Voscur - Volunteering https://www.voscur.org/core-categories/volunteering en Voscur's response to NHS Volunteer Responders scheme extension https://www.voscur.org/news/voscurs-response-nhs-volunteer-responders-scheme-extension <div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2>Voscur&#039;s response to NHS Volunteer Responders scheme extension</h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://www.voscur.org/sites/default/files/styles/node_image/public/NHS-vol-responders-news-image-.png?itok=5p68hdVP" width="301" height="300" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-date-provision-is-due-to-b field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">12 June, 2023</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>This week plans were announced to expand the NHS Volunteer Responders scheme in England into social care – this will involve a drive to recruit volunteers to take on social care tasks such as delivering medication or tackling isolation and loneliness via social visits.  </p> <p>The local VCSE sector delivers various levels of social care throughout Bristol (as well as surrounding areas), with the sector being a key part of the social care system both nationally and locally. The implementation of this new scheme, and the centralisation of investment, could significantly impact the sector as well the communities it supports. </p> <p>There are substantial gaps in social care currently, with 170,000 hours a week of required homecare not being delivered due to a lack of staff, and further investment in social care is needed to resolve this. Evidence has also shown that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/may/02/volunteering-in-sharp-decline-in-england-since-covid-pandemic?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other" target="_blank">volunteering has declined</a> since the beginning of the cost-of-living crisis, with many VCSE sector organisations losing volunteers vital to their service delivery and being unable to replace them. </p> <p>From <a href="https://www.voscur.org/sites/default/files/Cost%20of%20Living%20Pulse%20Survey%20infographic%20%2811%29.pdf" target="_blank">our recent Pulse survey</a>, we also know that VCSE organisations delivering services in Bristol and surrounding areas are struggling to operate because of rising costs and rising demands for their services, with many also using financial reserves to stay afloat. </p> <p>All the evidence suggests that a centralised scheme, such as the current extension of the NHS Volunteer Responders scheme, won’t be an effective solution to the problems facing social care or the VCSE sector. </p> <p>Recent <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-11390-8" target="_blank">academic evidence from the pandemic</a> demonstrates the effectiveness of using existing relationships, partnerships, and volunteer networks in times of crisis over centralised schemes that cut across existing structures. National analysis of the current NHS Volunteer Responder scheme was due to be released in the summer of 2022, but is not yet in the public domain. However, analysis of the scheme at regional level and smaller has recommended that any future centralised volunteering scheme should be integrated with local networks, with a coordinated joint-approach. </p> <p>The extension of the scheme risks undermining local systems that already exist, using the limited number of volunteering hours available to duplicate existing structures with no additional benefit. </p> <p>Additionally, as the volunteering taking place will lack the continuity that is so vital in social care it is likely to be ineffective, especially when compared to community-based, relational volunteering. Ultimately the evidence suggests that the extension of the NHS Volunteer Responders scheme is likely to be ineffective in delivering long-term outcomes to keep people appropriately cared for.  </p> <p>Unfortunately, whilst volunteers can supplement the paid workforce, they cannot substitute for the gaps in social care recruitment and retention.  </p> <p>Voscur is keen for the national review of the NHS Responders scheme to be published so that the learning can be used to influence further developments.  </p> <p>Furthermore, we encourage work to begin on integrating the NHS Responders scheme with local approaches, without placing additional burden on VCSE organisations. </p> <p>Rebecca Mear, CEO of Voscur, said:</p> <p><em>"It is a missed opportunity that central government has decided not to invest in existing, locally-based VCSE organisations to build on initiatives that we know work. As part of the VCSE Alliance, working with our Integrated Care System, we will work in partnership to make sure that future volunteering programmes are driven by the communities which they seek to serve.” </em></p> <p>If you are an organisation that is affected by these changes we would like to hear your thoughts. You can contact our Policy, Research and Communications Manager, Ian Hudson-Murt via email at <a href="mailto:ian.hm@voscur.org">ian.hm@voscur.org</a> </p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-core-category field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Core Category:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/core-categories/cost-living">Cost of Living</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/core-categories/social-care">Social care</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/core-categories/volunteering">Volunteering</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-expiry-date field-type-datetime field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Expiry date:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">Monday, 12 June, 2023</span></div></div></div> Mon, 12 Jun 2023 16:35:17 +0000 Ian Hudson-Murt 104797 at https://www.voscur.org https://www.voscur.org/news/voscurs-response-nhs-volunteer-responders-scheme-extension#comments Online sales increase as retail income drops for charities https://www.voscur.org/news/online-sales-increase-retail-income-drops-charities <div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2>Online sales increase as retail income drops for charities</h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://www.voscur.org/sites/default/files/styles/node_image/public/download.jpg?itok=uXznKMX8" width="450" height="299" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-credit field-type-text field-label-inline clearfix"><div class="field-label">Image Credit:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Third Sector</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-date-provision-is-due-to-b field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">16 August, 2021</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p> </p> <p><a href="https://www.shopiago.com/">Shopiago</a>, a company that allows people to donate to charity online, reported a 151% rise in sales between February and July this year. </p> <p>This welcome rise represents an effort from retail charity shops to cover the losses suffered during the pandemic. New data from the Charity Retail Association's (CRA) quarterly report indicate that retailers lost out on an estimated £366m during the third lockdown at the start of this year. Data from January to March shows the average charity shop lost out on £33,150 following the closure of non-essential stores by the government. There are 11,041 charity shops active in the UK, and previous estimates suggested charity shops lost £285m during the first national lockdown between March and June in 2020.</p> <p>The CRA said that charities had turned to online sales during the pandemic, in an effort to minimise losses, and many had been successful. Popular products sold online include pet supplies, baby products and sporting memorabilia and most of the sales are made through eBay which allows charities to sell without fees.</p> <p>If you'd like to consider new approaches to funding, our <a href="https://www.vcseacademy.org/events/fund-it/">Fund It! 2021 conference</a> is designed to give you insights and new ideas.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-core-category field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Core Category:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/core-categories/funding">Funding</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/core-categories/social-enterprise">Social enterprise</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/core-categories/volunteering">Volunteering</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-expiry-date field-type-datetime field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Expiry date:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">Monday, 16 August, 2021</span></div></div></div> Mon, 16 Aug 2021 10:41:10 +0000 tomd 100005 at https://www.voscur.org https://www.voscur.org/news/online-sales-increase-retail-income-drops-charities#comments Seventy per cent of students plan to volunteer this summer https://www.voscur.org/insight/news/seventy-cent-students-plan-volunteer-summer <div class="field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2>Seventy per cent of students plan to volunteer this summer</h2></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-article-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://www.voscur.org/sites/default/files/styles/node_image/public/Hands-On%20Volunteering.png?itok=GHY0nbwU" width="510" height="350" alt="Young woman in brown apron wearing black and green gardening gloves, holding hands up" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-date-provision-is-due-to-b field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">28 June, 2021</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p> </p> <p><span><span><span>According to new research from the <a href="https://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/" target="_blank">Royal Voluntary Service</a>, seventy per cent of students are looking to do volunteer work this summer: welcome news for volunteer managers and coordinators who have seen numbers fluctuate during the coronavirus pandemic. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The research was based on 1,000 higher education students aged 18-24. It looked at motivations for volunteering and the types of opportunity that appeal to potential volunteers:</span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span><span><span>35% of students said that volunteering would give them a sense of purpose.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>47% felt that volunteering would give them useful and valuable experience. </span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>95% of students said they would consider helping at NHS coronavirus vaccination sites. </span></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span><span><span>Student volunteer Shavaiz Mir spoke of having more time to volunteer, as his lectures have been held online:</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“Virtual lectures have meant that students like myself have more time on our hands and I wanted to use this time for good… Anyone looking for something to give them purpose during their summer break should 100% sign up and give volunteering a try.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Whether you’re a student or not, you can find <a href="https://www.voscur.org/volunteers" target="_blank">volunteer opportunities in and around Bristol</a> on the Voscur jobs board, and <a href="https://www.voscur.org/jobs/advertise-job" target="_blank">list opportunities</a> for free as well. Coronavirus-specific opportunities should be listed on <a href="https://candobristol.co.uk/" target="_blank">Can Do Bristol</a>. </span></span></span></p> <h3>Top tips from Voscur for recruiting short-term volunteers</h3> <ul> <li><span><span><span>Be clear about the number of hours your volunteers must commit to, and whether that’s a weekly or monthly figure. Even in the holidays, students may have course reading or assignments to do, and many will have part-time jobs as well. </span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Explain the benefits for the volunteer, especially anything connected to work or learning new skills. Volunteers are there to help you, but it’s a two-way process, and you need to attract them. </span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Think about which roles can be home-based and which should be in-person. If someone is volunteering from home, what kind of support and social aspect is available? If they’re visiting you, what kind of coronavirus safety measures do you have in place? Bear in mind that most students won’t have been vaccinated yet. </span></span></span></li> </ul> <p><span><span><span>You may also be interested in our half-day course for volunteer coordinators and managers, <a href="https://www.vcseacademy.org/events/measuring-the-impact-of-volunteering/">Measuring the Impact of Volunteering</a>, on Tuesday 21 September 2021. This will help you prove how important volunteers are to your organisation, your finances, and your aims.</span></span></span></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-core-category field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Core Category:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/core-categories/community-energy">Community energy</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/core-categories/coronavirus">Coronavirus</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/core-categories/volunteering">Volunteering</a></div></div></div> Mon, 28 Jun 2021 14:38:08 +0000 pollya 99649 at https://www.voscur.org