Wednesday 23 September 2026 | 9.30am to 11.30am | Online via Zoom
Ticket prices: Members £27 | Non-members £43

This session will explore new ideas for engaging young volunteers, by bringing together proven approaches and youth perspectives to help you create inclusive, meaningful opportunities that attract, support, and retain young people.

As organisations continue to recognise the value that young volunteers bring to their services and communities, it is increasingly important to create opportunities that are accessible, inclusive, and meaningful.

Through examples from across the UK voluntary sector, you will gain fresh ideas and hear directly from young people about what encourages them to get involved, stay engaged, and feel valued.

You will learn about effective recruitment strategies, ways to reduce barriers to volunteering, and how to create positive volunteer experiences that support young people’s development.

The session will also explore the importance of youth voice and co-production, highlighting how involving young people in shaping volunteer programmes leads to stronger engagement and better outcomes for both the organisation and volunteers.

The session will include a combination of presentations, real-life examples, and contributions from young people sharing their own experiences of volunteering.

There will also be opportunities for discussion and interaction, enabling you to reflect on your own practice, exchange ideas with peers, and leave with practical actions you can implement to strengthen your approach to engaging young volunteers.

Who is this event for:

This event is suitable for anyone working in the following types of role:

• Operational – focused on the day-to-day execution of the volunteer programme, managing the immediate needs of volunteers.
• Management or Strategic – overseeing multiple programmes, managing staff (paid or unpaid), and having budgetary and strategic input into the program’s direction.
• Director or Senior Leadership – setting the vision, strategy, and policy for volunteering across the entire organisation.

This event will cover:

• Why engaging young volunteers matters and the value they bring to organisations and communities 
• Practical strategies for recruiting, supporting, and retaining young volunteers while reducing barriers to participation
• Insights from young people about their volunteering experiences, including what helps them feel valued, included, and motivated
• Good practice in youth voice, co-production, and creating meaningful volunteer opportunities that support young people’s development
• Key lessons learned, common challenges to avoid, and practical ideas that attendees can apply within their own organisations.

Session overview

• Introductions from speakers
• Why investing in young people through volunteering, youth voice, and life skills  is essential to building confident, resilient communities
• Organisational approaches to engaging and empowering young people
• Creating inclusive opportunities that support development, contribution, and growth
• Practical examples of recruiting, supporting, and developing young volunteers
• How life skills programmes build confidence, resilience, and independence
• Insights from young people’s lived experiences and perspectives
• The role of co-production in meaningful engagement
• Interactive discussion, reflection, and sharing of ideas
• Key takeaways, practical actions, and Q&A.

About the speakers

Lucie Vickers – Head of Volunteering and Youth Voice at StreetGames UK

Lucie has over 15 years of experience working with young people and engaging with them to create positive change through social action. Lucie is an experienced people and project manager, having led large collaborative projects, both in the UK and internationally, working with a range of partners and directly with young people. Lucie leads StreetGames’ youth voice and volunteering work, supporting the co-design of regional and local programmes as well as supporting the development of volunteering and youth action-based opportunities across the charity.

Maxine Asare – Co-ordinator of Victory Care – Charity Outreach

Maxine leads community initiatives that support, uplift, and empower local residents. Through her work with families, young people, and vulnerable groups, she identified a growing need to equip young people with the practical life skills needed to build confidence, resilience, and independence. Maxine has played a key role in developing programmes that promote personal growth, wellbeing, and positive pathways for the future. With a background in community engagement, advocacy, and outreach, she is passionate about creating safe, inclusive spaces where young people feel supported, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential.

AVM Members’ discount

AVM members are eligible for a discount on the event ticket price. Please login to your account so that your discount can be automatically applied.

If you’re not an AVM member, you can join AVM today to gain access to this event, as well as receiving lots of other benefits, including access to free member-only events, discounts for all public events and the annual AVM conference

Join AVM today to access your discount for this event.