Corporate Volunteering

Volunteering is at the heart of our community here in Hertfordshire. As the way people engage with volunteering continues to evolve, it's more important than ever for organisations to come together to share ideas, difficulties and experience, as well as explore new approaches that inspire, support and retain volunteers. That's why we're excited to highlight the upcoming 'Be The Good' Summit: Reimagining Volunteering Together , taking place in Letchworth Garden City on Thursday 9th July . Hosted by North Herts & Stevenage CVS in partnership with Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation and North Herts Council, this free event will bring together charities, community groups, faith organisations, social enterprises, trustees, volunteer managers, and sector leaders from across North Hertfordshire and Stevenage. A Chance to Shape the Future of Volunteering The summit is designed to spark fresh conversations about how volunteering can continue to thrive in our communities. Whether you're responsible for recruiting volunteers, leading an organisation or supporting community initiatives, this event offers the opportunity to step back, reflect and learn from others facing similar opportunities and challenges. Attendees will hear from Rob Jackson FRSA , an internationally recognised volunteer engagement specialist and one of the UK's leading voices on volunteer management and engagement. His keynote session will provide fresh perspectives on how organisations can better attract, retain and support volunteers in a changing world. Why Attend? By attending the Be The Good Summit, you'll have the opportunity to: Hear the latest national thinking on volunteering and volunteer engagement Explore practical approaches to volunteer recruitment and retention Connect with fellow community leaders and local organisations Share experiences, challenges and success stories Contribute to discussions shaping the future of volunteering across North Hertfordshire and Stevenage Event Details Date: Thursday 9th July Time: 9:00am arrival for a 9:30am start, finishing at 2:30pm Venue: Icknield Centre, Icknield Way, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 1EF Cost: Free to attend Refreshments: Working lunch and refreshments provided Please note that places are limited to two attendees per organisation , and demand is expected to be high. Book Your Place The summit is open to volunteer leads, executives, trustees and key stakeholders from organisations that are based in or operate within North Hertfordshire and Stevenage. If you're passionate about strengthening volunteering and building more inclusive, flexible and meaningful opportunities for people to get involved in, this is the event for you. We encourage interested organisations to register early to secure their place and join the conversation about the future of volunteering in our communities. We look forward to seeing many local organisations there and working together to make volunteering stronger than ever!

Community champions from across Hertfordshire were recognised and celebrated during Volunteers' Week at the Hertfordshire Volunteer Fair, bringing together members of the public, charitable organisations, volunteers and community leaders for a day highlighting the power and importance of volunteers in our community. Now in its 4th year, the Hertfordshire Volunteer Fair organised by GoVolHerts hosted 35 organisations from across Hertfordshire to share the incredible work they do, for a day of connection, networking and opportunity. The fair has become a signature event in Hertfordshire’s Volunteers’ Week celebrations. The event also gave a nod to GoVolHerts’s involvement in May’s national campaign, A Million Acts of Hope, with its own ‘One in a Million’ awards. Volunteers’ Week thanks all volunteers for all they do; these new awards were a chance for organisations to shine a spotlight on the particularly special and impactful contribution of individual volunteers who have really gone the extra mile. Organisations participating in the Fair were invited to nominate volunteers whose contributions made them their One in a Million, and given the opportunity to share their story. Of the many nominations, five winners were selected: Kevin Allchorne at Music 24, Julie Fordham at Hertfordshire Health Walks, Lyndsay Abbott at Garden House Hospice, Angela Johnson at British Schools Museum and Beth Molloy at Marie Curie. Hearing the winning acceptance speeches was incredibly touching, with all citing how rewarding volunteering has been for them just as much as the organisations. Beth Molloy designated herself a ‘volunteering addict’, and Angela Johnson loves ‘every brick of the British Schools Museum’ and getting ‘the chance to bring history to life’, proving that volunteering opportunities don’t just give meaning to the organisations they support but also the individuals who support them. Other nominees who were given a special mention included Mark Smith and Heather Cotton from Hertfordshire Health Walks, Caroline Palliser from Reach Out Hertfordshire, Duncan and Judy Rodgers from Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, Olanike Bejide from Greater Level Network, Jackie Burrows at Services for Young People and Albert Sharman from Growing Resilience in Teens. The celebrations were attended by a number of VIPs and dignitaries, including the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Robert Voss CBE CStJ, High Sheriff of Hertfordshire Anna Rankin, Major of Stevenage Cllr Lloyd Briscoe and Labour MP Alistair Strathern, as well as Hertfordshire and local Councillors, who joined attendees in recognising the remarkable achievements of local volunteers and community champions. Reflecting on the work charities do and the necessity for volunteers for them to continue, Robert Voss said: ‘We have just under 4,000 charities in Hertfordshire and I say to each and every one of them, I wish you didn’t exist but am I glad you do. Volunteering is not only great for the charity but is a wonderful opportunity for the individual. Talk to anyone who volunteers and they will tell you, what they get out of it is huge – it really is a wonderful therapy. Even a day a month, a day every three months, you will get something out of it and so will the charity you support.’ With Volunteers' Week having drawn to a close, the success of the volunteer fair and the celebration of Hertfordshire's One in a Million nominees and winners stands as a testament to the generosity, commitment and community spirit that continues to thrive across the county. For more information about volunteering opportunities in Hertfordshire, visit govolherts.org.uk Lyndsay Abbott, One in a Million winner from Garden House Hospice and Hannah Morgan-Gray, CEO at North Herts and Stevenage CV S Hannah Morgan-Gray, CEO at North Herts and Stevenage CV S, Lord Lieutenant Robet Voss, Anna Rankin, High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Cllr Lloyd Briscoe Mayor of Stevenage, Emily Butterworth Project Lead at GoVolHerts North Herts & Stevenage CVS team and projects L to R, top row: Opal Reid, Michal Siewniak, Deborah Smith, Andy Nazer, Kimberley Buet, Jon Brown, Sally Griffin, Michelle Crowe, Emily Butterworth Middle row: Amanda Treadaway, Hannah Morgan-Gray Bottom row: Bec Down, Katie Edwards Nick Payne, Volunteer Photographer

Life’s too short to spend it doing things that drain you. That belief sits at the heart of why people like Mike Cannon choose to volunteer, not because they have to but because it genuinely lights them up. As Mike puts it, if you’re working in a job (or giving your time to something) that doesn’t excite you or spark passion, then what’s the point? Out next Volunteer's Week story is from Mike, who, after retiring from the police, Mike found himself at a crossroads. In 2020, while working at a gym with a coach who had previously worked with Growing Resilience in Teens (GRIT) , he heard stories about the challenges young people are facing today and how that organisation was helping. “I was taken with the stories he was telling me about the young people he was working with and how they were changing,” Mike explains. “I thought, right, this sounds fantastic.” What started as a desire to raise money for a charity - doing a climbing fundraiser - soon evolved into something deeper: a hands-on commitment to supporting young people through volunteering. After initially being introduced to GRIT through a friend, Mike started volunteering as their boxing coach. Mike’s approach to working with young people is simple; meet them where they are, then bring them together. Using the discipline and curiosity he learnt while working in the police, Mike created sessions that were engaging (and exhausting!) enough to get young people moving, whilst connecting the coaching element of GRIT's method to give them a safe space to share. GRIT is a North Hertfordshire charity that support young people struggling with their mental health and wellbeing by offering some practical, energetic movement, namely boxing, along with a space to share and shape their thoughts and feeling through tailored coaching sessions. “Once they flop on the bean bags, they’re there. They’re ready. They’re listening.” Young people need structure, challenge, and space to feel safe. When those elements come together, something shifts and they begin to open up. In addition to Mike's support with boxing, he also supported the fundraising team with going to events to promote the amazing work GRIT do and raise awareness of the service. He had really become a hugely valued part of the team and it was not long after this, that GRIT offered him a position as a coach and the rest is history. Now, in addition to offering his time for fundraising and support, Mike helps to run their weekly GRIT Programme; a 90-minute afterschool workshop that ties boxing in with coaching, in a small group programme of young people aged up to 16. For Mike, the GRIT programme isn’t just another commitment - it’s the highlight of his week. “I genuinely look forward to Thursday,” he says. “When they all come in, it’s brilliant. And when they all go, you can just see they’ve had a buzz.” Sometimes, the impact is obvious in the smallest moments - young people asking to stay longer, wanting to do just one more activity, or leaving with smiles and energy they didn’t arrive with. That’s the power of a positive environment built on enthusiasm, consistency, and care. There’s a shared understanding within the GRIT team that energy matters. When coaches show up passionate, present and invested, young people feel it. "I believe all people should be involved with volunteering," Mike shares, "It helps to build confidence, skills and if you can help out, why wouldn't you? It shows us that the importance of all being part of something bigger than us and that by working as a team, we can make change." And in this case, it couldn't have started without Mike initially offering to volunteer and his interest to create a positive change in young people. "At the end of the day, I can think I've made a positive difference." Volunteering, when it’s aligned with purpose, doesn’t just change the lives of the people being supported, it changes the volunteers too. For Mike, it’s proof that doing what lights you up can make all the difference. To see our opportunities to make a difference to the young people in your community, please head here.