Volunteer Manager
Further Information

What is the work like?
Many charities and other non-profit organisations rely on volunteers to carry out some or all of their work. Depending on the organisation, volunteers can get involved in a wide range of activities, including:

• advising and supporting adults and children with physical, emotional, mental health or social problems
• fundraising
• working on conservation, environmental or community projects
• working in charity shops
• caring for animals
• showing visitors around historic houses, museums or heritage sites
• teaching or sports coaching
• general administrative work.

A lot of planning is required to make sure that all volunteers are in the right place at the right time, and understand how to carry out their roles effectively and safely. This is often the responsibility of the volunteer manager (also known as a volunteer co-ordinator or leader). Volunteer managers co-ordinate the work of volunteers. Their duties can include:

• recruiting new volunteers - this can involve publicising their organisation’s work by giving talks and presentations to groups of people, or organising campaigns in the press, television or radio
• interviewing potential volunteers to make sure they understand what volunteering involves, and checking that they have the right skills and personal qualities
• placing volunteers in roles that will make the best use of their interests, skills and abilities
• arranging training and development for volunteers or perhaps delivering the training themselves
• planning the work of volunteers and making sure that enough volunteers are available on a particular day, or for a particular project
• ensuring the organisation follows good practice and avoids legal problems
• organising events
• supervising the work of volunteers
• writing letters, making phone calls and keeping accounts
• making sure budget and service targets are met
• writing reports
• writing or revising volunteer policies and procedures
• in some jobs, supervising paid staff
• liaising with representatives of other organisations.

Starting salaries are between £16,000 and £21,000 a year.

Hours and environment

Volunteer managers usually work normal office hours, from Monday to Friday. Evening and weekend work may be required. Part-time work is available.
Most volunteer managers are office based. A driving licence may be useful for travelling to meetings and events.
Salary and other benefits
These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live.

• Starting salaries are between £16,000 and £21,000 a year.
• Volunteer managers with experience may earn up to £28,000 a year.
• Those working for large organisations could earn up to £30,000 or more.

Salaries may be higher in London.

Skills and personal qualities

Volunteer managers need:

• to be committed to the work of their charity
• excellent organisational skills
• strong written and spoken communication skills
• tact, patience and motivational skills - volunteers give up their free time to help
• a confident, outgoing personality
• to be flexible and adaptable
• to be comfortable talking to both large groups of people and individuals
• strong team-working skills
• to be able to work on their own
• to understand other people’s needs and motivations.

Interests

It is important to:

• be interested in the issues promoted by the charity, eg social care or the environment
• enjoy working with people from a wide range of backgrounds.

Getting in

Organisations that employ volunteer managers include:

• national and local charities
• hospitals and other healthcare organisations
• arts, culture and sports organisations
• environmental organisations
• playgroups and groups for children and young people.

There are about 153,000 general charities in the UK. They employ around 569,000 paid workers including 203,000 part-time workers. There are also 17.9 million volunteers; many smaller charities rely entirely on volunteers and do not employ paid volunteer managers.
Jobs are available throughout the UK, but the headquarters of many large charities are based in London or other major cities.
Vacancies are advertised in the local and national press. Charities also post vacancies on their websites and in their own magazines. Some recruitment agencies and websites specialise in jobs in the voluntary sector; see www.wfac.org.uk for a list.

Entry for young people

There are no formal entry requirements. Previous experience of work in fields like management, human resources or administration, or any paid or unpaid work for a voluntary organisation can be an advantage.
Organisations may expect candidates for paid employment to have previous experience as a volunteer. A common entry route is to start by volunteering, then take on the management of other volunteers as part of voluntary duties, and finally move into paid work as a volunteer manager. However, a volunteer post does not always lead to paid employment.
Working For A Charity offers a range of courses including a two-evening programme that gives an introduction to the voluntary sector and information on job opportunities. The Working For A Charity Foundation Course is for people looking for their first paid job in the voluntary sector. It combines seven days of seminars with a 20-day work placement. Courses are held in London.
Many local volunteer centres also offer day courses on the core skills needed to work as a volunteer manager.

Entry for adults

There is no maximum age to become a volunteer manager. As candidates are usually expected to have previous voluntary experience and/or experience in a relevant work area, adult entry is normal.

Training

Training varies depending on the organisation. Some larger charities have in-house training schemes that may include training in skills such as public speaking or writing press releases. Smaller charities may send staff on external training courses. A list of organisations offering training for volunteer managers can be found on the Voluntary Sector Skills website (see Further information).
The following qualifications are aimed specifically at volunteer managers:

• Advanced Certificate in Volunteer Management - offered by Lantra. Candidates complete a single work-based project.
• Higher Education Certificate in Volunteer Management (Department of Lifelong Learning, Bangor, University of Wales) - each module involves 30 hours of study and gives the candidate 30 Higher Education credits at Level 1.
• Edexcel/BTEC Professional Development Certificate in Voluntary Sector Management (City College Norwich) - this course is taught one day a week for 30 weeks.
• Level 3 Award in Managing Volunteers (National Open College Network).
• Level 2 Certificate in Managing Voluntary and Community Organisations (National Open College Network).
• Level 3 Award in Managing Voluntary and Community Organisations (National Open College Network).

Further details of these qualifications can also be found on the Voluntary Sector Skills website.

Getting on

Experienced volunteer managers working for large organisations may be promoted to more senior positions. Those employed by small organisations may have to change employers, and possibly relocate, in order to progress.
Volunteer managers may also move into related careers in human resources or management.
Those working for charities dealing with overseas aid may have the opportunity to travel or work abroad.

Further information

Directory of Social Change, 24 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2DP. 020 7391 4800. Website: www.dsc.org.uk
Lantra, Lantra House, Stoneleigh Park, Near Coventry, Warwickshire CV8 2LG. 024 7669 6996. Website: www.lantra.co.uk
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), Regent’s Wharf, 8 All Saint’s Street, London N1 9RL. 020 7713 6161. Website: www.ncvo-vol.org.uk
Scottish Association of Volunteers Managers, Room 31, Enterprise House, Springkerse Business Park, Stirling FK7 7UF. 01786 471100. Website: www.savm.org.uk
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh EH3 6BB. 0131 556 3882. Website: www.scvo.org.uk
Volunteer Development Agency (Northern Ireland), 4th Floor, 58 Howard Street, Belfast BT1 6PG. 028 9023 6100. Website: www.volunteering-ni.org
Volunteer Development Scotland, Stirling Enterprise Park, Stirling FK7 7RP. 01786 479593. Website: www.vds.org.uk
Volunteering England, Regent’s Wharf, 8 All Saint’s Street, London N1 9RL. 0845 305 6979. Website: www.volunteeringengland.org.uk
Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), Baltic House, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff CF10 5FH. 029 2043 1700. Website: www.wcva.org.uk
Working For A Charity, NCVO, Regent’s Wharf, 8 All Saint’s Street, London N1 9RL. 020 7520 2512. Website: www.wfac.org.uk

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Volunteer Manager Further Information

Volunteer Manager
Further Information