Community
Projects

COVID-19 Community Response, Wales
In six areas across South and West Wales our volunteers are helping thsoe at risk of loneliness and poor mental and physical health during COVID-19.

COVID-19 Response Programme
Our COVID-19 Response programme includes projects operating on a local and national level, with new roles to support the community during the pandemic.

Employee Volunteering with Volunteering Matters
Our Employee Volunteering team has over 24 years’ experience of providing tailor-made service support to employers developing their own corporate volunteering and business volunteering programmes.
Equip Clacks
Volunteer mentoring opportunities across the 'Wee County', supporting young people aged 15-18.

Equip Suffolk
Equip Mentoring provide support for young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET).

Futures Matter
Futures Matter trains and supports volunteer leaders to devise and run volunteering initiatives for the benefit of their local community in Ipswich.

Journey Makers
We're working with local partners to help them recruit Journey Makers, keeping people safe on the transport networks as lockdown restrictions ease.

Knowledge Equals Opportunities (KEO)
KEO recruits and trains volunteers to empower families with young children to take more of an active role in their child’s education.

Match and Mentor
Through our fantastic volunteers, Match and Mentor provides support for individuals with learning difficulties and additional support needs to volunteer.

Milton Keynes Volunteer Driver Service
Milton Keynes Community Car Service provides a door-to-door service which aims to help people access key appointments

RESPECT Project
Family support packs free Children Packs User-friendly, informative and engaging packs for primary-school aged children! Two new packs a month for families Each pack consists of 48 pages packed with fun and resilience-building activities free Adult Packs Information around COVID-19 and family activities. Adult packs come in five languages: English, Romanian, Spanish, Portuguese and Polish Order your online-pack today by … Continued

The Loop
The Loop gives beneficiaries the opportunity to become volunteers. It enables participants to access the social group as and when they need support, progress onto the Goals Group when ready and take their learning further within the Projects Group.

We Are Patrick
Inspired by Ipswich-based project WASSUP, We Are Patrick is a youth social action programme delivered by young men in Ipswich.

Youth Social Action in light of Covid-19
The SAFE programme, Activ8 and Mind Matters response to COVID-19
Volunteering Opportunities
Health Champion Volunteer – Warwickshire
Being told what to do to improve your health is only the beginning of a journey to becoming more mentally and physically healthy. We all need some support – advice on where to start, someone to check in with, and encouragement along the way. This is where the Health Champions come in, and is part … Continued
Pen Pal Volunteer
Matching volunteers with people who want to receive friendly letters, combatting loneliness and isolation across the UK as part of Getting Together Matters.
Equip Mentor – Clackmannanshire
Volunteer mentoring opportunities across the 'Wee County', supporting young people aged 15-18.
Surgery-Based Patient Volunteer Support Group Organiser – Bath & North East Somerset
Suitable for anyone who enjoys meeting people, making connections and is a ‘natural’ organiser.
Welcome Friends Pen Pals – South Wales
The Welcome Friends Project was set up eight years ago aiming to tackle loneliness and isolation in the older community with 1-1 befriending in the home by volunteers. Since the Coronavirus pandemic began, we also have Telephone Befriending volunteers who ring once or twice a week. We now have a need for volunteers to write … Continued
Grandmentors – Volunteer (Bradford)
Grandmentors Bradford is unique to our traditional Grandmentors projects. Volunteers (aged 25+) will be matched to a young person who is out of employment, education or training to provide mentoring, guidance and skills development.
Volunteers Supporting Families – Support Volunteer (Edinburgh)
Our Volunteers Supporting Families in Edinburgh project offers practical and emotional support to families across the South East and South West localities of Edinburgh, empowering them to face a range of life challenges.
Surgery-Based Patient Volunteer Support Group Organiser – North Somerset
Suitable for anyone who enjoys meeting people, making connections and is a ‘natural’ organiser.
RSVP West – Fundraising volunteer
We are looking for an over-50’s volunteer, resident in the RSVP West area, who would like to help the Regional Coordinator with fundraising.
Case Studies

Grandmentors paved the way to university for Ruby
With the support of volunteer Grandmentor Bindi, Ruby's dreams of going to university have become a reality.

#PinYourThanks for Volunteers
We're delighted to support the #PinYourThanks initiative. People volunteering their time to help each other has saved countless lives in the most difficult of circumstances.
Buy your badge and say thanks to volunteers today.

Being an online wellbeing champion throughout COVID-19
Innovative digital volunteering roles are helping young people to respond to the pandemic safely, in a way that positively impacts their community.

Volunteering during a lockdown
With social distancing and lockdown measures, it’s easy for people become isolated and lonely, especially those who may be older and more at risk from corona virus.

Grandmentors and Hounslow Allies
All local authorities have a statutory duty to provide independent visitors to all children in care (aged 8 – 16+) who would benefit. In Hounslow, London, we’ve been providing an Independent Visitor Service – Hounslow Allies – for over 12 years. We also run Grandmentors in Hounslow. Grandmentors is an intergenerational mentoring programme that matches … Continued

WASSUP: Amber’s Story
'It feels to me that I have gone full circle in the volunteering world, by starting as a volunteer and being empowered by the staff there, to becoming a staff member myself and empowering the next generation of volunteers.'

EVS Full-Time Volunteering: Yacine’s Story
'That's why, if you like to meet new people, to discover a new country and to help people while developing your skills then become a volunteer!!'

EVS Full-Time Volunteering: Mario’s Story
'My personal opinion about volunteering is that I am able to support and help others actively so I should make use of it.'

EVS Full-Time Volunteering: Johanna’s Story
'The goal is to get the kids out of the house, away from their problems, and let them enjoy their time.'

EVS Full-Time Volunteering: Rebeca’s Story
'I have learnt how important is to practice active listening, and how it has enhanced my empathy for vulnerable individuals.'

EVS Full-Time Volunteering: Maria’s Story
'I used to think that one person couldn’t change the world, but I changed my mind... a small impact on one person that is a huge change.'

Volunteers Supporting Families: Hena’s Story
Hena found that being a part of Volunteers Supporting Families not only helped a vulnerable family but also helped her to apply for a social work degree.

Full-Time Volunteering: Carers’ Support Bexley
The role of a Full-Time Volunteer (FTV) can be very varied, and supporting full-time carers is just one of the ways that FTVs provide incredible support to those they volunteer with. Volunteering Matters has been working with Carers’ Support Bexley for over 20 years (back when we were known as Community Service Volunteers!) and we … Continued

NORTH LANARKSHIRE BEFRIENDING PROJECT: Clare’s Story
Clare's young person never failed to make her laugh, and even though she was apprehensive about the training, she says she couldn't thank staff enough for the support.

Get Out Get Active: Asmita’s Story
Following a difficult start in life, Asmita has found real purpose, positivity and friendship through volunteering with the Get Out Get Active programme.

EVS Full-Time Volunteering: Anna’s story
Anna was an EVS Full-Time Volunteer with Volunteering Matters in South East Wales, where she befriended older people and people with disabilities.
Reports

Good Practice Toolkit: Volunteering for and with older people and people with dementia
Good Practice Toolkit: Volunteering for and with older people and people with dementia

Covid Impact Report, 19 Oct 2020
This report highlights the impact we had in the first six months of the pandemic, and the amazing response of our volunteers.

Grandmentors: MMU Evaluation Report Executive Summary
A comprehensive two-year evaluation by Manchester Metropolitan University on Grandmentors explores whether the programme works for young people leaving care.

Toolkit: Youth Volunteering and Social Action in Health and Social Care, 2nd Edition
A toolkit to help health and social care organisations engage with young people as volunteers. It is designed to foster and support ambitious work through practical advice, easy to follow guidance and inspirational case studies.

Priorities for the Plan
Now the NHS has turned 70, and with the Government preparing a long-term plan for the service in England, a broad range of leaders in charities and voice organisations have come together to offer our views on what should happen next to improve health and care – within the NHS and beyond.
News

New consortium to support #iwill announced
We’re delighted to share that today Step Up To Serve have announced that Volunteering Matters and UK Youth have formed a new consortium to deliver key functions of the #iwill movement. We can’t wait to work together to keep growing the #iwill movement and ensure young people can lead change through social action. Read the … Continued

The Massive Get Together
On Thursday 17th September, we are uniting with 9 other amazing charities to respond to the impact that COVID-19 is having on the charity sector by staging The Massive Get Together in a bid to raise £500,000 together!

Volunteers needed to help people adjust to travelling on public transport
Reassure and support travellers, reengage with your local community following lockdown, and rebuild confidence that many previously took for granted.

Call for UK-based Full-Time Volunteers!
Are you…. Aged between 18 and 30? Wondering what to do next after COVID-19? Wanting to help others and make a real, tangible difference to their lives? Currently based in the UK? Willing to volunteer for up to 35 hours per week? We need you! You could be supporting someone with a disability to live … Continued
National scheme announced to help keep transport users safe
Today, 23 May 2020, the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Grant Schapps announced that national charity Volunteering Matters will coordinate a volunteer response programme – Journey Makers – to help keep people safe using transport networks as lockdown restrictions are eased. Volunteers, called Journey Makers, will be offering guidance, providing friendly advice, reminding … Continued

Welcome to our new trustees
As part of its ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, Volunteering Matters wanted a range of different backgrounds and experiences to be part of the Council of Trustees, and these new appointments reflect the diverse range of communities the charity works with and supports through volunteering.

Volunteering Matters during COVID-19 more than ever
Here you can find a list of links to the work we are doing during the current pandemic, including personal change stories and information about the voluntary sector response.

Strictly Come Dancing stars visit LifeLines!
Our Brighton-based LifeLines volunteers were joined by two very special guests from Strictly Come Dancing, and were featured in the Daily Mail and The Argus.

Celebrating 1 million hours of volunteering in Scotland!
Our long-running Action Earth scheme is celebrating the one millionth hour of volunteering time given by volunteers on its funded projects this decade!

Award-winning Grandmentors features in the Guardian
Volunteering Matters' award-winning Grandmentors featured in the Guardian. Honor's inspirational support of Kai demonstrated the life-changing impact Grandmentors makes.

Volunteering Matters inspiring volunteers support families in turning around their lives
260 Volunteers from Volunteering Matters in partnership with Southend Borough Council celebrated ten years of turning around lives of families in the area.

Activ8 project wins at Youth Excellence Awards 2019
On Friday 28th June our Activ8 project won the Youth Work Project category at the Youth Excellence Awards 2019.

Support our ‘Change for Change’ appeal this #GivingTuesday
By giving something up this #GivingTuesday and donating the money that you save to Volunteering Matters you can help our young volunteers drive local change

Volunteers honoured at the Royal Garden Party 2019
Our volunteers and guests from projects running across Scotland were nominated to attend as a gesture of thanks for their commitment to their roles supporting vulnerable people in the community.

Employee Volunteering featured on Companies House blog
Written for Companies House blog to mark Volunteers' Week 2019, our Director of Strategy Paul Buddery talks employee volunteering.

Scottish Parliament praises North Lanarkshire Befriending “tireless work turning around young lives”
Volunteering Matters North Lanarkshire Befriending Project volunteers were congratulated in a Holyrood Motion, tabled by Clare Adamson MSP, and supported by 11 MSPs. Volunteering Matters is calling for similar projects for all vulnerable young people in Scotland.

Mayor chooses to support WASSUP and We Are Patrick in 2019!
We are very proud to announce that the new Mayor of Ipswich, Jan Parry, has chosen WASSUP and We Are Patrick as her chosen projects to support through her term in office!

Sunshine Cafe celebrates anniversary
Sunshine Café, which acts as a social hub for the village of Leeswood celebrated its first anniversary. The morning’s filling included the usual fare of hot chocolate, teacakes and laughter.

Stockton Borough Council Supporting Sporting Chance for a further two years
We are excited to announce that Stockton Borough Council Public Health Team have provided Sporting Chance with a further two years of funding!

Volunteering Matters announces new President
Lord Freud has been appointed the new President of Volunteering Matters. He succeeds Lord Levy, who has made an outstanding contribution in his twenty years as President.

Network Point Newcastle launched to enhance local Dementia care
Volunteering Matters has launched a brand new, innovative volunteering network in Newcastle for organisations assisting people in mid to late life and Dementia.

Soft-matching in parliament for Grandmentors Milton Keynes!
Grandmentors volunteers and young people on our award-winning Grandmentors project enjoyed a trip to Parliament for a soft matching event.

Grandmentors programme wins National Mentoring Award
Volunteering Matter’s Grandmentors programme won a prestigious national award recognising its transformational work in mentoring young care leavers. The Grandmentors programme received the honour in the Third Sector category at the recent National Mentoring Awards, in recognition of the 1:1 support that Grandmentors provide young people leaving care. One of the key areas that impressed … Continued

Job Bridge – the new Erasmus+ project
Volunteering Matters CE and president of Volonteurope, Oonagh Aitken, gave her update of the new Erasmus+ Project ‘Job Bridge’.

Grandmentors shortlisted for the National Mentoring Awards 2019!
We've made the final shortlist for the National Mentoring Awards 2019 with our Grandmentors programme!

Norwich Volunteers – we need you!
We've got a new opportunity for Norwich volunteers to make a massive different to a young person's life.

Grandmentors launched in Milton Keynes thanks to the Freemasons
Thanks to the Freemasons Grandmentors Milton Keynes will reach even more young people leaving care.

WASSUP scoops Third Sector Award!
Our project WASSUP has won the Third Sector Award for Volunteer Team of the Year!

Mind Matters shortlisted in the Children & Young People Now Awards
Mind Matters have been shortlisted in the Advice and Guidance category of the Children & Young People Now Awards 2018!

People’s Postcode Lottery takes a Sporting Chance
Staff from People’s Postcode Lottery went to visit Sporting Chance in Stockton to see first-hand the sort of projects their funding supports.
Blog Posts

Volunteering Matters and ProjectScotland set to merge to enable more communities to make change
By merging and by taking a place-based approach – shaped by local knowledge, energy and understanding – more people will be supported.

RSVP volunteers make gardening workbooks for children
Gardening workbooks created for children by RSVP volunteers in lockdown
Spot our volunteers during Emmerdale on ITV
Keep an eye for our volunteers during the ad breaks in Emmerdale on ITV this winter! From December until January 2021 three of our projects – Norfolk Knitters and Stitchers, Grandmentors in Milton Keynes and Match and Mentor – are featured in the clips, giving a small glimpse of how our volunteers are building stronger … Continued

Launching Great Grandmentors
Our Grandmentors volunteer their time, skills, compassion and expertise to help young people coming out of the care system so that they can become independent adults. To mark Care Leavers Week 2020 we’re launching the next phase of this award-winning programme – Great Grandmentors. Over the past 3 years we’ve seen our Grandmentors going above … Continued

Paul Reddish reflects on Danny Kruger’s report, ‘Levelling Up Our Communities.’
Shifting power to communities and volunteers: Let’s get started This summer we’ve witnessed first-hand the incredible efforts of people in communities, volunteering their time to support others in need during this pandemic – this included emergence of mutual aid groups, neighbours supporting one another, more formalised roles like NHS Responders and volunteers through charities … Continued

Reflections on Blackout Tuesday
On the day that TV and radio stations observe 'Blackout Tuesday' to show that racism of any kind cannot be tolerated, our Chief Executive Paul reflects on practical changes needed to tackle every day inequalities.

COVID-19 Voluntary Response: A blog from our Chief Executive
'The charity sector and volunteers have never been more needed than right now.' Paul Reddish gives an overview of the sector response to COVID-19.

COVID-19 and why volunteering matters
A quick update from our Chief Executive, Paul Reddish, on our response so far to COVID-19.

Volunteering Matters for Social Prescribing
Director of Strategy Paul Buddery on why Volunteering Matters is delighted that social prescribing is a high priority for health services across the UK.

Sharing community-based solutions
Rachel Evans reveals how community-based solutions to help isolated older people are being shared across the UK.