Volunteering

By convening partners, listening to communities and grounding action in lived experience, LIOs are shaping volunteering systems that respond to what people and places need now.‍ One example comes from NAVCA member Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC), which has demonstrated how a clear, shared vision can help reshape volunteering across an entire city.‍

Inspired by Humans of New York, Volunteers of Leeds is now in its third year of shining a spotlight on people from all backgrounds and walks of life who are making change in their communities. Over that time, it has strengthened the visibility of volunteering across the city, become a touchpoint for a wide range of partners, and deepened the relationship between Leeds Museums and Galleries and Volunteer Centre Leeds.

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.

Volunteering doesn’t happen by accident. Creating and sustaining an enabling environment for volunteering can be complicated. Volunteers and potential volunteers have different motivations, skills, interests and confidence. Equally, volunteer involving organisations (VIOs) also have differing motivations, approaches and purposes.

Every day, thousands of people are giving their time to do something special - volunteering to help others thrive. But how do we make sure that this happens effectively?

When people take action on the things that matter to them — whether that’s litter-picking, running a local sports club, or creating spaces to talk about mental health — they build stronger, more resilient communities. Across the country, hundreds of thousands of organisations make up a vibrant voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, doing vital work that helps people and places to thrive.‍ But what exactly does the VCSE sector do — and what do all those different parts mean?