The Engaged Volunteer Podcast

Olivier Chovin, an Event Workforce Specialist at UEFA, unveils the magic behind massive volunteer operations in major sports events. He recounts the thrilling journey of managing a volunteer program that aims to engage 16,000 individuals for the upcoming Euro. Olivier shares insights on recruiting younger volunteers, the meticulous planning required years in advance, and the joy of forging emotional connections through volunteerism. His experiences at global events reveal the indispensable role and transformative power of dedicated volunteers in the world of sports.

That was Matt Lynch, Founder of MoonShot. Have you ever wondered why some live experiences capture our hearts better than others? Consider places like Disney Land, where a commitment to exceptional service excellence sees them described as the happiest place on earth. MoonShot works with organizations to engage and train frontline staff and volunteers to live and breathe brand ethos through programs that provide opportunities for upskilling and connections. While you might hear Disney and think - that’s all well and good if you have a huge budget - how does this apply to someone like me? In this episode of the podcast, Matt discusses how organizations of all shapes and sizes (and budgets) can implement simple steps to better engage with their staff and volunteers to ensure a world class experience for volunteers, fans and participants alike. As the world pivots away from in person training to the digital world, we also discuss the importance of understanding volunteer motivations to accommodate engaging experiences for a diverse range of backgrounds and demographics. This episode of the podcast was hosted by Shannan Gove. 

Meet Matt Doherty, City Volunteer Manager for Greater London Authority. Having worked alongside some of the world’s largest events including The European Championships, Commonwealth Games, The Australian Open and now the Euros, Matt is no stranger to engaging with volunteers in a large capacity. In this episode of the podcast we get an in-depth look at Greater London Authority’s legacy project from the 2012 Games - Team London - an incredible example of how cities can engage with their communities through a centralised, city wide volunteer program. After the success of the London Olympics and a renewed interest in volunteering, the city of London made the sustainable move to invest in a volunteer management program, designed to provide year round opportunities for individuals looking to volunteer. From major events to community volunteering and serving the third sector, Team London has around 15,000 engaged volunteers for the community to utilize. In this podcast, Matt shares how programs such as Team London have been instrumental in supporting London’s major events like The Euros but also, more importantly, how volunteers were able to be utilized by the NHS at hospitals and vaccination centres during the peak of the pandemic which many cities around the work can relate to. This episode of the podcast was hosted by Shannan Gove.

Meet Andy Newman, Director of Workforce and Operations for Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022.   Working alongside some of the world’s biggest workforce programs including London 2012, Tough Mudder, The Houston Super Bowl and now, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Andy draws on his experience to discuss the true value of volunteering. While most organizations focus on the financial contribution volunteers provide, we discuss the more intangible value - experience.   In this episode of the podcast we take a closer look at how Tough Mudder built their hugely successful (and sustainable!) volunteer community, with a database of over 125,000 engaged volunteers.  We also discuss how Andy and his team revolutionised the way The Super Bowl utilized volunteers to ensure a lasting legacy within their communities with technology at the forefront.    This episode was hosted by Rosterfy Co Founder, Shannan Gove. To catch full episodes of The Engaged Volunteer Podcast, please follow the link below.    https://www.rosterfy.com/the-engaged-volunteer-podcast

Meet Anne-Catherine, Senior Volunteer Manager worldwide at FIFA. Having just implemented a global volunteer management program at one of the world's largest sporting federations, Anne Catherine (also known as AC) knows a thing or two about volunteers. In this episode of the podcast, AC takes us behind the scenes, with an in-depth look at FIFA’s global volunteer management program which is using technology to connect their global community of volunteers all via one centralized system. During this podcast we also discuss how a global volunteer management solution aids the business from an administrator point of view. Allowing local event hosts to access their own volunteer management solution under the FIFA account, FIFAs administrators around the world are now able to provide volunteer service excellence with the resources required to deliver a consistent experience. This episode was hosted by Rosterfy Co Founder, Shannan Gove. To the full episode, plus additional available episodes, please follow the link below. https://www.rosterfy.com/the-engaged-volunteer-podcast

For the first episode of this season, we’re thrilled to be joined by Jenny Betteridge, Strategic Lead for Volunteering at Sport England and Shruti Saujani, City Programme and Volunteer Manager at the England and Wales Cricket Board, otherwise known as ECB. With over 10 million people in the UK choosing to volunteer their time through sport and physical activity last year, this episode of the podcast sees us dive a little deeper into the physical, mental and social benefits of connected communities. We take a closer look at an inspiring volunteer-led project - Dream Big Desi Women which was created for enthusiastic and passionate individuals who want to make a difference in their community through cricket on and off the field. Jenny and Shruti highlight the importance of creating programmes that are accessible regardless of gender, levels of resources or technology - as well as discussing the significance of a robust volunteer feedback loop, which helps to shape and evolve these programmes to become better for all involved. We also discuss the impact of the last 12-18 months on volunteering and physical activity, as well as how changes in thinking around connection and personal development through technology is being shared and implemented across sports all over the UK. This episode of the podcast was hosted by Phillip Gbormittah.  To catch full episodes of The Engaged Volunteer Podcast, please follow the link below. https://www.rosterfy.com/the-engaged-volunteer-podcast

Meet Elena Laguna  - Head of Volunteering at Oxfam Great Britain. After a chance opportunity to lead a youth volunteering program in Nicaragua, Elena has firmly cemented a career in helping others, working with some of the UK’s leading charities to manage their volunteer programs. In this episode of the podcast, Elena discusses the importance of treating your volunteers as individuals (even at the highest level) and how understanding volunteer motivations ensures connection. We also take a look at the impacts of COVID-19 including the changing landscape of volunteers. With traditional volunteers having been replaced (at least temporarily) by corporates and a younger demographic as a result of furloughs and decreased job opportunities the need to create roles that are more flexible and technologically driven is more important than ever. If this is your first time checking us out, The Engaged Volunteer podcast aims to highlight the ways in which organizations and individuals are engaging their communities to connect them to events and causes they’re passionate about. The best way to support the Engaged Volunteer Podcast is to click ‘Follow’ on your Spotify app, and tell your friends about us! We also really appreciate feedback on the podcast and would love to hear your thoughts. If you’d like to share your thoughts or if you have someone in mind for us to interview, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via hello@rosterfy.com.

That was Jenne Myers - CEO and ‘Professional Do Gooder’ at Chicago Cares. After kick starting her career working for The City of Chicago and Mayor Daly, it was an opportunity to work with the Mayor’s wife Maggie that opened the doors to the ‘heart’ of Chicago and a new philanthropic career in public service. In this episode of the podcast, Jenne generously shares her journey from volunteer to CEO, providing an in-depth look at Chicago Cares’ unique volunteering program. With a mission to connect people of difference, Jenne discusses the transformative nature of volunteering and how the act of ‘giving back’ has the potential to be so much greater than just completing the task at hand. Through education and leadership, Jenne discusses the need to create mutually beneficial experiences that encourage cultural humility which ultimately creates more inclusive and understanding communities, full of ‘heart’. If this is your first time checking us out, The Engaged Volunteer podcast aims to highlight the ways in which organizations and individuals are engaging their communities to connect them to events and causes they’re passionate about. The best way to support the Engaged Volunteer Podcast is to click ‘Follow’ on your Spotify app, and tell your friends about us! We also really appreciate feedback on the podcast and would love to hear your thoughts. If you’d like to share your thoughts or if you have someone in mind for us to interview, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via hello@rosterfy.com.

That was Corina Sadler CVA - Volunteer Resources Supervisor at City of Plano. After experiencing the joys of volunteering as a teen herself, Corina Sadler has cemented a career enriching the lives of teenagers through the creation of the Teen Volunteer Program for the City of Plano. In this episode of the podcast we discuss the stigmas that exist when it comes to young volunteers and why they should be embraced as a force for change. We also discuss the important role that technology plays in engaging and retaining teen volunteers who are looking for new and meaningful ways to give back to their communities. If this is your first time checking us out, The Engaged Volunteer podcast aims to highlight the ways in which organizations and individuals are engaging their communities to connect them to events and causes they’re passionate about. The best way to support the Engaged Volunteer Podcast is to click ‘Follow’ on your Spotify app, and tell your friends about us! We also really appreciate feedback on the podcast and would love to hear your thoughts. If you’d like to share your thoughts or if you have someone in mind for us to interview, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via hello@rosterfy.com. Thanks so much for listening!

Meet Tom Bowkett. A specialist freelancer in volunteer and workforce management. Recorded in amongst the thick of UK COVID lockdowns, 2020 has presented it’s fair share of challenges for a freelancer, who specializes in events. While many would dwell on a tough year, Tom shines with optimism about the future and how important events and volunteering will be in uniting communities. In this episode of the podcast, we learn more about the world of freelancing in events. From major sporting events to arts and cultural festivals, Tom has experienced the full remit of events and understands just how powerful people (including volunteers) are in creating a successful end to end event. After a year of lockdowns and isolations, we discuss the renewed reliance on technology and how this has positively impacted workforce programs worldwide and what this means for the future of volunteering. Tom and I also discuss the importance of placing value on volunteers to ensure maximum engagement and retention. If this is your first time checking us out, The Engaged Volunteer podcast aims to highlight the ways in which organizations and individuals are engaging their communities to connect them to events and causes they’re passionate about. The best way to support the Engaged Volunteer Podcast is to click ‘Follow’ on your Spotify app, and tell your friends about us! We also really appreciate feedback on the podcast and would love to hear your thoughts. If you’d like to share your thoughts or if you have someone in mind for us to interview, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via hello@rosterfy.com. Thanks so much for listening!