Volunteer Managers Forum Summary (9th July 2025)
- lewishallwcvs
- 5 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Discussing how the Forum operates, "VolFest", improving collaboration and more...
There was a great turn out at Wirral Change for the Volunteer Managers Forum, with a mix of new and old faces coming together. The discussions were really positive, with a real sense of willingness to collaborate and ensure the value of volunteering on the Wirral is recognised and appreciated.
Highlight - Race Equality Hub
Brodie and Emmy came along and spoke about the Race Equity Hub’s work to create an anti-racism strategy across Liverpool City Region, which will be launched in March 2026.
There are two workshops that they can deliver– one for BAME members of the community, one for white members of the community. The workshops are light touch in nature and help to drill down into what an integrated community could look like. There is a creative aspect to the workshops that helps a lot of people feel free to talk openly and honestly about their experience and opinions.
As part of the strategy, they would like to understand how narratives of division have permeated into white communities. They want to engage with white working-class communities and are keen to meet people who hold stereotypes so these people can hear stories to challenge these stereotypes.
Brodie and Emmy gave out contact cards and asked if any organisations would be happy to work with them to get in contact. They are hoping to run some workshops in community buildings across the Wirral.
You can visit their website below:
What people would like from the Forum
Jen and Emma are new to post, so took the opportunity to talk about the benefits of the Volunteer Managers Forum and discuss its purpose going forward.
There was a general agreement that the forum could provide a great opportunity for managers to talk to each other in a safe space, benefit from peer support and networking so that they can learn from other’s experience.
We had some great suggestions from the group for specific themes and topics that the forum could discuss and how these discussions could provide a Volunteering standard for the Wirral, so that volunteers know they have the same quality experience wherever they go.
It was agreed that the best plan for the meeting would be to dedicate the first half of the meeting for networking, sharing experiences and peer-to-peer support. The second half would have a topic or theme for discussion. Managers would know the theme in advance and be able to bring along any relevant good practice or capture opinions from their volunteers or colleagues to help inform the conversation.
Suggested topics were:
Volunteer Recruitment
Volunteer Induction training
Ongoing Volunteer training
Supporting Volunteers / managing difficult conversations
The Volunteer Portal
Sharing volunteers across organisations (including boundaries and confidentiality)
Volunteering policies
Creating a Wirral Volunteering Quality Standard
Celebrating volunteering
There was a great discussion around celebrating volunteering! Following on from the conversation at the previous meeting, the group discussed how the VCFSE sector could hold a volunteer celebration event. It was decided that this was probably a separate event to anything around recruitment with DWP, but that it may also attract new volunteers as added value.
Lots of ideas were discussed, including long service awards and award categories with nominations. The group suggested that a more generalised celebration event might be a good starting point when co-ordinating the event for the first year and would enable everyone to say thank you to volunteers no matter what their role or length of service. WCVS has a budget to cover an event if it takes place in February 2026.
The group felt this should be something planned separately to the forum but involving volunteer managers, and feeding any progress made back into the forum. The Volunteer Managers WhatsApp group was also mentioned as a great place to find out opinions of a wider audience.
Portal usage
The portal has mixed use within the different organisations. Some Forum members had looked at the tutorial videos but felt they didn’t cover everything. For example, what happens if you “approve” or “decline” a new volunteer? Do you have to message the individual, or do they find out through the portal?
The group would welcome someone from Team Kinetic attending the Forum at a future meeting to do a live demonstration and troubleshoot some particular issues.
Improving networking
Everyone was keen that there was the chance to get to know other volunteer managers and their services.
Two suggestions to aid networking were put forward:
Everyone to bring their leaflet to the next meeting for others to take.
Create a networking directory with photos of managers and a brief description of their organisation, and that this could be pinned to the top of the Volunteer Managers WhatsApp group for easy reference.
Takeaway actions
Jen and Emma will:
Add Terry, Gary and Lawan to the WhatsApp group.
Use the WhatsApp group to decide on themes for each meeting.
Pull together some ideas for “VolFest”.
Invite staff from Team Kinetic to a future meeting for a Portal demonstration and troubleshooting session.
The Volunteer Managers will:
Look at VolFest ideas with their volunteers to see what they would like - and provide feedback.
Write a short summary of their organisations and volunteer roles that could go in the WhatsApp document.
Consider the topics suggested for future meetings and help decide on priorities.
Bring their organisations leaflet to the next meeting for a leaflet exchange.
Book in with Jen or Emma for individual visits to their organisation to discuss their volunteering needs and support that could be provided to them as volunteer managers.
The next Volunteer Managers Forum is on Tuesday 9th September at Make Hamilton (69-71 Argyle Street, Birkenhead, CH41 6LQ). RSVP at the link below to join us for more handy discussions and co-production of the Portal, "VolFest" and the Vision for Volunteering!
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