“Many volunteer managers are in isolated positions within organisations – the opportunity AVM gives to network and share good practice is a valuable resource that cannot be over estimated.”
Sue Van Horen
Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home
Community engagement through volunteering – different approaches, universal results?
Come and be inspired.
This event will look at how different organisations have a positive impact on local communities, and how community engagement can be a vital element of volunteering.
- Are you looking to be more “connected” to your local community?
- Would a greater level of community involvement benefit your organisation?
- Is a positive social impact an essential target for any volunteer organisation?
We will hear from a variety of projects that embrace community engagement and integration, and we will consider how the results impact both the communities and the organisations.
We will also hear some academic research into the social and socio-economic influences on youth volunteers, with some interesting recommendations for recruitment.
Programme
| 10.00am | Arrivals, tea & coffee, registration | Refreshments served |
| 10.30am | Opening address | Daniel Ingram, AVM Director |
| 10.40am | Family volunteering: a new initiative to engage new audiences | Alison Rankin, Volunteering Business Partner, Guide Dogs |
| Guide Dogs has been exploring new models of volunteering to diversify their volunteer base, offering a more accessible range of volunteering opportunities to enable more young people and families to get involved in their local community. Having recently embarked on an exciting new pilot to develop family volunteering, Alison will be sharing progress of the development of the pilot to date, sharing successes and learning along the way. |
| 11.15am | Guide Dogs’ volunteer speaker programme: investing in our voice | Mandy Rafferty, National Speaker Development Manager, Guide Dogs |
| Guide Dogs have recognised the amazing resources that they have in the form of their volunteers speakers. Mandy will discuss how they have committed to investing in their volunteers by providing an OCN Quality accreditation training programme. Increased and formalised regular communication with their volunteers, both locally and nationally allows Guide Dogs to share success both with individual volunteers but also across other charity organisations. Mandy will be sharing the benefits of investing in the training of volunteers and the learning Guide Dogs have gained along the way. |
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| 11.50am | Enabling the gift of time: learning from an 80 year history of community engagement. | Jo Phillips, National Project Manager, Royal Voluntary Service |
| Jo will share a brief history of this unique charity – which has been community engagement based from its outset. She will talk through what they’ve learnt – specifically in how, today, they encourage, enable and support people to step forward and volunteer in their local communities by setting up and leading new activity groups for older people. |
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| 12.25am | Round table discussions | |
| 1.00pm | Lunch, provided on site |
| 1.45pm | Different Class? Exploring the relationship between socio-economic advantage and volunteering during adolescence | Eddy Hogg, University of Kent |
| There is a stable relationship between social class and engagement in volunteering among adults in the UK and elsewhere. Qualitative research has sought to understand how this is established in childhood, but little empirical evidence exists to explain when and how the engagement gap emerges. This research draws on data gathered in the first four waves (2014-2017) of the National Youth Social Action Survey (NYSAS). The conclusion is that there is an observable relationship between socio-economic advantage and volunteering by young people, but that it is not straightforward. Eddy will draw on the findings to make recommendations about how organisations can best attract young volunteers from a wide range of social backgrounds. |
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| 2.20pm | The value and impact of volunteering for people with criminal convictions | Andrina Dawson, Giving Time Project Coordinator |
A workshop presenting the key theories relating to the engagement of people with criminal convictions in volunteering. Outlining the impact that results from meaningful engagement and participation.
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| 2.55pm | Roundtable discussions | |
| 3.25pm | Q&A session | Panel of speakers from today’s event |
| 4.05pm | Closing address | |
| 4.15pm | Finish | Please join us to network and relax |
Venue
Spitalfields Venue
Christ Church,
Commercial Street,
London E1 6LY
