I attended the AVM Annual Conference yesterday. I initially went fully expecting to find it a waste of time and hoping to be on an early train home. In fact, the night before, I had even decided not to bother going at all. It was only due to some gentle encouragement (and a self-esteem boost) that I decided to go at all.

And you know what?  I’m really glad I did.

Over the past 6 months I had become so disillusioned with Volunteer Management as a career that I was ready to give up on it. I felt, as do a lot of Volunteer Managers, unsupported.  That I wasn’t listened to, that my skills were not appreciated and that I didn’t have a voice.

Now don’t get me wrong ; this is NOT a whinge fest going on here. I am passionate about Volunteering and about good Volunteer Management, but I had reached the end of my tether and had decided to move on for my own sanity.

But I found that at the AVM Conference, I had a voice. I found that EVERYTHING was relevant. And it drew me back in.

As a profession, we NEED the Association for Volunteer Managers. We need a collective voice and the hope that by using this collective voice, we can make a difference.

But as the theme for the day made very clear; if we want change, we have to do something about it.

I don’t have any special qualifications in Volunteer Management. I’ve never managed hundreds of Volunteers and never had a budget that I could actually do anything with. But I do have an opinion. And as a first step, I’m willing to share it.

If AVM is to work, we ALL need to get involved.  I’m offering to stand up and start blogging and risk making some mistakes.

What are you willing to do?

In case the circulation of the EYV11 'Opening Doors to Volunteering' resources didn't reach everyone, please see this link

The summary of the workshop discussions can be found via the Attend Connect forum (free registration). Once registered the ‘Opening Door’s themes can be found here.

One recent addition has been the collation of show-case examples of good practice, which make interesting reading. A summary is listed below.

26 Business Reasons for engaging with disabled volunteers 

Probably the most significant finding about disabled volunteering from the literature review and the action learning workshops was that few mainstream VCS organisations had a business case for engaging with disabled volunteers. As a result there are few overt ‘sponsors’ of disabled volunteering within mainstream organisations.

This document uses the business case framework that was developed from the ‘Opening Doors to Volunteering’ programme, and presents 26 business reasons why Attend engage with volunteers with an Acquired Brain Injury. Whilst some of these relate to a ‘disability service-provider’ perspective, there will be many that could be applicable to others.

Involving people with a learning disability

Jemma Mindham, Area Manager working in the East of England for CSV responds to questions that explore how people with a learning disability are encouraged to claim their right to choice and opportunities to contribute within their communities. Jemma explains how the supported volunteer programme seeks to recognise the uniqueness of the individual, and what key management processes were put into place to facilitate this.

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”

Anais Nin (1903 – 1977)

Volunteering – The Borstals Programme

This is a fascinating case study of a volunteering programme for young-offenders delivered in the 1970s, back in the days when volunteer management was young and talk was cheap!
The paper reflects a discussion with Andy Kelmanson, responsible for running the programme, and provides some interesting and inspirational food for thought for us all here, in these post CRB days.

“Risk more than others think is safe
Care more than others think is wise
Dream more than others think is practical
Expect more than others think is possible”.
Maxim, Cadet.

Volunteering, prisoners and ex-offenders

Following the riots in the Summer of 2011, there was a recognition amongst many in the voluntary and community sector of a shared responsibility of a broader community remit, beyond the specific aims and objectives of their organisations.

However few mainstream volunteer-involving organisations have the skills and confidence to consider engaging with prisoners and ex-offenders. Resources are stretched, skills and experience are limited, and a fear of negative public perception is a real ‘blocking’ factor.

This paper reflects discussions with Carol Davis, Prison Volunteer Programme Coordinator at Sue Ryder on their pioneering Prison Volunteer Programme. As a mainstream VCS organisation themselves, their progress has much to teach and inspire the wider volunteer-involving community.

Volunteering for ex-offenders

A summary of discussions with Bettina Crossick, NOMS Lead – Mentoring, Volunteering and Service User Engagement.

This is an outline of the current challenges and opportunities faced by the National Offender Management Service. It also cites some current pilots designed to break down the current barriers to engagement by mainstream volunteering organisations.

There is also a useful diagram that highlights how NOMS works with prisons and probation services and engages with the voluntary and community sector.

'Developing Ourselves Because No-one Else Is' - Recognising and Developing Volunteer Managers

Wednesday 29^th February 2012 - 10am to 4pm

• The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund,
• County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB

Photo credit: Stuck in Customs

The conference is now sold out (27th January 2012).

This one day conference examines how volunteer managers can explore their own professional development, through interactive workshops, engaging speakers and a Q & A panel.

• How can I develop myself as a volunteer manager?
• What can AVM do to support my professional development?
• How have current voluntary sector leaders undertaken their own professional development?
• What new initiatives will support volunteer managers of the future - such as volunteer management apprenticeships?

Confirmed speakers include:

• Christine Fogg, Principal Consultant, CASS Business School
• Sue Jones, Training Manager, Warrington Volunteer Centre
• Sean Cobley, Chair, Association of Volunteer Managers

Costs (including lunch & refreshments):

• AVM Members: £22.00
• Non-members: £55.00

The conference is full - we are now managing a waiting list.  You can add yourself to the waiting list at our event website at http://avmconference2012.eventbrite.com.  If you are interested in the conference please add yourself to the waiting list as it will help us gauge interest in future events like this.

If you wish to join AVM, and enjoy the members discount on the conference, please also email us at conf2012@volunteermanagers.org.uk.

Guardian Live Q & A - Managing Volunteers On A Tight Budget

Hallo, and a Happy New Year from all of us here at AVM.

On behalf of AVM, I'm taking part in The Guardian's first live Q & A of 2012: 'Managing Volunteers On A Tight Budget' on Tuesday 10 January from 1-3pm.

Managing volunteers is critical to many charities' functions. As budgets tighten, they need to find new ways to recruit, manage and retain volunteers, delivering better services to their beneficiaries at reduced cost.

What are you doing on  the 29th of February 2012?  This is the date of the next AVM conference and we'd love to see you there.  So pop the date in your diary now, you know it's an event not to be missed.

This year our Annual General Meeting will focus on our continuing professional development. Our speakers include Sue Jones who will give an update on the EYV2011 activities as well as new plans for more ways in which Volunteer Managers can continue to learn on the job, we will also hear about the new third sector apprenticeship frameworks, and how City University encourage and facilitate ongoing development.

I've been reflecting on the findings of a paper published in Voluntary Sector Review (Vol 2, No 1, 2011)  entitled 'Volunteers who manage other volunteers and the professionalisation of volunteer management: implications for practice' (Hill and Stevens, 2011).

VOLUNTEER AND VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT BENCHMARKING: A CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (July 2011 )

• Are volunteers important to your organisation?
• Would you find it useful to be able to understand how your volunteers and volunteer management compare with other similar organisations?
• Could this information help demonstrate your value added to your Senior Management Team/Board?

Agenda Consulting in partnership with the Association of Volunteer Managers (AVM) are launching a new benchmarking study covering volunteers and volunteer management. The study has already received considerable interest.

To express interest in participating or to find out more please contact Shabnam Tamim at shabnam.tamim@agendaconsulting.co.uk or Tracy Jarvis tracy.jarvis@agendaconsulting.co.uk or contact them on 01865 263720.

It is hard to form a new organisation, and sometimes even harder to keep it going. People need a reason to join, and to remain a member of AVM, especially as there seems to be so little that AVM can give back at the moment.