News Articles
The volunteer journey: When volunteers move on
In this series of blogs, our Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas, takes an overview of the five key steps of the volunteer journey. In the first one, he emphasises that leaders of volunteers need to be thinking from the perspective of a brand new volunteer who has never heard of your organisation. In the second, he encourages them to act quickly and decisively to harness the new…
The volunteer journey: Recognising and retaining volunteers
In this series of blogs, our Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas, takes an overview of the five key steps of the volunteer journey. In the first one, he emphasises that leaders of volunteers need to be thinking from the perspective of a brand new volunteer who has never heard of your organisation. In the second, he encourages them to act quickly and decisively to harness the new…
The volunteer journey: Supporting and engaging volunteers
In this series of blogs, our Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas, takes an overview of the five key steps of the volunteer journey. In the first one, he emphasises that leaders of volunteers need to be thinking from the perspective of a brand-new volunteer who has never heard of your organisation. In the second, he encourages them to act quickly and decisively to harness the new…
The volunteer journey: Turning interest into action
In this series of blogs, our Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas, takes an overview of the five key steps of the Volunteer Journey. In the first blog of the series, he emphasised that leaders of volunteers needed to think from the perspective of a brand new volunteer who has never heard of your organisation. In this second blog, he’s encouraging them to act quickly and decisively to…
The volunteer journey: Attracting the right volunteers – start with purpose
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be posting a series of blogs where our Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas, takes an overview of the five key steps of the Volunteer Journey. In this first one, he emphasises that leaders of volunteers need to be thinking from the perspective of a brand-new volunteer who has never heard of your organisation.Every strong volunteer journey starts long before…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…