-OUR PROJECTS-
VOLUNTEER
CONNECTIONS
PROJECT MISSION
Through our Volunteer Connections project, we aim to increase the level of volunteering amongst small charities and voluntary organisations in South West Surrey to enable them to deliver their services more effectively.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
ONE-TO-ONE SUPPORT
We will provide one-to-one support to groups particularly short of volunteers, and needing training to use digital platforms to promote an organisation’s volunteering opportunities.
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR NETWORKS AND TRAINING
Our regular volunteer forums will connect volunteer coordinators who normally work in isolation, whilst training opportunities will aid recruitment and supervision of volunteers.
SUPPORTING MARGINALISED GROUPS
We aim to support organisation's in putting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policies into action to increase diversity in volunteering, which is not accessible to some minority groups.
DIVERSIFYING VOLUNTEER WORKFORCE
Our volunteer coordinators will provide targeted outreach to encourage volunteering in underrepresented groups, for example refugees and younger people.
WHO RUNS
VOLUNTEER
CONNECTIONS?
Volunteer Connections is run by Voluntary Action South West Surrey, which is the Council for Voluntary Service for Guildford and Waverley. Our membership, made up of voluntary and community groups, is in excess of 600 organisations. We run a Volunteer Centre which provides a volunteer recruitment service to over 400 organisations, as well as residents in Guildford and Waverley who can find out about volunteering roles and about the services provided by the voluntary sector.
Having an overview of the voluntary activity in our area means we can see where the gaps are and can help identify where groups could work together. Because we work with voluntary organisations, local authorities, local health services and individuals, and because we have run community projects and facilitated others in setting up new community groups, we are in a unique position of having experience of what services local people need, what is already being provided and where the gaps are. Our experience of working with individuals and supporting them into volunteering gives us an understanding of how to help groups become more effective with their volunteer recruitment.
Our Volunteer Connections Volunteer Coordinators will be responsible for the running of the service day-to-day, and are keen to engage with organisation and individuals that are interested in the service.
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Our Events
- Tue, 28 JanMicrosoft Teams28 Jan 2025, 12:30 – 13:00Microsoft TeamsCome along to discover how volunteering can help you! Our next session will feature Artventure and The Meath Epilepsy Charity.
- Thu, 30 JanGuildford30 Jan 2025, 10:00 – 14:00Guildford, Guildford, UKDo you want to attract more volunteers? This FREE beginner's guide to Better Impact will help you to manage your profile on our website and attract more volunteers. There will be plenty of "hands on" time, where you can update your listing and ask questions. A light lunch is provided afterwards.
As part of our project, we are proud to put on a mixture of events, aimed at engaging our local community organisations and potential volunteers. For example, our Lunch and Learn sessions are perfect opportunities to discover how volunteering could become a part of your life. We are pleased to have a variety of organisations join each event to explain more about the roles they have on offer. Please see the list of upcoming events being run by Volunteer Connections below.
Our Lunch and Learn sessions are perfect opportunities to discover how volunteering could become a part of your life. Please click the below for more information about these sessions.