, change and innovation within volunteering.
Removing barriers to volunteering
vHelp was created during the pandemic when founders, Patricia Salume and Randa Bennett were volunteering in their local community. Their experience inspired them to find a way to help charities reimburse volunteer expenses more efficiently. They created a digital service for organisations engaging volunteers or anyone outside payroll. It reduces admin and paperwork whilst keeping a complete record of transactions. Volunteers submit their expense claims on their mobile phones or desktop and once approved by the charity, they receive payment directly into their bank accounts, often much more quickly than when using traditional expenses systems. vHelp said: “As expenses are paid quickly, we hope that it will encourage less well-off people to volunteer, expanding the diversity of the volunteer workforce.”
Reaching new volunteers
National disability charity Sense’s Virtual Buddying scheme was adapted from face-to-face programmes which had to pause during the pandemic. They launched a pilot in June 2020 based on an initial cohort of 15 people who were identified as needing additional support during lockdown. Once the model was tested, Sense expanded the programme which has now been used by nearly 300 people. It has big ambitions for scaling up the scheme.
The programme matches disabled people with a volunteer with similar interests. They meet for an hour over Zoom every week to chat, learn new skills and have fun. Feedback during lockdown showed the programme reduced loneliness during that difficult time.
The pandemic was the catalyst the charity needed to start a digital volunteer programme. It meant that they were able to expand this service to a national audience rather than those who live in London and Manchester where the original scheme operated.
Sian Stamper, operations manager said: “It also means that we now have an increasingly diverse group of volunteers. Now we have a huge range of volunteers from around the UK of all ages because the role is so much more flexible.”
Volunteering with flexibility
When Brian Greenley was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2010, Alison Hitchcock offered to write letters to cheer him up. The letters became an important part of Brian’s recovery process, easing the isolation and loneliness of a cancer diagnosis. Alison wrote over 100 letters which Brian took to chemo sessions or saved for a time when he felt alone. Following Brian’s remission, in 2017 the pair founded From Me to You.
The charity’s Donate A Letter programme is powered by hundreds of volunteers who write anonymous letters which are given to people living with cancer in hospitals, hospices, cancer centres and sent to individuals’ homes. This isn’t a pen-pal service, a letter is a gift to distract the reader and brighten their day.
Writers send letters as often as they like, some just the once, others once a month, some, every week. Since the programme started, the charity has delivered over 25,000 letters. One writer is currently writing 50 letters over 3 months to mark her 50th birthday. Duke of Edinburgh students take part as part of their volunteer module, writing letters for 3, 6 or 12 months.
Letter writers can attend workshops or find guidance and inspiration on the charity’s website. Corporate teams get involved as it's an activity which can happen in a team meeting in the office.
Alison told us: “Learning a loved one has a cancer diagnosis often leaves us feeling helpless. Letters are and simple but powerful way to support. We get lots of feedback from people who tell us that getting a letter is a great comfort. It's a support when work and socialising stops, when friends and relatives don't know what to say, so don’t say anything.”
