Wessex Community Action is the council for voluntary services in Wiltshire and provides practical support for community organisations on funding, governance, planning, policy development, recruiting and leadership.

This monthly volunteering column looks at all aspects of volunteering and how people can give up their time for the benefit of their communities…

EVERY voluntary organisation will tell you that finding volunteers is a challenge – and since the pandemic it has been even harder – but keeping them on board requires consideration and hard work.

Studies show that once people commit their time to a cause they tend to stick at it – as long as they feel valued.

Research by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) found 70 per cent of volunteers think recognition of the role they play is an incentive to continue, while a study by VolunteerMatch showed 80 per cent feel training and support is essential.

Wessex Community Action works with charities across the county to help them develop their volunteer networks. Our training and guidance uses the shared experience of our community development workers and best practice to help groups put procedures and policies in place that meet volunteers’ needs and aspirations.

It’s important the anyone working with volunteers pays attention to the little things, and is prepared to be flexible. Research by the global charity Points of Light revealed 75 per cent of volunteers appreciate the flexibility to choose their hours and tasks.

The NCVO found 20 per cent of volunteers who stopped volunteering did so due to changes in circumstance, such as job changes or family commitments, that they didn’t feel could be accommodated. How many of these could have continued if the group had been flexible?

Jon Rich is responsible for more than 300 volunteers at the Youth Adventure Trust, some of whom are pictured above, which works with hundreds of young people from all over Wiltshire who are struggling in education. Its volunteer mentors and co-ordinators foster bonds of trust through one to one sessions, school holiday outings and residential camps.

He says being flexible and offering support is essential. “What we offer is very flexible so volunteers can do as much or as little as they want and there is flexibility in when they volunteer so they can balance their lives,” he says.

“We offer lots of training, we are around to support them and new volunteers will be partnered with experienced ones. All of those things make it accessible and hopefully enjoyable. We also have a volunteers’ weekend away and regular meet-ups – the social side is a big part of what we do.

“Volunteers are right at the heart of our work – we simply couldn’t deliver our life changing work without them.”

The Wiltshire Together online portal, which is free to use, has a Volunteering in Wiltshire page with details of information and training available to anyone working with volunteers. There is information on its Volunteer Managers Forum, which has more than 50 members from charities including the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust, the Youth Adventure Trust and Home-Start South Wiltshire. The forum meets around once a quarter, often via Zoom, but in person too.

Members share their challenges and successes and support each other in managing volunteers. Retaining volunteers and WCA’s training are regular topics.

Wiltshire Together also allows users to browse and pledge interest in opportunities listed by charitable organisations across the county. To find out more about volunteering support WCA can offer, contact Abby Lynch at info@wessexcommunityaction.org.uk. Find the Volunteering in Wiltshire page at wiltshiretogether.org.uk/wiltshire-volunteering.