Volunteering News
Who recognises this NCVS legend in the Post People spotlight from 2006?
It’s amazing what you find when you’re tidying up. When the wife of one of our longest-standing team members came across this newspaper clipping from 2006, we knew we had to share it. But the real question is… do you know who it is? 'You feel you have made a difference.'That’s what Dave Thomas, one of our longest-serving team members, told the Post People news paper back in 2006 – and it… Read More
Resolving problems in volunteer programmes: A simple process vs formal grievance procedures
Problems occasionally arise in all organisations – even those built on goodwill and shared purpose. In volunteer programmes, where relationships are based on mutual respect rather than contracts of employment, it’s important to handle problems sensitively and clearly. In his latest blog Dave Thomas, Volunteering Development Officer, outlines a straightforward, informal approach to resolving… Read More
Celebrating volunteers, one brilliant conversation at a time
NCVS Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas has had a busy Volunteers' Week and has sent this detailed report:Last week’s Volunteers Week was, again, a very busy and very positive week for us at NCVS. We hosted an online Leaders of Volunteers Network, the first face-to-face training in about five years, and I went to talk to students at a volunteering event where I was invited by the… Read More
Tools to engage and support online and remote volunteers
During a recent conversation online with a leader of volunteers, NCVS Volunteering Development Officer Dave Thomas was inspired to consider one of the biggest changes in volunteering since Covid-19. In a more detailed follow-up to his 2021 blog, Dave writes:Leaders of volunteers have always sought to use the most effective ways to support and communicate with their volunteers. This almost… Read More
Exploring the volunteer journey vs. the customer journey
In this blog, NCVS Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas, takes a sideways look at the Volunteer Journey and highlights that there are many similarities to product marketing.In putting this blog together, I had a conversation with Amanda Chambers, NCVS Interim Deputy CEO and manager of our Communications Team. In particular, she pointed me towards the important role that volunteers play… Read More
LoVN extra came to Beeston
The Leaders of Volunteers Network (LoVN) is both a face-to-face and online network run by NCVS’s Volunteering Development Officer Dave Thomas, where at each meeting there is discussion about different aspects of volunteer management, as well as sharing best practice and information. As part of the Broxtowe project, Helen Oparinde, NCVS Group Support Coordinator, arranged with Dave to take LoVN… Read More
Micro-volunteering: engaging volunteers in minutes
In his first blog of 2025, NCVS Volunteering Development Officer Dave Thomas shares some thoughts about one area of volunteering that could help to engage new volunteers at a time when volunteers are becoming harder to engage. Volunteering doesn’t always mean long-term commitments or dedicating entire weekends to a cause. Sometimes, making a difference can take just a few minutes of someone’… Read More
Volunteers: How can we reverse the downward trend?
In the latest of his musings about volunteering, NCVS Volunteering Development Officer Dave Thomas, picks up on the hottest topic of the moment.In her latest blog, my colleague Helen Oparinde, reports on a speech by David Holdsworth, the Charity Commission’s new CEO. He touched on the continuing downward trend in volunteering but didn’t offer any solutions.By coincidence, the London Vision and… Read More
Copyright and volunteer-created materials
Our Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas, takes a peek at volunteer contributions and the copyright laws that go with them.Volunteers often bring creativity and innovation to organisations, but their contributions can also raise important questions about copyright. Understanding and addressing these issues proactively can protect both the organisation and its volunteers while fostering a… Read More
Can volunteer leaders give Christmas gifts or meals without affecting tax or benefits?
NCVS Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas, has had a number of conversations about giving volunteers Christmas presents. The issue often arises around Volunteers’ Week as well, so he’s done some digging and makes these observations.As Christmas approaches, many leaders of volunteers want to thank their teams for their time and dedication. This often leads to questions like, 'Can we give… Read More