Volunteering Matters

It is Trustees Week and we are celebrating the incredible people who guide and support charities like ours to thrive. We are proud of our amazing Trustees at Volunteering Matters. To mark the week, we are launching a search for new Trustees to join our Board. Zara Todd, one of our current Trustees says it best: “Trustees come in all different shapes and sizes. One of the most important things about being a trustee is caring about the organisation. It doesn't matter if you have been a Trustee before or not.” Passionate about social change? Know someone who would be a great fit? We would love to hear from you. Find out more and apply > https://lnkd.in/eZabsgjj #TrusteesWeek #TrusteesWeek2025

#iWill Week is coming (17 - 21 November) and we are proud to stand with young people leading change. As a delivery partner of the #iWill Movement, we know that when young people take action, communities thrive. This year, we are asking: what do you stand for? In a time of rising inequality, climate crisis and misinformation, youth social action is not just powerful, it is essential. Young people are not waiting for change, they are creating it. Throughout November, we are celebrating youth social action and running a series of hackathons across Suffolk to amplify youth voice and co-create local solutions. Join us and ask yourself: #WhatDoYouStandFor. Find out more and get involved > www.iwill.org.uk #iWillWeek #PowerOfYouth

We’re so proud of our Family Mentors Team! We’re delighted to share that we’ve received the High Sheriff of Essex Award for Valuable Services to the Community in Southend. This recognition means so much to us. It celebrates the care, commitment and everyday kindness we bring to families in our community. We work alongside parents to build confidence, strengthen relationships and create brighter futures for their children. It’s a real honour to have that work recognised. We couldn’t be prouder of everything we’ve achieved together. Find out more about the power of mentoring > https://lnkd.in/e5S9d9d7

To mark the launch of our new strategy, we’re celebrating a volunteer whose journey brings it to life. For over 25 years, Colin has supported communities at every level, from one to one connection to national leadership. His story shows the true power of the volunteering ecosystem. “It’s about making sure no one feels forgotten or left behind.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/ewzGHaEw #Volunteering #PowerOfVolunteering #SocialAction

Yesterday 19 amazing volunteers from National Grid transformed a small village school’s 'Forest School area'. We were lucky enough to join them. With no caretaker, the school relies on teachers, governors and parents to maintain the space. In just one day, this brilliant team achieved more than the school could have managed in a year. Not only did they roll up their sleeves, they also donated every tool they used so parents can keep the momentum going. They left with muddy boots, big smiles, a handmade thank you card, the school tea towel and a heartfelt performance of the school song. Find out more about employee volunteering with us at Volunteering Matters at https://lnkd.in/eyuWmgbi #CommunityAction #PowerOfVolunteering

We've launched our new strategy for 2025–2030! It marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Volunteering Matters. In our latest blog, Amanda Naylor OBE, Chief Executive, shares what this means for us all. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eJZrcXP9 “At its heart, our strategy is rooted in social justice, grounded in communities, powered by volunteers and focused on meaningful and measurable change.” #PowerOfVolunteering #SocialAction

Today marks a milestone for Volunteering Matters. After nearly a year of deep listening, collaboration, testing and refining, we are proud to launch our new five-year strategy. This is more than the unveiling of a document. It’s the start of a new chapter — in how we work together, how we lead change, and how we create the future we want to see. It’s been a journey shaped by hundreds of voices — volunteers, staff, beneficiaries, partners, commissioners and communities. Hearing our staff and volunteers speak about their work with such pride, and our partners describe us as collaborative, kind and rooted in social justice, has been incredible. I hope we’ve done justice to our founders and all those who came after them. Our strategy is grounded in reality, inspired by hope, and built on a shared belief that volunteering transforms lives and communities. We know the challenges are real — funding pressures, structural inequalities, loneliness, declining trust and the cost of living crisis all shape the landscape we operate in. But so too does the power we hold when we act together with purpose and intent. At its heart, our strategy is: • Rooted in social justice • Grounded in communities • Powered by volunteers • Focused on meaningful, measurable change We’ve defined five clear Areas of Change we want to see: 1️⃣ Tackling loneliness 2️⃣ Improving health and wellbeing 3️⃣ Breaking down barriers to participation 4️⃣ Equipping and enabling communities 5️⃣ Creating social cohesion We’ve also redefined what it means to be part of our volunteer ecosystem — from one-off roles and flexible opportunities, to deep relationships, skilled volunteering, leading change and shaping systems. Every contribution matters. This strategy won’t sit on a shelf. It will shape the decisions we make, the funding we seek, the partnerships we build and the culture we create. From new team plans and shared objectives to a national CRM system and updated inclusion policies — the work ahead is already underway. We know the road won’t always be easy. But we also know this: we are already making a difference. We’re growing our volunteer base year on year, bucking national trends. We’re delivering impact in places others overlook. And we’re doing it with compassion, creativity and care. 💚 Thank you to everyone who contributed to this strategy, and to everyone who makes Volunteering Matters what it is — every day. This is the beginning. Together, we’ll shape what comes next. #VolunteeringMatters #StrategyLaunch #SocialJustice #CommunityPower #Volunteering #Leadership #TogetherWeCan

Today marks a milestone for Volunteering Matters. After a year of listening testing and collaboration we are proud to launch our new five year strategy. This is more than a document. It is the start of a bold new chapter in how we lead change work together and build a fairer society through volunteering. Shaped by volunteers staff partners and communities the strategy is rooted in social justice grounded in place and powered by people. Thank you to everyone who helped shape it. We cannot wait to create what comes next. Find out more at https://lnkd.in/ezq3GqAM

We’re proud to see #iWill Ambassadors Mama and Folusho join the Volunteering Matters team at the Conference of International NGOs (CINGO) in Strasbourg this week, representing UK civil society. At the BRIDGE Summit today, co-hosted with Volonteurope they gave a powerful keynote speech. They spoke about the importance of youth leadership in our democracies and communities. They also highlighted why it is essential to make sure young people from marginalised and minoritised communities are fairly included and represented. Thank you to Mama and Folusho for your leadership and for speaking up so clearly and confidently on behalf of young people everywhere. #PowerOfYouth #SocialAction