Volunteering Vision Newsletter - 28 September 2026

Welcome to this edition of Volunteering Vision. 

We would like to say thank you to all the organisations that attended the Welwyn Hatfield Volunteer Fair this month.

It was fantastic to see so many local organisations engaging with residents and showcasing the many ways people can get involved in volunteering. We hope the event was beneficial for everyone who attended and that it leads to more opportunities to recruit volunteers in the months ahead.

In this edition, you'll find the latest volunteer news, upcoming support opportunities, and training sessions. We hope you find it useful and informative.

Best wishes,

Kelly Wright
Voluntary Sector and Partnerships Manager

The latest Community and Engagement Survey found that 18% of adults participated in formal volunteering, defined as providing unpaid help to groups or clubs, at least once a month in 2025-26.

This represents a small increase from 17% in 2024-25. However, despite this upward trend, regular volunteering rates remain below pre-pandemic levels, with 23% of adults reporting monthly formal volunteering in 2019-20.

Sector membership body NCVO has discussed volunteer safety as part of a “constructive” first meeting with the government’s recently appointed minister for civil society, Vicky Foxcroft. They talked about the need for sustainable funding for charities delivering public services, increasing collaboration, the importance of gift aid, and protecting the independence of the Charity Commission.

Reach Volunteering will continue operating after nine funders and donors offered support following the charity’s recent closure announcement. The skills-based volunteering charity, established in 1979, announced on 1 September that it would begin a 12-week closure process due to sustained funding pressures. However, it recently announced that a new package of support will fund Reach through to the end of 2028. The charity now plans to reshape its model, introduce efficiencies and grow income to enable it to continue operating long-term.

Communities 1st is conducting a State of the Sector Survey and is inviting local organisations to take part. Your feedback will help us better understand the challenges, opportunities, and support needs of the Community and Voluntary Sector. This will enable us to provide more effective support across the area in the years ahead. The findings will be compiled into a report, and all participating organisations will receive a copy later in the year. 

Volunteering doesn’t happen by accident. Behind every positive volunteering experience is a system that has been shaped, supported and sustained over time. The Vision for Volunteering provides a shared framework for responding to this change. It sets out five themes for how volunteering can evolve to better meet the needs of people and communities.

Communities 1st will be hosting an Introduction to Volunteering session. This one hour Teams session is for potential volunteers wishing to take their first steps towards volunteering. The session will cover an understanding of volunteering and its roles, volunteering with benefits, researching volunteering roles and identifying skills. 

When: 6 October 2026
Location: Online
Time: 10:30am to 11:30am

This session is free to attend. 

If you're a new or aspiring trustee, this one hour Teams course will equip you with essential knowledge about trusteeship. It covers the fundamental aspects of the role within a charity, highlighting the motivations and rewards that come with being a trustee. You'll learn why trusteeship is crucial to the charity sector and gain a realistic understanding of what serving on a board entails. This includes an overview of the responsibilities, challenges, and the significant impact you can have as a trustee.

Where: Online
When: Thursday, 5 November 2026
Time: 10am - 11am

This session is free to attend.

The Sight Loss awareness training is designed to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with sight loss, along with practical skills to better support them.

The session covers various aspects of sight loss, including causes, functional and emotional impacts on daily life and strategies for effective communication and assistance.

The session is aimed at families, carers and professionals to raise awareness about barriers people with sight loss experience, including mobility challenges and social isolation.

Where: Online
When: Thursday, 8 October 2026
Time: 11am - 12pm

This session is free to attend

Prevent is part of the UK Government counter terrorism strategy known as CONTEST that aims to support those who are susceptible to radicalisation. This training session will help you understand the role you can play in supporting those who need it.

Date: 14 October 2026
Time: 2pm-3pm 
Location: Online

This session is free to attend.

You are invited to attend the next quarterly networking breakfast for existing, new and enquiring member organisations.

Come along and enjoy light refreshments while making connections with other voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations. 

Find out about all the membership benefits available, including:

• Funding advice and support 
• Help with volunteer recruitment 
• Training and workshops 
• Share your initiatives and projects
• Discuss local priorities and current trends. 

Date: 8 October 2026
Time: 10am to 11:30am
Venue: 1 Floor, White Lion House
Hatfield Town Centre, Hatfield, AL10 0JL

We look forward to welcoming you!

Hertfordshire County Council Public Health team is running this survey to understand what stops or helps people attend their cervical screening appointment.

They want to understand what would make it easier for people to book and attend their appointments.

They will use the information from the survey to help improve cervical screening services.

This survey is intended for individuals aged 18 to 49 who currently have, or have previously had, a cervix and who receive their healthcare in Hertfordshire. All responses are completely anonymous.