Guest Gethyn Williams, with 20 years in voluntary sector, discusses trends in volunteering data post-2013, challenges in engaging volunteers, need for local infrastructures, diverse contributions at National Trust, expense reimbursement issues, and strategies for enhancing volunteer engagement.
Volunteering is undervalued but diverse, engaging in various forms can elevate its social value.
Understanding volunteers' perspectives, offering flexibility, and exclusivity can enhance relationships and volunteer experiences.
Data analysis is crucial in volunteer management for informed decisions, addressing perceptions, and improving engagement strategies.
Deep dives
Exploring Volunteering Trends in the UK
The podcast episode delves into volunteering trends in the UK, focusing on different aspects of volunteering, such as formal and informal volunteering, data analysis, and future directions. The discussion reflects on data from the Community Life Survey, highlighting trends and insights gathered regarding volunteering rates, motivations, and challenges faced within the sector.
Challenges and Opportunities in Volunteer Engagement
The conversation addresses challenges and opportunities in volunteer engagement, emphasizing the need for nuanced approaches to understand volunteers' perspectives better. Insights are shared on perceptions of volunteering, barriers to engagement, and the importance of offering flexibility and exclusivity to volunteers to deepen relationships and enhance volunteer experiences.
Impact of National Initiatives on Volunteering
The episode highlights the impact of national initiatives, such as the Big Help Out campaign and the Vision for Volunteering, in shaping the landscape of volunteering in the UK. It discusses the role of government support and funding in driving initiatives focused on engaging volunteers, encouraging inclusivity, and fostering a culture of volunteerism across different sectors.
Data Analysis and Insights for Volunteer Management
The podcast underscores the significance of data analysis in volunteer management, emphasizing the use of research findings and trends to inform strategic decisions and improve volunteer engagement practices. The episode encourages organizations to leverage data to address volunteer perceptions, preferences, and engagement strategies effectively.
Empowering Volunteers through Strategic Engagement
Concluding with a focus on empowering volunteers through strategic engagement, the episode stresses the importance of nurturing relationships with volunteers, offering exclusive opportunities, and addressing perceptions and challenges to enhance the overall volunteer experience. It encourages organizations to prioritize volunteer well-being and satisfaction to cultivate a vibrant and engaged volunteer community.
Gethyn has spent over 20 years working in the voluntary and community sector across England and Wales in fields as diverse as sport, youth, environment and disability.
Specialising in volunteering initiatives for the past decade he’s worked on strategy for the London 2012 legacy, within central government at the height of the Covid pandemic and run national programmes at Volunteering Matters.
A freelancer since 2020, Gethyn now focuses on helping non-profits to develop their business, capture their impact and enhance their volunteer programmes. In recent times he has supported the roll out of a range of national, high-profile volunteering initiatives, including the Vision for Volunteering and The Big Help Out.
The diversity of these approaches to volunteering provides the thread that now runs through his work - a belief that volunteering is largely still misunderstood or under-valued, but that by engaging in all of its forms we can help raise it to a level of appreciation and awareness that its social value clearly justifies.
https://www.gethynwilliams.net
Music by Zen_Man from Pixabay
Thanks to Awesome Panda for their work editing this episode. Find out more at https://www.awesomepandauk.com
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