Big Society & Volunteer Management

What does the Big Society mean to you? Are you clear what it is? How will it affect you as a Volunteer Manager? What will it mean to you as a Volunteer? How will it help you influence what happens in your own neighbourhood? 

We are told that there will be 5000 Neighbourhood Organisers recruited and trained, but that they will not be paid. Who will be identifying them, what will be their mandate and why would they do it without pay? How will they work within the existing structures and how can we as volunteer managers work with them?

How will the planned introduction of a national civic service programme affect us as volunteer managers? If there is an increase in volunteers, do we have a need for them and do we have the capacity to manage them? Will the cost of management out- weigh the benefits to the organisation?

With the emphasis on volunteering, will there be a requirement for charities and community organisations to increase their volunteer numbers in exchange for funding for their activities?

If, as is expected, voluntary organisations will be delivering extra services, will funding be available?

These are the types of questions we will be discussing at our next forum meeting which will be held at the Fordbridge Centre on Friday January 21^st.

Mark Rogers, Chief Executive of Solihull Council will be joining us for the first part of the meeting and will participate in the discussion and answer any questions which you might like to put to him. For those of you who are unable to join us, but who have a question which you would like to put to Mark Rogers, please comment with details below and we will raise the question on your behalf.

Just Employment: A Guide to Employing Staff in Faith-based Projects

A guide on employing staff and recruiting volunteers in faith-based projects has been published giving practical advice, case studies and examples and over 50 templates for letters and documents. The guide can be found HERE

Pinpointing the "red tape" burdens which could be lifted

A number of sector responses to the Big Society De-regulation Taskforce have appeared, giving input on the top red tape burdens for voluntary organisations. Volunteering England highlights some of the barriers reported to them:

• CRB checks and the Independent Safeguarding Authority
• Insurance and mileage rates for volunteer drivers
• The "benefits barrier" facing unemployed volunteers receiving benefits
• Confusion over how the new visa system applies to volunteers
• Ensuring that the Borders Act isn't a burden on volunteers and organisations
• Reducing the percetion of the threat of litigation facing volunteers

Young Person's Volunteering Fund, SITA Trust Uk

Grants of up to £10,000 are available for volunteering projects owned by 14-25 year olds. This fund has been created to assist young people aged 14-25 to volunteer their time to create or enhance recreation or leisure facilities that can be enjoyed by the wider community.

SITA Trust can provide funding towards the resources required to transform a derelict piece of land into a community green space or give a local community centre a much needed make-over. Funding can be sought to provide necessary equipment such as tools, paint, plants, fencing and materials.

The Volunteer Management Portal

The Portal is a website for anyone who works with volunteers and within the profession of volunteer management. You can use it to search for support, training and development resources to help you develop your skills, improve your volunteer programme and work more effectively with volunteers.

What's on the Portal?

• Training providers
• Consultants
• Publications, resources and networks
• Peer-support
• Organisations providing organisational health checks
• Organisations providing direct services
• Organisations providing information, advice and guidance 

Managers of volunteers under valued and under funded

A newly published report reveals the need for more training and development for managers of volunteers. It shows that nearly half of the people who manage volunteers have not received any training that would help them in their work, despite the fact that volunteers are crucial to the Government's Big Society.

The full report can be read HERE

One-stop source of volunteering research

The Institute of Volunteering Research, the research arm of Volunteering England, has launched an evidence bank for volunteering research. The bank currently contains all of its own publicly available research produced since 1997, and will include research frpm other bodies later. Entries can be searched by keywords, or by one of 30 themes. Read more HERE

Website for the Institute for Volunteer Research can be accessed HERE