Volunteers’ Week 2022

Next week marks the beginning of Volunteers’ Week 2022.

Volunteers’ Week is a chance to say thank you for the fantastic contribution volunteer make.  Follow this link for ideas on how to celebrate Volunteers’ Week in 2022 and use the hashtag #VolunteersWeek on social media.

‘Volunteering is for you’ film and resources

Use the ‘Volunteering is for you’ film and toolkit guidance to celebrate and thank your volunteers via social media.

Request a copy of the toolkit and films on the Resources For All page of our website.

Resources

To celebrate Volunteers’ Week WMMD has compiled a list of useful events, resources, reports and networks for anyone who may be responsible for managing volunteers, in either a paid or voluntary capacity.

• AIM Success Guides Successfully Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers
• Fair Museum Jobs Volunteer Checklist
• GEM has collated a suite of useful volunteering resources, including toolkits for recruitment and measuring impact, examples of volunteer handbooks, interesting reads and local networks.
• Heritage Volunteer Organisers Scotland (HVOS) Volunteer Organisers Toolkit
• Museums Worcestershire Volunteer Recruitment Toolkit
• National Lottery Heritage Fund Helpful guidance for managing and developing volunteering at your organisations
• NCVO Resources and research that will help you unlock the power of volunteering. They have compiled a list of resources relating to volunteering and the pandemic.
• South West Museum Development (SWMD), ‘Working with young volunteers – what to think about before you begin
• SWMD’s Rebuilding the Foundations: Gloucestershire’s Museums was a National Lottery Heritage funded project which focused on securing a future for museums that is engaged, relevant and sustainable. The project generated a range of useful resources including:
  • Volunteer recruitment cycle
  • Fitting it all together: An integrated approach to Volunteering, Safeguarding and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Roadmap
• Vision for Volunteering launched on 6 May 2022, asking ‘How does volunteering need to adapt by 2032?’
• Volunteers and the law: Volunteering England produced this guide on legal issues for volunteer managers, such as volunteers and employment rights, benefits and tax, safety and security, data protection and specific volunteering situations
• Volunteer Now contains a range of resources relating to volunteer management
• Recognising and Valuing Volunteers : Volunteer Scotland produced this quick guide on how to help show volunteers that you appreciate their input and commitment.

Networks

• Heritage Volunteering Group (HVG)
  HVG’s mission is to help you unlock the power of volunteering through collaboration and sharing best practice. The HVG website includes examples of case studies, research, links and resources. HVG is running informal catch ups, ask the expert sessions and masterclasses. Events are open to all members. Recordings of previous sessions are available to view on the HVG Youtube Channel. To sign up for updates please visit the HVG Better Impact page and log your details.
  Contact or follow HVG on Twitter @HeritageVols, join Heritage Volunteering Group on Facebook, or contact heritagevolunteeringgroup@gmail.com.
• Heritage Volunteering Group West Midlands
  The regional networking group covering Shropshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Black Country, Birmingham and Telford and Wrekin. The group is for anyone who works with volunteers in the heritage sector in the West Midlands. It meets quarterly to problem solve together, share best practice and learn from each other. To keep in the loop with all future meetings please email Becky Benson.

Volunteering and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

• HVG has compiled a list of online equality, diversity and inclusion resources for volunteering and volunteer management. If you have any resources that you would like to add to the list please contact Michelle Davies.
  HVG’s Youtube Channel, Diversity and Inclusion playlist includes recordings of HVG’s recent EDI Masterclass events.
• Mark Your Mark in Volunteering campaign aims to increase the number and diversity of heritage volunteers in Scotland. They’ve compiled a range of resources to help you create inclusive volunteering programmes. Make Your Mark – Heritage Volunteering for All
• Seven Principles to Ensure an Inclusive Recovery The principles have been developed by We Shall Not Be Removed in partnership with Ramps on the Moon, Attitude is Everything, Paraorchestra, and What Next? to create a new guide for the arts and entertainment sectors to support disability inclusion. Their Seven Inclusive Principles for Arts & Cultural Organisations working safely through Covid-19 is designed to complement the suite of guidance documents already issued by UK Governments and sector support organisations.  Find out more.
• Volunteer Scotland  Top tips for Inclusive Volunteering
• Volunteering for Everyone  A guide for organisations who want to include and recruit volunteers who have a learning disabilities, developed by Volunteering England and Mencap.