Vision for Volunteering launches!

What does the future of volunteering look like? From diversity to collaboration, to creating a better volunteering environment for all participants, the Vision for Volunteering sets out a vision to develop the sector over the next 10 years - and local infrastructure is at the heart of this.

During the first year of the pandemic, 12.4 million people volunteered regularly, many for the first time, and volunteering and social action became more prominent in society. It’s clear that there is a renewed interest in volunteering - the question is, what will we do with it in order to build upon and improve the impact that volunteers are already making in this country?

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In order to develop the Vision, we worked with NCVO, Volunteering Matters, the Association of Volunteer Managers and Sport England, and heard from more than 350 people from more than 300 organisations during 2021 and 2022. Now, the Vision for Volunteering sets out a view of what volunteering needs look like, and how this will make volunteers feel about their roles, by 2032. We are proud to be part of the movement to create a diverse, innovative, ambitious and person-centred future for volunteering.

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Volunteering is an essential function of local infrastructure, and therefore the Vision for Volunteering should complement and influence the work of all NAVCA members in some way. We know that local infrastructure organisations (LIOs) are best placed to encourage and nurture volunteering.

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Our members work collaboratively to create and promote the conditions for volunteering, as well as breaking down systemic barriers which prevent people from playing a more active role in their communities. LIOs drive the development of good practice, whether with organisations which need volunteers, or organisations that want to support their people to volunteer. On an operational level, LIOs deliver brokerage, connecting people and opportunities, and support individuals to become involved in volunteering.

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Our members support around 200,000 local charities and community groups across England. Through our membership, the influence that the Vision for Volunteering can have is huge! We're looking forward to working with our members and the wider VCS to bring the Vision to life.

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To read the full Vision, and submit your own commitment to volunteering, go to the website: https://www.visionforvolunteering.org.uk/.