The focused discussion on the 9 March 2022 was staff engagement. Overall the majority of our guests found that staff were engaging well however, at times, staff are so overwhelmingly busy that it can be very difficult for them. It was also noted that recognition of virtual volunteers can at times be challenging.

One Trust is about to start up a new volunteer role called Eat, Drink, Move. The volunteer will be working with physiotherapists, dietitians and nursing staff to help the patient stick to their health programme.

At the Royal Marsden the pharmacy volunteers have become an integral part of the Pharmacy department and one of the volunteers has now been recruited into paid employment within that same department.

Ideas and Tips

• Link a volunteer with a member of staff who is there all the time. This helps to create a team culture between the staff and volunteers.

• Arrange events for volunteers with your CEO and other senior staff. As well as an enjoyable time for everyone this enables the volunteers and senior staff to interact with people they wouldn’t normally meet.

• Create a guide for departments taking on volunteers for the first time.

• Gather evidence on the impact of volunteers on staff.

  • Helpforce Insight & Impact

• Work with your Comms department.

  • Staff Bulletins: Put out good news volunteer stories and case studies.

  • Go to as many meetings as possible.

  • Staff focus groups / training sessions

  • Corporate staff shadowing volunteers and raising profiles.

Examples of case studies

• Videos

• Communication: Sharing Case Studies

• Helpforce Champions

• Wall of Fame

For details of future discussion groups go to our events page.