Volunteer Now

This free Inclusion in Volunteering training workshop is designed to equip leaders of volunteers with the knowledge and skills necessary to maximise volunteer engagement and streamline management processes. Participants will explore key concepts, best practices, and practical strategies for effectively managing volunteer programs. It is based on research carried out for Volunteer Now and Volunteer Ireland by Conor Scully of the School of Policy and Practice, DCU Institute of Education.

Join us for a practical session online with the Information Commissioner’s Office to look at data protection issues for volunteer-involving organisations. This course is aimed at developing the capacity and skills of individuals working/ volunteering in the Community/Voluntary Sector in Fermanagh and the West.

This session will develop the knowledge, skills and abilities of office bearers and trustee members, and help them to understand their roles and responsibilities as chair, secretary and treasurer. It will help them understand the importance of a clear decision-making process and succession planning, and the importance of working in partnership in order to build influence and ensure the voice of volunteers is heard.

When it comes to recruiting and retaining volunteers, demonstrating the contribution people can make to your cause is vital. In fact, having a good understanding of the contribution of volunteering to your organisation is essential if we want to secure funding, influence effectively and so much more. In this session we’ll explore the development of methods for measuring the contribution volunteers make to an organisation and society, how those methods work, their pros and cons, why you should measure volunteering and how to use the data you produce.

This free session will start with lunch at 12.30. About the session: As involvement in formal volunteering decreases and people seek more informal and flexible ways to contribute to their causes, charities need to adjust to this challenge. This requires a little disruptive and creative thinking, to reimagine involvement in the charities in new ways that are attractive to differing audiences. The session will explore the drivers for change, the potential advantages of a more flexible and diverse approach to volunteering and participation. It will encourage charity leaders to imagine whole new ways for people to contribute to their missions. We will explore micro-volunteering, coproduction and how to build communities of interest and boost lifetime value in participation. Chris Wade, Founder and Managing Director, Time for Impact. Chris has an extensive career in the charity sector that spans almost 25 years.

This is a half day’s refresher training for Designated Officers who have already attended a full day’s training. It covers: The role and responsibilities of the Designated Officer Health and Social Care Trusts structures and processes Issues and experiences around referrals and sharing information Recent developments in safeguarding children and young people.

This course is aimed at individuals who recruit, manage or supervise staff and volunteers working with children and/or adults. It will examine the procedures that need to be put in place for effective recruitment and selection of staff and volunteers including requirements under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order, the current and former definitions of regulated activity and how to exercise careful judgement when assessing information on an Access NI Disclosure Certificate. It will also look at the procedures required for the effective management of staff and volunteers including induction and training, breach of code of behaviour and referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service.