Welcome to our July issue of the Volunteer Coordinators newsletter.

Can you believe we're already more than six months into 2024? How are your New Year's resolutions going or dare I ask?

The Community Support North Yorkshire team has recently enjoyed facilitating two volunteer coordinator network meetings (one in Pickering at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway) and a Managing Volunteers training session in Skipton.

Getting out into the community to run these sessions has been brilliant - not only allowing us to see where some of you work, but also enjoying the countryside on the drive out! Let's hope for some nice weather over the summer for us all to enjoy.

All the best everyone.

As we approached the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership's (NYSCP) Safeguarding Week (17-21 June), we were thrilled to invite Kathryn Morrison, the Policy and Development Officer with NYSCP, to our June network meeting.

Kat spoke about safeguarding and how the partnership is working with VCSE groups to improve signposting to support services.

Safeguarding vulnerable adults is also a priority in our communities - particularly guarding against financial fraud and scams. You can find more information on how to support those with additional needs on the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults Board website.

It can be challenging to demonstrate the impact that your volunteers have, not only on the organisation that they give their time to but also on the community at large.

Soft outcomes, such as confidence building and developing a sense of purpose, don't always meet the needs of funders and stakeholders.

With this in mind, the Time for Impact podcast invited Matt Hick to talk about his work as Head of Volunteering at the Science Museum Group and founder of the Heritage Volunteering Group. 

During the podcast, he talks about how he supports his volunteer managers to demonstrate impact and inspire others within the communities they serve. He also explains in detail how the Science Museum Group is delivering a range of activities in diverse and inclusive spaces.

The second half of the interview covers his work with the Heritage Volunteering Group and the support it is giving its members.

As a leader of volunteers, have you thought about the 'awareness and appreciation' theme of the Vision for Volunteering?

Do your volunteers feel appreciated? Are you aware of all of their individual needs?

You may have a good level of knowledge of the volunteers you see regularly, but what about those who volunteer remotely or who give their time less frequently?

During the pandemic, organisations moved their 'keep in touch' meetings online. Is this something you could go back to? Here Volunteering Pro talks about online communities and how to set one up to help keep in touch with your volunteers.

This month's volunteer interview is with Gail Squires who gives her time to Ripon Library Action Group (RLAG). Gail has been with the group since its formation in 2017 - and she is now a trustee. Her love of books and time to give to others led her to Ripon and a new hybrid model of community library. Here she talks about her love for volunteering and sharing her other interests and pastimes.

Please introduce yourself.

Ripon Library Action Group was formed in 2017 when the then North Yorkshire County Council reorganised its library provision. Ripon Library is a hybrid library that has permanent paid staff supported by a team of volunteers. 

I have been a volunteer at Ripon since it became a hybrid library. In my role, I assist the staff by ensuring that:

• returned books are correctly shelved
• reserved books are processed using the computer system
• books are picked for reservation requests - including those for housebound users and book groups
• new library members are welcomed and signed up.

I also help with numerous types of enquiries, keep the library tidy and carry out anything else the staff ask me to do!! I am also now a Trustee of the Ripon Library Action Group (RLAG)

What attracted you to the organisation and role?

I became involved in volunteering at the library because, at the time, I was responsible for collecting and returning books for a reading group I had joined. I had just moved to part-time working hours and I wished to help to ensure that the library continued to provide its many important services.

What would you say to anyone thinking of becoming a volunteer?

When thinking of becoming a volunteer, I feel it is important to do something that you have an interest in, be it outdoors, creative arts, performing arts, befriending, becoming more involved in the local community, etc. 

Find the organisation or person that can provide more information and even try out various different areas to find the one that is most suited to your interests and the time that you are able to give. 

The best piece of advice given to me, once I had decided where to volunteer, was: ‘If not sure of anything - ask!’. 

Finally, please tell us something about yourself that your fellow volunteers would be surprised to know. 

Whilst not a spring chicken myself, I have always been active, which keeps me out of mischief. I spent my early working life nursing and then latterly in administrative roles working around my family commitments.

I enjoy keeping fit, particularly swimming, so much so that in 2015 I swam in Lake Windermere as part of the Great North Swim with my daughter raising money for the Royal British Legion and St Michael’s Hospice. 

I sing in a local community choir, love animals (especially dogs), enjoy helping to look after my grandchildren (getting into mischief) and cooking - I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Michel Roux Jnr. Oh, and I am married to a former England and British Lions rugby player!