As volunteer engagement professionals, we aspire for volunteers to be appreciated for their important role in our communities. We strive to increase our understanding of the complexity and challenges that are ingrained in our role. We desire adequate budgets, sufficient resources and for our role to be given the recognition it deserves. For volunteer management to advance and truly be seen as the valuable and essential profession that it is, we need to work together, collaborate and strengthen our voice. One effective way to achieve this is by joining or forming a network of like-minded individuals who have a passion to bring about positive change for the volunteer sector.

Collaboration Ideas for Networks

Involvement in a network can bring many benefits to the individuals involved as well as their organisation and the sector. Here are some suggestions on how leaders of volunteers can work together by being an active member in a network:

•  Informing and influencing the sector: Providing feedback and information to peak bodies regarding budget applications and policy development.
• Sharing resources: Sharing documents, venues, processes, people (volunteers and employees) and training with like-minded organisations. For example, two animal shelters combining their resources to form a network of foster care volunteers helping across both organisations. This can generate a greater impact, and in this example, more animals being cared for.
• Supporting each other’s recruitment: Being aware of other organisation’s recruitment intakes and referring enquiries to each other during inactive recruitment periods. Additionally, referring applicants to each other when a more suitable role exists for an individual at an alternative organisation.
• Mentoring and support: Supporting other leaders of volunteers (particularly those new to the sector) through mentoring and moral support. Many of the challenges we face are the same and often there is no one else within our own organisation who understands these challenges. Discussing and working through these with someone who has experienced a similar situation can be a comfort and a platform to develop solutions.
• Working together on special projects: Applying for grants together and collaborating on projects.
• Sharing ideas, knowledge and experience: Our backgrounds and experiences are rich and diverse. What better way to celebrate this diversity and elevate our profession by being generous with our ideas, knowledge and experience.
• Passion and enthusiasm: Connecting with each other over a shared passion can be an enormous motivator. Together we can inspire, encourage and uplift each other.

Volunteer Leadership Network

One such network is the Volunteer Leadership Network (VLN) based in Perth, Australia. The VLN comprises of 18 members who collectively support over 50,000 volunteers. The purpose of the group is ‘to work together to share knowledge, experience and ideas.’ The VLN work closely with the state peak body Volunteering WA and their guiding principles include: ‘be advocates, address gender imbalance, shift sector language, be mentors and build our profile.’
Despite being a relatively new network, the VLN’s reputation and influence is gaining momentum within the sector. They have a direct link to the Minister of Volunteering in WA with several member organisations being represented on the Ministers Advisory Group. The group has a direct voice to the Minister with non-binding advice and information on trends and issues impacting the sector as well as feedback on the implementation of the State Volunteering Strategy. The group also advises on current challenges and developments in volunteering and assists in identifying gaps, barriers, strengths and opportunities to advance volunteering in Western Australia. Additionally, the VLN is also able to provide direct sector advice to Volunteering WA as the Convenor of the Ministers Advisory Group.

Gilda Davies (Manager Training and Sector Development) convenes the VLN and shares some of the benefits the VLN has brought to the sector. “We are currently making changes in the sector by being great mentors and providing uplifting support to inexperienced volunteer managers to build resilience in a tough and under-resourced industry. We encourage volunteer managers to advance their professionalism by attending the Volunteering WA Volunteer Manager Endorsement program which provides four levels of Endorsement for practical, professional learning. The Endorsement workshops provide a measurable standard for volunteer management in WA and recognises the professionalism of those who participate.”

Kate White (Director for Adept Volunteering) is a member of the VLN and shares her experience. “Becoming involved in the Volunteer Leadership Network has benefited me personally very positively. It has given me a community of volunteer management professionals with whom I can call on for professional support and guidance. The group is a professional network that recognise the real value and level of the work we undertake, and that recognition is very important.”

“My organisation has benefited greatly from my involvement in the VLN. I have generated professional contracts, participated in high level research and had the opportunity to contribute to industry wide forums as a result of our involvement.”

As a sector let’s come together and collaborate. Let’s ignite and propel volunteer management forward so that we can achieve more and be stronger together.

Are you an active member in a network of leaders of volunteers? Please share your experience and how you have collaborated with other members. What benefits have you personally experienced from your involvement and what benefits has your organisation enjoyed?