Growing heritage volunteering in Knowsley - volunteering doesn’t happen by accident

When we say Volunteering Doesn’t Happen by Accident, we mean it.

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Behind every thriving volunteering opportunity sits thoughtful infrastructure: coordination, funding, partnership working, encouragement, and practical support. That’s exactly what VCQA-accredited NAVCA member One Knowsley has demonstrated through the Knowsley Heritage Grants programme — creating the conditions for volunteering to flourish in new and inclusive ways.

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Investing in infrastructure, not just activity

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Through the programme, One Knowsley enabled local voluntary and community organisations to access grants of up to £3,000 to develop and deliver heritage-based community activity. Crucially, this wasn’t simply about distributing funding. It included targeted support for under-represented groups and organisations applying to heritage funding for the first time — widening participation and building confidence across the sector.

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From June 2022 to November 2023, the programme combined financial investment with active engagement, peer networking and structured support. The focus was on building connectivity: strengthening relationships, sharing knowledge and supporting collaboration so that heritage volunteering could grow sustainably.

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This is what strong local infrastructure looks like in practice.

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Creating the conditions for volunteering to thrive

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The outcomes speak for themselves:

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23 organisations were supported to develop, resource, deliver and evaluate 25 heritage-themed projects

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Over 290 engagement sessions were held with 62 community groups and VIOs

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25 groups received funding, totalling £72,768

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More than 1,000 Knowsley residents engaged in heritage activity through the VCSE sector

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Importantly, the programme expanded both the range and diversity of volunteering opportunities linked to heritage. It enabled new groups to step forward, new volunteers to engage, and new community stories to be shared.

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Alongside delivery, One Knowsley invested in strong evaluation, including external consultancy input and a stakeholder workshop to capture learning. A Heritage Engagement Toolkit was produced, and a Celebration and Sharing Event in September 2023 showcased funded projects while strengthening connections across the sector. This emphasis on learning and reflection echoes the core principle of our Volunteering Doesn’t Happen by Accident campaign: strong volunteering systems are built intentionally, and improved continuously.

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Building confidence and long-term impact

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One of the most powerful impacts reported was increased confidence. Groups felt more able to seek support from one another, share insight, and collaborate. That cultural shift towards openness and mutual support is as important as any single project outcome. One Knowsley has since secured £238,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to extend support for the VCSE sector in heritage, building on the strong foundations already laid. One Knowsley also recently achieved VCQA (Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation), demonstrating best practice in all areas of volunteering.

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Learning across the NAVCA network

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This is a powerful example of how local infrastructure organisations create the enabling environment for volunteering to grow — supporting underrepresented groups, strengthening partnerships, and embedding learning into practice.

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NAVCA members can access our Volunteering Doesn’t Happen by Accident guide and practical toolkit via the Member Hub. These free resources are designed to help you reflect with partners on the maturity of your local volunteering system, identify strengths and gaps, and shape collaborative action plans.