Every school knows the value of
volunteers, but you may feel you’re asking too much. Flip your thinking, says Lindsey Marsh, and view
volunteering as an opportunity for supporters to connect and feel good
PEOPLE POWER
A
ccording to the 2019 survey ‘Time Well Spent’, conducted by the National Council for Voluntary
Organisations, two in five adults in the UK volunteer annually. The most common benefits they reported were enjoyment (93%), a sense of personal achievement (90%), and feeling that they made a difference (90%). The economic value of
volunteering – from working in a charity shop to becoming a school governor – is approximately £23.9bn, with clear links to improved mental health and wellbeing, says The UK Civil Society Almanac 2020. So, perhaps it’s time for schools
to rethink their approach and begin to create a culture of volunteering, where supporters benefit from working on longer-term projects and initiatives. Volunteers give their time and talents for free – a generous gift for schools struggling with tight budgets. Whether parents, carers, students, alumni or the wider community (retired, employed, unemployed), many
22 SUMMER 2021 FundEd
people come with expertise, drive and passion. They can help you fundraise, provide services for free or bring new perspectives. With the right kind of nurturing and motivation, they might even lighten your workload and help deliver a wider range of goals more quickly.
Understanding why people volunteer This is the first step in developing a volunteering culture at your school. Volunteers
often talk about their desire to ‘make a difference’, but they may also want to utilise their skills or gain new experiences, connect and network with people, and improve their career prospects. Parents and carers want to help enrich the educational environment and opportunities for their children. Some individuals also sign up
as part of a school, college or workplace programme. Certainly, evidence from the NHS states that volunteering makes people happier and healthier, giving them a purpose and creating feelings of self-worth and belonging.
The gains The most common way that volunteers support schools is, of course, through organising fundraising events and activities, primarily through PTAs or Friends’ groups. But volunteers may also be able to help with online income generation by spreading the word about fundraising across
their own networks. They could nominate
your cause for help through their workplace, or assist with researching grant funders. They
could offer enrichment activities beyond the usual (and invaluable) helping with school trips and clubs, notably by giving talks, running workshops and providing pupil mentoring. School ambassador
programmes are another way to engage support and gain visibility for your school. Volunteer ambassadors can
represent your school, champion your cause, help raise funds on
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