The Foundations of Event Volunteering: what works and why it matters

The Foundations of Event Volunteering: what works and why it matters

Join Spirit of 2012 this Volunteers’ Week, as we explore our learnings around event volunteering – what needs to be in place, what works best, how could it work better?

Spirit has been funding volunteering projects across the UK for 12 years. We believe that events and volunteering have a crucial role to play in improving wellbeing for everyone. We’re invested in learning how volunteering programmes can be designed and developed effectively and inclusively. As we prepare to close down Spirit of 2012 by the end of 2025, we are actively sharing our insights through a series of events, along with the online knowledge bank that we are creating.

In 2023, we launched our Inquiry into the Power of Events. One of our five key recommendations was that events that use volunteers should have a clear strategy to boost longer-term community volunteering. This event will feature insights from two Spirit partners, as we launch their reports.

DHA Communications explored how events can strengthen the infrastructure around volunteering, by looking at how events have worked, or could have worked. Spirit commissioned them to examine several key events to assess what has happened so far and identify learnings for those planning events with volunteer programmes in the future. They will be joined on the day by representatives from event volunteering programmes, including the Hull City of Culture legacy programme and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games legacy programme.

Neighbourly Lab is Spirit’s learning partner for our Volunteering Cities funding programme. Volunteering Cities is comprised of four grants to enable four locations to strengthen their local volunteering infrastructure, building on the momentum from their UK City of Culture 2025 bid. Those locations are Bradford, Conwy, Great Yarmouth and East Suffolk, and Medway. Neighbourly Lab’s report brings together key learnings from the projects and presents the most significant learnings and interesting themes that have emerged from them.

This event takes place during Volunteers’ Week, which runs from 1-7 June. Volunteers’ Week is an annual UK-wide campaign to celebrate and recognise the contributions of volunteers. The campaign highlights the diversity and unity of volunteer work across the UK. Volunteers’ Week fosters connections between national organisations and grassroots groups, celebrating the spirit of volunteering that enriches communities each year.

We look forward to sharing an afternoon of reflection and celebration with you during this Volunteers’ Week!

Agenda:

· 1:00pm - Introduction from Spirit of 2012

Why we invest in volunteering and what we’ve learned

· 1:10pm - How can events strengthen volunteering infrastructure?
DHA Communications present their research into how events can strengthen the infrastructure around volunteering. Followed by a facilitated panel discussion and Q&A.

· 2:15pm - Break

· 2:35pm - Volunteer stories

From those who take part, in their own words

· 2:45pm - Insights from Volunteering Cities

Neighbourly Lab present findings from the Volunteering Cities grant programme. Followed by a facilitated panel discussion and Q&A.

· 3:45pm - What’s next for Volunteering?

A short, interactive session where we will identify ongoing challenges and opportunities for event volunteering.

· 3:55pm – Closing remarks