Have you taken any Volunteer Management Training? Why did you take it? What did you think of it?

FreshMinds, an independent research consultancy, is currently conducting research for the London Development Agency to try and understand how volunteer managers in London are accessing training at the moment, what training is available and how it might improve in the future.

We are looking to speak to anybody who has, is or will be doing some kind of Volunteer Management Training IN THE LONDON AREA.

We would love to call you and have a short 10 min chat, but equally any email responses will also be a great help in understanding the VMT landscape from those who are actively involved in it.

Daily Telegraph recently (03-05-2008) published a long article on volunteering and the National Trust. It's well worth a read, covering lots of different roles and issues in volunteer management. Here's a quote from one of the volunteers, Darcy, who's interviewed in the article: 

 "Volunteering doesn't feel like a burden," he says. "You do what you can, and it is an enjoyable experience. We're a small team, we're friends."

The Institute for Volunteering Research has published the first piece of major research into volunteer management capacity 'Management matters - a national survey of volunteer management capacity'

Here below is the recent mention in Parliament of the amendment proposed to include childcare costs as reasonable expenses which don't trigger the minimum wage legislation. Hooray :-)

As part of the the Guardian's 'What else can I do' this week they are looking at 'Mike' who is a Volunteer Officer earning £21,400 http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/02/14

1. Mike might move into management, employed by a district or borough-wide council for voluntary services, taking responsibility for the volunteer development team and its budget. The role brings new challenges, more responsibility and takes him up the career ladder. He would earn around £27,594.

It was interesting to see the BBC's 'Politics Show' covering volunteering yesterday. The main programme featured a report by Baroness Julia Neuberger talking about the benefits of volunteering. It spelt out a lot of what was contained in the report by the Commission on the Future of Volunteering chaired by the Baroness. You can read a written article on this video report here.

As part of the region section of the Politics Show a number of different video reports were broadcast in different areas. Including the following:

• campaign and speak out on issues that are key to people who manage volunteers;
• facilitate and support effective peer-to-peer networking of those involved in volunteer management locally, regionally and nationally; and
• develop information and good practice resources on volunteer management.

Last week on Woman's Hour the discussion 'Are Baby Boomers Backing Out?' was:

"The number of people over the age of 55 who do voluntary work is falling. It seems the baby boomer generation would rather spend time travelling or shopping than helping out at a local school or charity. The findings in a new report are described as 'worrying' – the over 55's and women in particular have been seen as the bulwarks of the voluntary sector. The government has spent millions of pounds encouraging them to do more. So why are they going off the idea of helping out, while at the same time the number of younger people offering to do their bit is going up?"

Joe Saxton, founder of nfpSynergy, a specialist research consultancy for not for profit organisations and Dame Elisabeth Hoodless, Executive Director of Community Service Volunteers (CSV) were on the programme discussing the issue.

You can find the report from nfpSynergy 'Who Volunteers? Volunteering trends 2000-2007' here.

The Association of Volunteer Managers is an independent body that aims to support, represent and champion people who manage volunteers in England regardless of field, discipline or sector. It was set up by and for people who manage and involve volunteers in the work of their organisations. 

The Association of Volunteer Managers works to: