The Learning and Development Roadmap aims to strengthen the capabilities of Volunteer Management Practitioners (VMPs), as well as to provide guidance on the skills and competencies required to perform effectively and optimise volunteer resources in meeting the needs of service users. It also shows potential development pathways and learning opportunities for VMPs as they plan towards the longer-term goal of serving and growing with the sector. The VMPs can use the digital self-assessment tool helps them identify their proficiency gaps and relevant training courses. Besides VMPs, the Roadmap  may also be used by management and human resource practitioners of SSAs as a guide to develop these practitioners, and to recruit candidates for volunteer management roles.

Check out the resources below:

• Learning and Development Roadmap for Volunteer Management Practitioners
• Learning and Development Roadmap for Volunteer Management Practitioners Course Listing
  
• Digital Self-Assessment Tool

The Volunteer Management Leadership Series (VMLS) is a series of engagement sessions curated specially for board and senior leadership of SSAs to support and strengthen the volunteer management strategies in their agencies.  The objectives of this initiative are:

1. To recognise the pivotal role played by volunteer managers in increasing overall manpower capacity through volunteers, to better achieve the organisation’s strategic outcomes
2. To recognise volunteer management as an important function in strengthening services and a strategy that can catalyse the organisation’s strategic plans & goals
3. To encourage boards/senior management to be the connector or resource mobiliser between their agency and the wider community to increase volunteer partnerships 

 

Volunteer Management Leadership Series Sessions

 

To find out more about VMLS, please write to: volunteer_resource@ncss.gov.sg

The Volunteer Management Network is our regular series of networking sessions for VM Practitioners to learn from subject-matter experts on volunteer management, share best practices among the SSAs, and encourage collaborations. The network aims to deepen the knowledge of VM Practitioners and enhance their learning in view of emerging and future trends that affect the social service sector. Volunteer Management Network Sessions Title and Date Description and Network Report Developing Your Volunteers for Growth and Progression   2 March 2022 (completed) Keeping volunteers interested and invested in the organisation’s work is a key to volunteer retention and this can be achieved through an effective and customised volunteer progression and development journey co-created with your volunteers. This session focused on volunteers’ growth and development and importance of defining and developing the role of volunteers. Download network report Engaging Volunteers with Strategic Marketing Lenses   19 January 2022 (completed) One of the common challenges faced by Volunteer Management Practitioners today is to attract and market for more volunteers that fit to their needs. To engage and retain volunteers, there is a need for organisations to have good strategic marketing lenses to communicate the requirements and seek out the right people for the volunteering roles. Download network report Enabling a Professional Approach in Volunteer Management   18 October 2021 (completed) Volunteer Management Practitioners need to tap on a diverse skillset to fulfil a myriad of important responsibilities. This session was designed to share professional development tools to help participants build skills and harness their full potential in volunteer management. Download network report A digital mindset in Volunteer Management   30 August 2021 (completed) As the world embraces a new level of digital life brought about by COVID-19, there is an increasing need to digitalise volunteer management to cater to an increasingly tech-savvy generation of volunteers and service users. Download network report Empowering the sector to reimagine volunteerism for sustainable partnerships   14, 20 & 27 January 2021 (completed) Enabling our social service agencies (SSAs) through insights into more sustainable and future-ready partnerships with your volunteers, stakeholders and community for greater collective impact. This network was organised over a series of 3 webinars. 14 January 2021: Creating Collective Impact with Your Stakeholders 20 January 2021: Harnessing Strengths and Growing Assets Within the Community 27 January 2021: Strengthening Volunteer Development and Evaluating Impact for Sustained Partnerships Download network report Empowering agencies to seize opportunities in uncertain times 24 September, 2 & 9 October 2020 (completed) This Volunteer Management Network was designed to support SSAs in leveraging their own learning and experience during the COVID-19 crisis. to strengthen resilience and volunteer continuity, better mobilise and motivate their volunteers and stakeholders for more effective volunteer management. This network was organised over a series of 3 webinars: 24 September 2020: Enhancing the resilience and safety of volunteer involvement 2 October 2020: Managing and collaborating with stakeholders for enhanced and sustainable volunteering experience 9 October 2020: Empowering volunteers through volunteer role redesign Download network report (764kb) Empowering VM Practitioners in building organisational readiness and responsiveness to crisis 17, 21 & 24 July 2020 (completed) Deepening knowledge of volunteer management practices for the 'next normal'. This network was organised over a series of 3 webinars: 17 July 2020: Engaging volunteers in crisis situations to continue supporting service users 21 July 2020: Reframing the communication and engagement with volunteers during a crisis 24 July 2020: Reflecting and preparing for the “next normal” in volunteer management Download network report (788kb) Collaborative Partnership for Common Good Series – Volunteer Leadership Development 15 November 2019 (completed) Volunteer leaders bring special skills and dedication, but this talent pool is often underused or lacking in support. This network provided tips on how SSAs could identify, prepare and promote effective and courageous volunteer leaders. Download network report (665kb) Volunteer retention through good processes and technology 4 September 2019 (completed) Retaining volunteers require conscious efforts. This network highlighted the different elements of volunteer experience and how an agency could improve their processes through the Kaizen methodology and use of technology.   Collaborative Partnership for Common Good Series – Volunteer Partnerships 27 May 2019 (completed)   Volunteers come from corporates, schools and private organisations. To effectively sustain the relationship, both partners and SSAs need to understand and appreciate the constraints and needs. This network equipped participants with negotiation tools and frameworks for a win-win volunteer partnership that is sustainable.  Download network report (6.4mb)

If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive updates on our upcoming Volunteer Management Network sessions, drop us an email at volunteer_resource@ncss.gov.sg.

In the ‘In Conversation’ series, VM Practitioners can look forward to discussions in small group settings with sector leaders and peers on hot-button issues relating to volunteer management, and get insights to better manage daily work challenges. There will also be a structured networking segment for participants to share a ‘gift’ (i.e. what can they offer) and voice a ‘need’ (i.e. what help is required) with the group, and get connected for further collaborations.

Conferences / Masterclass

Conferences and Masterclasses bring local and global thought leaders to share their insights and best practices. They are also great platforms to network and be inspired by the impactful work done by fellow VM practitioners. 

In January 2019, international and local thought leaders came together for “Global Leader Series for Non-Profits - The Future of Resource Mobilisation: Civic Entrepreneurship and Community-Driven Development” conference held at SIM Performing Arts Centre. With digitalisation being at the forefront,there has been much attention on how resource mobilisation can improve the way organisations work. The conference shed light on how like traditional for-profit companies, Social Purpose Entities (SPEs) needed to employ innovative approaches, leverage the power of community involvement and embrace the advancement of technology to tackle social problems.

In March 2021, over 300 volunteer management practitioners attended the Volunteer Management Masterclass with Ms Tobi Johnson, international expert, consultant and master trainer in volunteer management on key elements necessary to build a "future-proofed" volunteer strategy. 

During the 3 half-day virtual workshops, Tobi shared useful tips with the sector professionals on how they can achieve success in their current roles with the challenges presented from the pandemic by introducing new and innovative ways in their work processes and changing mindsets of how a volunteer can value-add to the organisation. The session has helped equip participants to set a course for purposeful growth that is realistic and achievable in the current environment.

Volunteer Management Training programmes

The Social Service Institute conducts the following training programmes to equip VM Practitioners with the fundamental knowledge and skills on volunteer management.

• Design and Develop an Effective Volunteer Work Programme
  Developing volunteer assignments that are meaningful to the organisation and attractive to prospective volunteers requires both planning and vision. It means analysing what needs to be done (whether to assist staff or to provide a service directly to clients) and then creatively designing tasks doable in short bursts of time, by groups of people with different skills. The module engages learners to take a closer look at design and development of effective volunteer work programmes. Learners will also learn about volunteer leadership framework.


• Plan and Strategise for an Effective Volunteer Engagement Programme
  Ever wondered what exactly is volunteer engagement? Recruiting volunteers is but a start to real engagement. What are the elements of a good volunteer management framework and how do we meaningfully engage and motivate volunteers to be active citizens within our community? The module engages learners to take a closer look at the critical management practices for working effectively with both skill-oriented and mission-focused volunteers, serving on either a long term or episodic basis. Learners will also learn to effectively engage volunteers to reach strategic goals in their organisations.


• Volunteer Management Practices: Connect, Engage and Develop
  This course aims to increase the efficacy of professionals in volunteer management through practice and application, by effectively implementing the concepts of the Volunteer Management Toolkit and applying the volunteer management best practices at their workplace through a blend of online, experiential and workplace learning. Through a “learning by doing” approach, learners will get to improve their competencies in managing and collaborating with volunteers to achieve their respective organisation’s mission and maximise the potential of volunteers.
  
  Participants are required to complete the following 7 e-learning modules before attending the Volunteer Management Practices: Connect, Engage and Develop course.
  
  
  Topics
  • Introduction to Volunteerism
  • Getting your Agency Volunteer Ready
  • Conducting Needs Assessment
  • Recruiting and Selecting Volunteers
  • Onboarding and Training Volunteers
  • Supporting and Recognising Volunteers
  • Reviewing Volunteer Management

The Volunteer Manager Residential Learning Programme was introduced in 2019, with the vision of empowering and enabling our community of VM Practitioners. Some 25 participants from our SSAs came together to engage in design thinking and community development methodologies that would enable them to better manage day-to-day work challenges and practise change management.