Oxon Volunteers has been an active part of the volunteering landscape in Oxfordshire since 2017. As a county wide volunteer brokerage service, it provides a free website for charities and other non-profits to share their volunteering roles to the public.
It also offers a back-office volunteer management service. Volunteers can connect through the platform by registering their details, applying to roles and hearing about new opportunities in the weekly newsletter. Providers can share roles, contact volunteers and arrange session signups. Through the various tools you can search for different causes and for employee volunteering or student volunteer opportunities.
Oxon Volunteers has 3,500 visitors per month on average, and our 578 providers tell us they experience success recruiting volunteers through the platform.
But there is a new kid on the block.
The Royal Voluntary service has launched a new online platform. GOVO aims to make volunteer recruitment easier and take away the hassle of multiple sign-up processes. Its launch saw Her Royal Highness the Queen meet with internet sensation Spudman to volunteer over lunch and encourage more people to volunteer.Â
You can read more about GOVO, funded by the Postcode Lottery and the campaign.
But does having a national platform take away from the local picture?
At OCVA we think not.
The Oxon Volunteers platform is more than just a website; it is a support system operating to engage the volunteer community. Our staff can support providers to use the site efficiently, arranging support calls and helping resolve issues. We have a database of active volunteers who we can engage with through email to promote events such as volunteer fairs, training courses and inductions. Our volunteer fairs are mainly attended by local people who are already connected to us through the website, and our regular attendance at events such as job fairs, and wider publicity help raise the profile of the website.Â
So where does GOVO fit in?
The volunteering data tells us that volunteering is in decline, and less people are volunteering than before the pandemic. You can view more information on NCVO’s website about the Time Well Spent Survey. But digging deeper into the research we know that people have been affected by the cost-of-living crisis and need for flexibility. We also know the charity sector has seen a significant rise in demand, along with a tougher funding landscape and a shift of services. GOVO aims to support more people to access volunteering that they can fit into their lives and taking away the lengthy processes that can become involved. They hope to take away the need for multiple DBS and ID checks making volunteering easier and more accessible. Something people can do in their lunch, or free time.
At OCVA we know that one tool rarely fits all, so we will always support additional resources that can help with the challenges of running a successful organisation.
But it may be the struggle with recruiting volunteers is not fixed solely by digital tools. We continue to offer a phone and email service for residents in Oxfordshire looking to volunteer, and likewise to non-profit groups for support. Humans volunteer for connection, and we must ensure we find the right tools to support this to continue.
If you are looking for support with finding a volunteer role, or finding volunteers, please do reach out to OCVA for support.
Jenny Bowley, Deputy CEO