Transforming lives through volunteering in the Covid-19 crisis and beyond

In January we launched our new and ambitious volunteering strategy, the implementation of which had only just started when Covid-19 struck. The plans we were developing got shelved, and we set to work responding to the pandemic.

The pandemic presented new challenges for my team, as we stood-down all public facing volunteers, and created new, virtual volunteer roles. We also developed engagement plans to stay connected with our 900-stong volunteer force during this challenging time.

We adapted to new ways of working, as half the team went on furlough leave whilst half the team remained working. This has been challenging for us, as we're a close team and are missing the expertise and energy of our furloughed colleagues. Equally, it's been challenging for furloughed members of the team, who are watching from the side-lines, unable to participate. I'm so proud of how the team have adapted, and look forward to our weekly virtual coffee breaks where all members of the team join for a coffee and an informal chat. Not only has it helped to keep us connected, it's strengthened our bond as a team. I'm convinced that when the pandemic passes, we will emerge stronger than ever.

Ironically, the pandemic has been a catalyst for our volunteering strategy, driving change in volunteering at a faster pace than we could ever have anticipated. We had plans to develop more flexible, remote volunteering opportunities over the next couple of years. Yet in just three weeks, the team had created virtual and remote volunteering opportunities that have proved to be really popular. I'm so proud of how quickly the team have adapted, developing online training, working collaboratively with other charities to exchange good practice, and marketing new roles to CHAS volunteers who had been stood-down from public facing roles. The new roles that we have created will be sustained beyond Covid-19 as families have told us that receiving support virtually and at home suits them, and that this is something they'd like to receive long-term.

Engaging volunteers who are not taking on virtual and remote roles has been equally important. We are really missing everyone but fortunately our online volunteer communications platform, Workplace by Facebook, has helped us to stay connected. Volunteers have been setting up Zoom calls, sharing their skills with others in CHAS, they've been initiating get togethers and social events which has been brilliant to see. The pandemic has also enabled the volunteering team to test virtual social gatherings, quizzes, and CEO updates. Again, the popularity of these suggest that we should keep this kind of activity going in the post-pandemic world. Virtual engagement is proving to be more popular than face to face engagement with the majority of volunteers.

Who knows what the new normal is going to look like but I'm certain about one thing - volunteering in CHAS has changed and will look very different by the end of this year. Virtual, remote and micro-volunteering will be part of our standard volunteering offer. People who live nowhere near CHAS sites will be able to support children and families directly from their homes, which will enable us to attract a more diverse volunteer force, and engage more volunteers across the country. It will also help us to reach more families who need our support which is our core ambition as a charity.

Volunteering has never been more relevant or central to the achievement of CHAS's mission, and that's hugely exciting. I can't wait to see what the next few months bring in volunteering, both within CHAS and across the country. There's never been a climate more conducive to volunteering innovation. As volunteering professionals we must harness the opportunities that the pandemic has brought, to be more flexible, creative and risk tolerant. This is our opportunity to demonstrate what we have long known - that volunteering transforms lives, of both volunteers and recipients. And I'm so excited to be a part of it.

Download the Volunteer Highlights Report: Volunteer Highlights 2020 (PDF, 1.28MB)