Conference brings together key volunteering voices

A free conference on June 1 brings together key voices across the charity sector to share how organisations can overcome barriers to volunteering and give proper recognition to the positive impact of volunteers.

The event draws together two years reviewing the roles of volunteers and the support they are offered, and the findings of regional Policy Action Community Teams (PACTs) charged with finding the best ways to target people who are under represented in volunteer roles.

Recognising and maximising the potential of volunteers makes good business sense and this conference will show organisations how and why.

Led by the Network of National Volunteer Involving Agencies (NNVIA), experts from Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and Volunteering England will address the audience of charity directors and senior staff about the findings of governance PACTs.

NNVIA consists of 46 national volunteer involving organisations including RNIB, CSV, Age UK, Barnardo's, The Prince's Trust and The National Trust, which together mobilise over a million volunteers and influence policy on volunteer status and diversity within organisations.

The conference, chaired by Joe Montgomery, director general of Communities and Local Government, is funded by Capacitybuilders as part of the National Support Services Volunteering workstream.

Speakers include Dame Elisabeth Hoodless DBE, executive director, CSV and chair of NNVIA and Dr Justin Davis Smith, chief executive, Volunteering England.

Dame Elisabeth Hoodless, executive director of CSV and chair of NNVIA, said: "Volunteers should be welcomed as peers and colleagues. Boards should regularly invite volunteer organisers to report on impact, numbers and savings delivered by volunteers and include them in their annual reports.

"Volunteers are an untapped wealth of enthusiasm and entrepreneurialism and can extend the organisation's reach. Board members should walk in the shoes of volunteers, test the involvement process, and identify more opportunities for volunteers."

To attend this free event contact Zumara Khan at CSV: zkhan@csv.org.uk or telephone 0207 643 1324.