Volunteering Vision Newsletter - 21 May 2026

Volunteering Vision Newsletter
21 May 2026

Welcome to the latest edition of Volunteering Vision. As we move further into spring, May is a perfect time to celebrate volunteering across our communities. With Volunteers’ Week 2026 just around the corner in early June, this is a great opportunity to recognise the incredible contribution volunteers make and to start planning how your organisation can get involved in celebrating and thanking them. Looking ahead, we’re also excited about the upcoming St Albans Volunteer Fair this July. The fair is a fantastic opportunity for organisations to showcase their work, connect with potential volunteers, and strengthen links across the local voluntary sector. For more information and to book a stall, please read on.

Best wishes,

Kelly Wright
Voluntary Sector and Partnerships Manager

Save the date! Annual conference and AGM

Save the date! Communities 1st Annual Conference for Volunteers and the Charity Sector - 9 July 2026

We are excited to announce that we are busy planning our annual conference for volunteers and local charities which will take place on Thursday 9 July at Verso Vineyard Church in St Albans.

We look forward to welcoming volunteers and local voluntary and community groups for a day of informative talks, insightful workshops, and of course, plenty of networking opportunities. Please save the date in your diaries and share it with your fellow volunteers.

Watch out for further information in the coming weeks!

Volunteering News

charity job logo

Volunteer opportunities increase for a second year in a row

Research has revealed a rise in the number of volunteer roles being advertised for the second year in a row, despite the number of paid roles decreasing. In 2025, 17,385 volunteer roles were posted on CharityJob’s website, a 5% increase from 2024 (16,624). All categories saw an increase in volunteer roles, except for support work, despite having the third-highest number of roles, at 2,235.

Read Report

DWP logo

The 'Right to Try' Regulations

The Department for Work and Pensions intends for its “Right to Try” regulations, which came into force on the 1 May, to strengthen benefit claimants’ ability to volunteer without automatically triggering a reassessment of their claims. The regulations apply to personal independence payment recipients, those on universal credit and people on the new-style employment and support allowance, among others.

Read Regulation

Volunteers Week announces a significant evolution in the campaign’s infrastructure

As the voluntary sector prepares for the 42nd annual Volunteers’ Week (1–7 June 2026), the UK Volunteering Forum has announced a significant evolution in the campaign’s infrastructure: the launch of the first-ever Volunteers’ Week online shop.
Since its inception in 1984, Volunteers’ Week has served as the national cornerstone for recognising the diverse contributions that underpin our social fabric. The 2026 campaign introduces this dedicated retail platform as a direct response to strategic feedback from across the voluntary and public sectors. For the first time, volunteering leads and practitioners can buy official merchandise directly. This development addresses a long-standing requirement for high-quality, tangible recognition tools.

Read Article

Information to support your organisation

St Albans Volunteer Fair

On Thursday 23 July, Communities 1st is hosting the St Albans volunteer fair in the Civic Centre Council Chambers. This event will be the perfect opportunity for the public to explore volunteering opportunities in St Albans.

We would like to encourage local groups to attend and take a stall as it will be a chance to meet with people who currently volunteer, as well as people who are thinking about volunteering. This event will also allow groups to network with one another and share their experiences and expertise.

Book A Stall Here

Introduction to Recruiting and Engaging Volunteers

As we celebrate and recognise the contributions of volunteers, Communities 1st is here to help you build on your volunteer engagement, retention, and recruitment. Our free to members one-hour Introduction to Recruiting and Engaging Volunteers webinar, covering understanding volunteer motivations, engaging volunteers, and tips on recruitment, is a great place to start.

Register Here

The Big Do – charities should seize this national volunteering moment

The coming together of the Big Lunch and the Big Help Out this year matters. The combined scale of these initiatives creates a far bigger national moment than either has delivered alone. Together, they create a call to action that charities can plug into. For small and local charities in particular, this is a rare chance to reach beyond existing networks and connect with new people. From 5 to 8 June, they will form a single, nationwide moment of community action, a “Big Do”. One of the biggest challenges charities face is not just recruiting volunteers, but reaching people who may never have thought of themselves as volunteers.

Read Blog Here

Let's Give

Say goodbye to the time-consuming search for the right volunteer. With Let’s Give, you can connect directly with individuals who match your needs - based on skills, availability, and passion.

Our platform is designed to take the guesswork out of recruiting.

Search profiles, identify the perfect fit, and let us facilitate the connection.

Whether you need specialised expertise or enthusiastic support, Let’s Give helps you find volunteers who align with your mission.

Let's Give Today

Training

Sustainable Funding

In this training, you will learn important strategies to achieve financial sustainability for your organisation. The session will cover effective tools and methods to improve your fundraising efforts. You will find out how to identify potential funders who share your mission and explore different ways to diversify your income sources. This approach will give you the knowledge needed to ensure your organisation’s financial stability.

Where: Online
When: Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Time: 10am - 1pm

Sign Up Here

Introduction to volunteering

As part of Volunteers' Week, Communities 1st will be hosing 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: Tuesday 2 June 2026
Location: Online
Time: 10:30am to 11:30am

Sign Up Here

Essential Fundraising Skills for Small Charities

By the end of this session, learners will have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of fundraising and be able to identify and apply various fundraising techniques effectively. We will cover essential legal and ethical considerations and focus on building strong donor relationships. Additionally, participants will develop a tailored fundraising strategy and engage in practical activities to enhance their confidence and skills in fundraising.

Where: Online
When: Tuesday, 9 June 2026
Time: 10am - 1pm

Sign Up Here

Events

Networking Breakfast in Hatfield

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 and discuss local priorities and current trends.

Date: 18 June 2026
Time: 9:30am to 11:00am
Venue: White Lion House, Town Centre
Hatfield, AL10 0JL

We look forward to welcoming you!

Book Your Place Here

Now You See ME Now You Don’t event with Hertfordshire ME/CFS Support Group

Hertfordshire ME/CFS Support Group invites you to the opening and private viewing of their exhibition of the art and photography exploring life before and after ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia and Long Covid, all created by their members.

Date: 8 -24 May 2026
Time: 9am to 5pm
Venue: St Albans Cathedral, Sumpter Yard, St Albans AL1 1BY

Free Entry