Selfridges’ Post

🎅 12 Days of Kindness and Gratitude Challenge: Day 9 🎅 As we continue spreading kindness and gratitude, today focuses on giving back to our community and supporting those in need. Day 9: Volunteer Your Time for a Community Event Volunteering not only positively impacts others but also enriches our lives through the experience of helping those in need. This Sunday, I will be out collecting donations for Age UK South Gloucestershire’s Heat or Eat appeal, a cause that is particularly close to my heart as a trustee. About the Heat or Eat Appeal: Age UK South Gloucestershire’s Heat or Eat appeal aims to support older adults who are facing difficult choices between heating their homes and having enough to eat. This vital campaign helps provide essential resources so that our elderly can have a warm and nourishing holiday season. **Why This Matters:** - Support Our Elders: Many older adults are struggling with basic needs, and community support can make a significant difference in their lives. - Create Community Bonds: Volunteering creates stronger community connections and a sense of solidarity. - Spread Kindness: Your time and efforts can bring warmth, comfort, and joy to those who need it the most during the festive season. - Check in on your elderly neighbours to make sure they are okay; it makes all the difference. How to Participate: 1️⃣ Find a local charity or community event where you can volunteer your time. 2️⃣ Engage in the activity and make a positive impact. 3️⃣ Share a picture or a short story about your experience in the comments. Join Us: If you're in South Gloucestershire, I invite you to join me this Sunday in supporting the Heat or Eat appeal. You will find me and others at the Asda store in Filton. Together, we can ensure that our elderly community members have a warm and joyful holiday season. 🌟 Engagement Incentive: Remember, the most inspiring and consistent participant across all 12 days will receive an exclusive TalkHR Club membership for 2025! Let’s spread positivity and create an encouraging work culture. Through acts of volunteering and community support, we can make a tangible difference. Let’s step up and spread the warmth and kindness this festive season. #CollaborationOverCompetition #Gratitude #Kindness #12DaysOfChristmas #HRConsultancy #HRConsulting #Challenge #Volunteer #HeatOrEat #AgeUKSG #SouthGloucestershire

VSC Awarded Grant for Volunteering for Health Programme We are excited to share that Bexley Voluntary Service Council (BVSC) has been awarded a grant as part of the £10 million Volunteering for Health Programme. This initiative, in partnership with NHS England, NHS Charities Together, and CW+, aims to harness the power of volunteering to enhance health and social care services both nationally and locally. BVSC is one of 15 partnerships across the UK selected for this funding. Our efforts will focus on co-designing pathways, building a robust volunteering infrastructure, and offering diverse volunteering opportunities. We are committed to making volunteering accessible and inclusive, particularly for underrepresented groups, to help reduce health inequalities. Duncan Burton, Chief Nursing Officer for England, stated: "Volunteers, as partners with our skilled staff, make a significant contribution across NHS and care services and positively impact the lives of many people. This programme will further harness the power of volunteering for the benefit of patients, staff, and communities." For the full press release, please visit our website.https://https://lnkd.in/dZvzfX9Q The grant will be distributed over the next three years, with the programme set to begin by March 2025. For more information on how to become an NHS volunteer, visit https://lnkd.in/eBc6hnS8. #BVSC #VolunteeringForHealth #NHSVolunteering #CommunityCare #HealthEquity

Geng Wang returns to the SnapCast. Geng Wang is the CEO and Cofounder of Civic Champs. We celebrate the return of Volunteering. Among the many things we discuss: * Despite popular belief based on the census (old data from 2021), #volunteerism is back and appears to be above pre pandemic levels.  * Multiple data points show this including Civic Champs data (both actual anonymized data from our customers but also surveys we have conducted), Volunteermatch data, and also Google search trends. * In addition with individual #giving continuing to go down, this gives organizations a great additional reason to lean into building up their volunteer programs.  * #Volunteering is the number signal for affinity or the willingness to donate https://lnkd.in/ecU4EkH4

The election (rightly) overshadowed the release of some mixed news about giving and volunteering trends. According to Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy's latest Giving Environment report, the charitable giving rate continued to drop, to 46.9%, and at a faster rate than it had before the pandemic ("the pandemic likely accelerated the existing downward trajectory in charitable giving rates," it notes), w/ a sharper decline in secular giving and among frequent donors. There was a continuation as well of the "dollars up, donors down" dynamics, so aggregate charitable dollars rose slightly. The report highlights some pretty wild variation in declines in giving rates btw the states, from drops of 3% to 73% (!). On the other hand, the latest survey from the U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps shows that volunteering rates have rebounded a bit after their sharp declines during the early pandemic, increasing by 5% btw 2021-2023. So that's good. Links to reports below: https://lnkd.in/d5FBqp6E https://lnkd.in/d7rRtcku

The average volunteer donates almost 50 hours of their time annually, making a significant contribution to the causes they support. Interestingly, statistics show that 64% of volunteers are women. Are you targeting the right audience with your volunteer recruitment efforts? 💡 WNN Tip: Diversify your outreach by promoting volunteer opportunities through community events, social media platforms, and local volunteer boards. Highlight the variety of volunteer roles available to attract a wider pool of individuals with different skills and interests. Consider offering flexible volunteer schedules to accommodate busy lifestyles. #WhatNextNonprofit #BuildingSustainableNonprofit #Volunteering

'How ambulance volunteers are playing their part' As THE ASSOCIATION OF AMBULANCE CHIEF EXECUTIVES progress to the next stage of the national volunteering strategy, Joseph Crook FCMI CMgr, National Ambulance Volunteer Lead takes a moment to reflect on the importance of volunteers and the progress made over the last year. Read the full article here: https://hubs.la/Q02JlC9N0 #EST #EmergencyServicesTimes

I did my first volunteering role around Christmas. I am not alone in thinking about volunteering around the festive period 🎄🎅🏻 We notice a decent increase in applicants around this time, as you can see from the below chart. As a charity or any organisation managing volunteers, it is worth redoubling your efforts around this time. Make sure you are as visible as ever because people are looking. Ask volunteers to tell their friends. Perhaps offer low effort entry points to volunteer on a more one off basis. Make is as easy as possible to come and help out. For many, they may dip their toe into volunteering around this time and catch the bug. At Volunteero we offer a recruitment element as part of our service. Our clients can post to our exclusive volunteering marketplace. This is on top of our market leading volunteer management platform. Our app is #1 on the App and Play Store... This is the way we believe people will find volunteering in future. If you'd like help with recruitment or volunteer management. Get in touch and learn more about what Volunteero can do for you. #volunteermanagement #volunteerrecruitment #charitydigital #volunteering

Volunteers strengthen communities. For many, the feeling of coming together in the spirit of generosity with a shared mission in mind makes for a powerful experience. It’s sad to read that the number of Americans who volunteer is declining, which is why it’s so important for organizations that rely on volunteers to celebrate them—and entice past volunteers to come back to the work. In honor of #NationalVolunteerWeek, here are a few tips for celebrating and engaging with your volunteers: 1️⃣ Host a Volunteer Appreciation Event: Whether it's a virtual gathering or a formal award ceremony, be sure to show your gratitude and appreciation for their contributions. 2️⃣ Share Their Stories: Highlight the impact of volunteering by showcasing the stories of your volunteers through social media, newsletters, or your organization's website. Inspiring others through these stories can motivate both current and prospective volunteers to get involved, while also serving as ambassadors for your organization. 3️⃣ Foster a Sense of Belonging: Creating a supportive and inclusive environment where volunteers feel valued, respected, and connected to the organization's mission is key. Encourage collaboration, communication, and teamwork among volunteers to cultivate a strong sense of community and belonging. 4️⃣ Express Gratitude Year-Round: While Volunteer Appreciation Month (April) is a great time to express gratitude, be sure to show appreciation throughout the year. Send handwritten thank-you notes and regularly express your gratitude for their ongoing dedication and support. 5️⃣ Reconnect and Reengage: Reach out to past volunteers and reconnect with them. Invite them to participate in special events, projects, or initiatives that align with their interests and skills. By re-engaging former volunteers, you not only strengthen your volunteer base but also reignite their passion for nonprofit work. How does your nonprofit organization show appreciation for its volunteers? #VolunteerAppreciationMonth #CommunityImpact

Sharing nonprofit learning and innovation 💡🤝 One of the Vision for Volunteering’s key themes is Equity and Inclusion: a future where it’s easy for people to give their time and energy to the causes they care about, they feel welcomed, and the benefits are equally distributed.  On this theme, I’m excited to share Volunteer Scotland's Inclusion Top Tips, a collection of resources created in collaboration with the National Inclusion in Volunteering Group. These free-to-download PDFs (12 in total) offer concise, practical guidance on making volunteering accessible for all. They cover areas such as supporting disabled volunteers, refugees, older volunteers, women from diverse backgrounds, those with mental health or wellbeing needs, and more! Each guide is packed with actionable advice and includes signposting for further learning. Check them out here: https://lnkd.in/dnbBPiNX I hope you find these resources useful on your EDI journey! Please share this post with any nonprofit colleagues who might also benefit. #NonprofitLearning #InclusiveVolunteering #VolunteeringResources #FreeResources ---    I’m passionate about sharing innovative approaches to volunteering!    There’s so much incredible work happening in the nonprofit sector – by learning from each other, we can utilise our precious time and energy more efficiently.    Guided by the Vision for Volunteering's five key themes, I hope these real-life stories and practical resources will help to streamline your nonprofit’s efforts and amplify your impact.

Unlocking the Power of Volunteering: A Game-Changer for Our NHS 🌟 🏥 We are excited to share key insights from our ground-breaking report, "Unlocking the power of volunteering to support our NHS", recently launched at a reception at the House of Commons. The findings are clear: volunteering is a powerful force for positive change in our healthcare system. Key highlights: ✔️87% of hospital staff agree volunteers improve service quality ✔️Patient confidence in managing their health rose from 59% to 76% with community support ✔️Volunteers help patients leave hospital up to 3 hours earlier At Helpforce, we're calling for a step-change in integrating volunteering into health and care. Volunteers are crucial in: ✅ Bringing care closer to home ✅ Reducing waiting lists ✅ Boosting hospital productivity ✅ Re-engaging staff ✅ Empowering patients It's time for NHS leaders and local authorities to recognise the immense potential of volunteering in the 10-year plan. Mark Fisher, Kevin Lavery, Roger Gough, Stephanie Elsy, Amanda Pritchard, Mark Lever OBE, Melissa G., Sara Miles, Paddy Hanrahan 🔗 Download the full report: https://lnkd.in/ep6dbXJg Let's work together to transform our NHS. Share these insights with your local NHS and VCSE leaders, and let's unlock the power of volunteering! #NHSVolunteering #HealthcareInnovation #CommunitySupport #IntegratedCare