"Why did you have to call it CHAOTIC?!" Well, Rick, because it is. Welcome to The Dumball. "The orginal fancy dress festival on wheels." This is the most effective, volunteer-led, chaotic fundraising vehicle I know. I've met a few volunteer-led organisations, and raising a million pounds over ten years isn't bad eh?! But it is … Continue reading Volunteering – Dumball Style…
Category: Blog
Coerced volunteering, or mandatory work placements under threat of sanctions - which do so much to erode strong supportive volunteering cultures - have been making the news again with a study showing that sanctions do nothing to get people into better work, or better health. (It's already been proved that good, unsanctioned volunteering placements DO … Continue reading Cajoled vs. Coerced. Cajoled Wins.
If you've joined me for training around Volunteers and the Law in the last couple of years, you'll possibly remember a discussion around where exactly Asylum Seekers are allowed to volunteer. You may remember me explaining the odd nature of the law - only in a charity, nothing public sector, no NHS. "But what about … Continue reading Who Can Volunteer?
Sometimes low-tech is the way to go. Despite a bit of hi-tech with volunteer management online workshops, it turns out I only need one little image to make the most important recruitment point. Welcome, CUTE BOMB! I've heard people say various things about volunteer recruitment while training and advising.. “We don’t have time for volunteers … Continue reading All you Need to Know About Volunteer Recruitment in One Image
I have a picture on my pinboard above my desk. An image of two Palestinian young women smiling broadly at the camera. "This is how we fight - " it says, and they describe how they laugh every time they are stopped at checkpoint. Laughter is the daily weapon they use in the face of … Continue reading “This is how we fight”
This was originally posted as a Thoughtful Thursdays blog post back in 2013... It's still relevant! Welcome back ##ttvolmgrs, i look forward to those warm fuzzy feelings of connection Being in charge of a child teaches you a lot about what’s achievable - and what you as a person want to achieve. I don’t think … Continue reading Teach Them Well… Kids and Volunteering
Volunteers, and statutory services. It's a tricky area. But then so are statutory services these days. This is nothing new of course. For example, we are a small island, and our lifeboat service is not statutory. It's staffed entirely by volunteers, and funded only by donations. This is the same situation for our crucial air … Continue reading Can volunteers save the NHS?
"I have been in Calais the jungle and it was one of the most difficult times I have ever lived in. I have stayed in the forest for nearly a year and a half. I have enjoyed the most beautiful friends in my life. They devoted their time to us and did everything they could … Continue reading You WILL be useful…
My podcast with the @workhubs Cafe Garage Project - "So how do we organise a group of people, without telling them what to do, make it inspirational, have them showing up at the right time... it's got to be like a fun engageing community project?" Here's how I answered!
Are you wondering about the stories and the people behind the migration headlines? This is a Supper Club with a twist. Great global food with global stories thrown in too. "I think he’s quite isolated... your welcome came along just at the right time." Through a broken phone conversation, one of our volunteers had told … Continue reading Stories and Supper