Volunteering Focus - 18 December

A Festive Thank You!

As we wrap up our final Volunteering Focus newsletter before the Christmas break, Engage Renfrewshire would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the incredible Volunteer Managers across Renfrewshire. Your dedication, leadership, and tireless efforts ensure that volunteers have the guidance and support they need to make a difference.

To the volunteers who give so generously of their time, energy, and skills to uplift their local communities – thank you for embodying the true spirit of kindness and compassion. Wishing you all a joyful festive season and a well-deserved rest.

See you in 2025!

Renfrewshire Volunteer Manager's Forum 2025

Are you a Volunteer Manager or Coordinator in Renfrewshire? Join our Volunteer Managers’ Forum – a welcoming space to connect, share resources and best practices, and stay informed about the latest in volunteer management. Held quarterly in person at Engage Renfrewshire (10 Falcon Crescent), the forum is a chance to network, gain insights from peers, and collaborate on events and initiatives. Past attendees have highlighted the value of learning from others’ experiences, tackling shared challenges, and discovering new ideas to enhance their roles. Check out dates below of next year’s sessions and become part of this supportive community!

Previous attendees of the Forum said:

"I am so glad this forum exists as I start out my new role in Volunteer Management. Lots to learn and I am glad to be part of this group!"

"Hearing other organisations challenges and successes helped me understand we are all facing the same issues!"      

“I enjoyed hearing other Volunteer Managers stories of their projects and experiences"                   
"It helped me understand that everyone is facing similar issues across Renfrewshire, to hear about what is working and what is not"

See you there!

Volunteer Trends for 2025

As we approach the end of 2024, Charity Digital have put together a great guide for the likely volunteering trends next year. From creating flexible opportunities to making volunteering accessible to everyone, we look at some of the volunteering trends for the year ahead. Read more here - Charity Digital - Topics - Volunteering trends for 2025

Renfrewshire Volunteer Fair 2025

Make a Difference This New Year!

Engage Renfrewshire invites you to kick-start 2025 by exploring local volunteering opportunities at our Volunteer Fair on Tuesday 28 January, drop in between 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Join us at UWS Paisley Students’ Union to connect with charities, community groups, and organisations making a positive impact in Renfrewshire.

Whether you're looking to gain new skills, meet like-minded people, or give back to your community, the fair has something for everyone. Mark your calendar and start your year with purpose and positivity!
If you are planning on recruiting volunteers for your organisation in 2025, and would like to enquire about hosting a stall at the event, please get in touch.

The Gathering 2025

                        
Host: SCVO
Location: Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC)
Date: 04 and 05 February 2025

Organised by SCVO, the Gathering is the largest free voluntary sector event in the UK. It's an opportunity for all the amazing people working in and with the voluntary sector to network, showcase what they do and learn from each other. As well as bringing you a packed programme of workshops, seminars and activities – including online sessions for our most popular events - you'll find a wide range of exhibitors from the voluntary, public and private sectors at our ever-popular exhibition.
Book your place here - The Gathering 2025 - SCVO

The Digital in Volunteering Toolkit by Team Kinetic

On 5th December I was delighted to attend the Team Kinetic launch of the Digital in Volunteering Toolkit, developed by TeamKinetic, Gethyn Williams, and the Association of Volunteer Managers (AVM).

This toolkit, designed with input from experts in volunteer management and technology, aims to help organisations navigate the ever-changing digital landscape with confidence.

You can download the Toolkit now, here.