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International Volunteer Managers Day (IVMDay) was founded and observed for the first time in 1999. It is celebrated every year on November the 5th. This year, it is in its 20th year, and is under the theme “Change the Tune!” to reflect the frustrations experienced in the sector and giving a chance for us to differently about how volunteer leadership is positioned – in the hope that we can change the dialogue. Read more about it here.
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September’s Volunteer Coordinator Forum was in a very...
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Over the last few months, I’ve had the pleasure of working together with Skill Givers – a project that aims to harness the power of employer supported volunteers and connect them up with sports clubs and community groups in Manchester and Salford. Skill Givers is funded by Sport England and has a specific focus on working with groups that help people get physically active; from local sports clubs and community centres that host activities...
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I’ve been involved in Greater Manchester Social Value Network since its beginning in 2015. I have been to dozens of meetings about social value, run many workshops, attended a fair few conferences and, despite the efforts of the network and other social value organisations, there is still a lot of basic misunderstanding about some aspects of a social value approach. One of the mistakes I come across frequently is the confusion of social value with “additional” or “on-top” value and that’s what this blog is about.
This idea of additional value is particularly attractive in...
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I’ve been wondering what else we could do to encourage the voices of leaders of charities, voluntary organisations and community groups around Brexit. My impression is that charity sector leaders would certainly want to speak up but are unsure how to go about it in the right way. Is Brexit simply too difficult for us to talk about?
Brexit is a political issue. That’s not something charities need be afraid of – our work is fundamentally a political act and a strong campaigning voice is essential in driving change - but Brexit has become a party political issue and...
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I read an article recently that suggested that one of the ways employer supported volunteering could be more successful, is for the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, to engage better with the trends of corporate social responsibility managers within businesses.
I don't agree.
ESV has been around for many years and the most regular comments I receive from employers’ is: “not many people use the days offered” and from the VCSE sector: “the support offered, isn't the kind of support we need.”...
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I started writing something shortly after the new Prime Minister has made his first speech on the steps of Downing Street. Another premiership set to be dominated by Brexit. It has paralysed national policy and politics for the last 3 years and it looks like this is set to continue for the foreseeable future...but the phrase which is ringing in my ears from the speech is “the doubters, the doomsters, the gloomsters”. I suspect many politicians would put charities and campaigners in those categories.
I don’t think doubt is a bad thing. A bit of healthy scepticism is important - as is...
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At meetings where people from statutory organisations are extolling the virtues and importance of the VCSE sector, I quite often feel like saying “SHOW ME THE MONEY” over and over again, just like Cuba Gooding Junior says at an increasing volume to a confused Tom Cruise in the film Jerry Maguire. He doesn’t want warm words - he wants cold cash. I can’t remember what happens after that but it all ends happily when he realises that the most important thing is love - “you had me at hello”. I love a happy ending.
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What a way to round up our volunteer stories for this years Volunteers week! Check out our last installment of volunteer stories (Including a volunteer video) highlighting the importance of celebrating volunteers and their contribution. Today we are sharing Lesley’s and Amruta’s stories and a video from the National Football Museum. We hope you enjoy :-)
Volunteer Name:
Lesley
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All this week we are sharing volunteer stories, highlighting the importance of celebrating volunteers and their contribution. Today we are sharing Helen's and Rita's stories:
Volunteer name: Helen
Age: 60
Where are...
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