New Toolkit Launched to Support Better Volunteering Conversations and Referrals

Every successful volunteering journey starts with a conversation and getting that conversation right can make all the difference.

We’re delighted to launch our new Referring Professionals Toolkit, a collection of practical resources designed to help professionals have more meaningful conversations about volunteering and support people towards opportunities where they can genuinely thrive.

Whether you’re a social prescriber, support worker, employment adviser or another professional helping people explore volunteering, the toolkit is designed to give you practical tools you can use in everyday conversations.

Why does the initial conversation matter?

Volunteering can have a hugely positive impact on confidence, wellbeing, skills, social connections and sense of purpose.

But simply referring someone to a volunteering opportunity doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the right opportunity.

A successful volunteering experience starts with understanding the person, not just finding a vacant role.

What motivates them? What are their strengths and skills? What do they hope to gain? How much time can they realistically commit? Are there barriers that need to be considered? And, importantly, is volunteering the right next step for them now?

Our new resources are designed to help professionals explore these questions before a referral is made.

A practical framework for better conversations

Our new Guidelines for Initial Volunteering Conversations and Referral to Volunteer Force provide a clear five-step framework for exploring volunteering with an individual.

Rather than giving professionals a script to follow, the guidelines provide suggested questions, practical tips and things to listen for when discussing motivation, strengths, skills, availability, commitment and expectations.

The aim is simple: better conversations that lead to better referrals and more positive volunteering experiences.

Putting the individual at the centre

We’re also launching our Personal Development Plan (PDP) for Volunteering for Personal, Health & Wellbeing Gains, together with supporting facilitator guidance.

The PDP is much more than another form to complete.

It is designed to be owned by the individual and provides a personal roadmap through their volunteering journey. It can help someone explore what they want from volunteering, identify their strengths, consider potential barriers and set meaningful goals.

Progress can then be revisited at one, three and six months, helping individuals recognise and celebrate the changes volunteering may be making to their confidence, wellbeing and personal development.

For professionals, it can also provide a valuable way to demonstrate outcomes and evidence change over time.

Better referrals benefit everyone

Ultimately, this toolkit is about improving the experience for everyone involved.

A well-considered referral gives the prospective volunteer a better chance of finding something they enjoy and can sustain. It gives volunteer-involving organisations a clearer understanding of the person joining them. And it helps referring professionals feel more confident that volunteering is an appropriate and realistic next step.

Sometimes, the right outcome may even be recognising that someone isn’t ready to volunteer yet.

That isn’t a failed referral. Identifying barriers, providing further support and keeping the door open can be just as important in helping someone move forward.

Explore the new toolkit

We’re excited to make these resources available and hope they become a practical part of conversations about volunteering across South Derbyshire.

Together, we can move beyond simply asking, “Would you like to volunteer?” and start exploring, “What could the right volunteering experience do for you?”

Explore the Referring Professionals Toolkit, download the resources and discover how they can support your work.

We can also provide a short staff briefing for organisations and teams that would like support embedding the guidelines into their practice. Contact us by email volunteer@sdcvs.org.uk to arrange.

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