Many volunteer roles involve more than simply giving time. Whether volunteers are befriending someone who is lonely, delivering food parcels, supporting families in crisis or living with complex needs, these experiences can have an emotional impact.
Sometimes volunteers leave wishing they could do more, feeling guilty that they have to leave, or carrying the stories they have heard long after their volunteering has ended. As volunteer managers, how can we best support them?
This Volunteer Managers' Forum will explore how charities can help volunteers build resilience, process emotionally challenging experiences and continue volunteering in a healthy, sustainable way.
We'll hear from volunteer managers, like Fran Horwich from the AJR, who have developed support systems for volunteers in emotional roles, sharing what has worked well, the challenges they've faced and the practical approaches they've introduced. There will also be plenty of opportunity for participants to share their own experiences, ask questions and learn from one another.
Whether you already have a well-established volunteer support programme or are beginning to think about how best to support volunteers in these roles, this session will provide practical ideas, fresh perspectives and an opportunity to learn alongside colleagues from across the sector.
