Earlier this month, I had the privilege of attending an event hosted by the High Sheriff, focused on the future of volunteering in Somerset. Deborah Meaden, Somerset resident and star of the BBC’s ‘Dragon’s Den’, was the keynote and she spoke passionately about the important role that volunteering plays in our communities. I was honoured to be invited and to share a few thoughts on the local volunteering landscape. 

During the day, I had the chance to chat with leaders from business, education, and the VCFSE sector and a shared enthusiasm for social action came through loud and clear!  However, while we have a strong tradition of volunteering in the county, it’s important that we adapt and innovate our approach to engaging volunteers to address the challenges and make the most of new opportunities.  

Here are my five key takeaways from the day:

1. We need to make it easier to volunteer

Volunteering doesn’t have to mean long-term commitments or lots of hours. It can be one-off, online, or even micro—perfect for busy schedules. Training and inductions should be simple and proportional to the role, making it easy for people to get started. 

At Spark Somerset, we’re taking a community organising approach to empower people to volunteer in ways that work for them. This has led to a fantastic range of initiatives including a community mosaic project, tea dance, and regular poetry group. We’ve seen firsthand how, with practical support and encouragement, volunteers can shape activities on their own terms. 

2. The needs of the volunteer is as important as the needs of the project

It’s important to consider the aspirations of volunteers and as much as the needs of an organisation or project. What motivates people to get involved? What skills are they bringing, and what would they like to gain? How can we make it easy for them to volunteer alongside their other commitments? 

By breaking down barriers we can make volunteering more flexible, inclusive, and accessible for everyone. Check out our volunteering campaign to see how we’re making this happen in Somerset! 

3. Volunteering comes at a cost

Volunteering isn’t free and we need to make sure we support the people who do it! With public services under pressure, volunteers are more needed than ever. That’s why it’s so important to ensure that volunteering still feels like volunteering—not unpaid work. Providing proper support, recognition, and a sense of purpose is crucial for keeping volunteers engaged in the long term. 

4. Consider the ‘life cycle’ of a volunteer

We need to look at the life cycle of a volunteer and understand what works at different ages and stages of life. We also need to work harder to engage young people. During Student Volunteering Week we shared the stories of Wylie, and CE, 14, who have made a real difference and found a sense of purpose and belonging. How can we inspire more people to get involved in volunteering from an early age?

5. Engage diverse communities in Volunteering

Equally important, is inclusivity. How can we reach a diverse audience, and use the right language to make volunteering appealing and welcoming for all? 

We’ll be discussing these important topics at our Volunteer Coordinators’ Forum in April, where we’ll focus on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and ways to increase involvement. We invite everyone interested in this conversation to join us. 

Let’s keep the conversation going… 

… Because there’s no single solution, and we know that the best ideas come from groups like yours. 

At Spark Somerset, we’re currently collaborating with partners across the voluntary and community sector, NHS Somerset, and Somerset Council to develop a Vision for Volunteering. Our goal is to explore how we can make volunteering even more impactful, rewarding, and accessible for all. 

Recently, my team has had some really insightful discussions with a variety of organisations about the challenges and opportunities in volunteer engagement. But we know there’s still more to learn. We’d love to hear your thoughts, and we’ll soon be launching an online survey—so watch this space for your chance to share your views!

We’re excited to continue working together to strengthen volunteering across Somerset. If you’d like to get involved or find out more, please don’t hesitate to get in touch! 

Katherine Nolan, CEO