18 charities join forces to "shape the future with volunteering"

Helpforce has joined a group of 18 of the country’s leading volunteer-involving charities, from Royal Voluntary Service to Scouts, to The National Trust, RNLI, NSPCC, YHA and Samaritans to launch their shared commitment to support all communities across the UK to be dynamic and welcoming places for volunteering.

The benefits, they say, can be transformative, creating the kind of society we all want to live in while volunteers can help address some of the biggest challenges we face from COVID recovery, to mental health to climate change.

The group believes the extraordinary expansion of volunteering in every village, town and city through the covid 19 pandemic has created an unprecedented opportunity to power-up our civic society for the long-term, enabling everyone to share in its many rewards.

The ‘Shaping the Future with Volunteering’ group is being co-chaired by Royal Voluntary Service CEO, Catherine Johnstone CBE and Matt Hyde OBE, Chief Executive at Scouts. Both organisations have been active during the pandemic, involving volunteers in vital community service.

Catherine Johnstone CBE, CEO Royal Voluntary Service said: ‘We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a bigger and broader civic society which will build stronger communities. Millions of people have stepped forward during the pandemic for the first time and while supporting others in their hour of need, they have benefited themselves in so many ways. I have been humbled by what I have seen through our work with the NHS on the frontline, our volunteers have supported those in great need, often out of their comfort zone, but rising to the challenge. In return they found new confidence, a sense of community and belonging and a feel-good-factor which comes from doing something of real value.’

‘We have come together as national charities to build on this momentum. We know change is needed if we are to make the most of this incredible chance and we are determined to seize the moment.’

Matt Hyde, Chief Executive, Scouts said: ‘’The commitment and kindness of 12 million volunteers has made all the different to life during the pandemic, from those supporting the vaccination programme to the Scout leaders who delivered 3.8 million hours of zoom meetings. Now’s the time to build on that by championing what volunteering offers society. Giving our time is good for us, actively improving our well-being by connecting us to something bigger. It’s good for our communities and good for our country. That’s why we have come together as major volunteer-involving charities to work together and learn from each other, extending our reach and making a bigger impact in our communities.’

Mark Lever, Helpforce CEO, added: "We're delighted to join forces with 17 national organisations in this important campaign, demonstrating our commitments towards building a better society through volunteering. As a charity with the focus on volunteering in health and care, we have witnessed how volunteering has transformed our NHS. Volunteers help people to be more active and healthier at home, provide a friendly face or voice on the end of the phone, or enable patients facing digital exclusion to access online health services and connect with others. The benefits that they bring to our society is tremendous and we must leverage their talent on a much larger scale. We hope that by being part of the "Shaping the future of volunteering" group, we can contribute by using our knowledge and insights from the field to help accelerate the impact of volunteering in health and care."

Sarah Vibert, Interim CEO at NCVO (the National Council for Voluntary Organisations), has welcomed this initiative, she commented:

“Volunteers will continue to play a vital part in our recovery, just as they have in responding to the pandemic. But we’re now at an important crossroad that will shape the future of volunteering. To secure the incredible legacy of volunteering during the pandemic we must learn the lessons and realise the opportunities it has presented.

One of the key ingredients to the successful mobilisation of volunteers during the pandemic has been collaboration. So it is fantastic that 18 of the largest volunteering charities, who between them support hundreds of thousands of volunteers, have committed to working collectively to shape the future of volunteering.”

In their Position Statement launched today, the ‘Shaping the Future with Volunteering’ group of charities has identified key areas of opportunity for volunteering including supporting COVID recovery; building volunteers’ own wellbeing and working with diverse communities.

The group of 18 charities will focus together on 4 strategic priorities:

1. Understanding: Promoting better understanding and celebrating the power of volunteering.
2. Inclusion - Sharing a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, learning from the best examples of volunteer engagement across diverse demographics, geographies and cultures.
3. Support - Learning more about valuing volunteers and how they can be better supported and making sure systems are accessible to everyone.
4. Partnerships - Working with other volunteer involving organisations of all shapes and sizes, learning from each other and working closely with government, business and other agencies.

Whilst some volunteering roles were reduced or put on hold over the past year, others – such as mutual aid programmes – have emerged as key contributors, supporting neighbours and local communities. Over the past year more than 12 million volunteers have contributed to the wellbeing of people in every city, town, village and community. All the charities in the Group will be recognising this amazing contribution by joining in Thank You Day on Sunday July 4.

The full list of the 18 charities involved in the ‘Shaping the future with volunteering’ group are:

British Red Cross ; Cats Protection; Girlguiding; Helpforce; NCT; NSPCC; National Trust; Papworth Trust; Rotary; RNLI; Royal Voluntary Service; Samaritans; Scouts; St John Ambulance; Stroke Association; The Conservation Volunteers; Volunteering Matters; YHA

ENDS

For more information contact Mel Garfield at Royal Voluntary Service on 07834 653353 or media@royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk