21st March 2024
Lalit Hotel
Download the slides accompanying this Southwark Volunteering Network meeting
Case study by the Globe Theatre Accessibility Ambassadors
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre run a program called Access Ambassadors who support patrons (attendees) of the theatre who may have access needs like a disability. Tim, a long-standing volunteer with the program described how rewarding he finds supporting people to access theatre. He describes how while some patrons will identify themselves as needing access support, the ‘proactive’ approach is important in helping mitigate barriers to access before they limit ability to experience the theatre.
The Globe offers volunteers a comprehensive yearly training program for stewards and volunteers. They are oversubscribed for this program, showing a real interest in accessibility.
More generally, The Globe ensures all new volunteers have several buddy shifts with longer standing volunteers to ensure they feel confident and supported as they begin to volunteer.
The Globe Theatre is also beginning work placements for students with Autism and learning difficulties. These will be supported by the Access Ambassadors.
Case study Q&A
Q: How do you keep the “community” feel with volunteers as you grow?
A: Weekly email updates, focus groups, reward and recognition trips.
Q: Regarding the ‘proactive identification’ approach. How do you deal with those who tell you they don’t need support and seemed offended that you asked?
A: We try to do it in a gentle way and, as a volunteer, I feel more comfortable having had good training. We have to accept we won’t get it right all the time.
Q: Do you do any outreach to underrepresented groups?
A: We go to local community hubs, run workshops with other charities and try to use social media more.
Q: How do the focus groups work?
A: They are purely volunteer focussed and has an agenda based on feedback.
Group Discussion
The group were asked to write down a problem or issue facing them or their organisation around volunteering. The responses are below:
- As ‘voluntary’ numbers of stewards can be below preferred staffing levels
- Our volunteer processes take too long! How can I speed the process?
- Retraining hospital volunteers – 4 month process
- How do you ensure that volunteering is supported and championed by the whole organisation (including senior management)?
- Challenge: not getting volunteers who are available on Tuesday/ Thursday afternoons. Cost of living/ child care etc
- How to monitor volunteer activity at scale
- How to ensure every volunteer is seen, heard and recognised despite a large workforce
- How to balance the wants/needs of existing and new stewards & in regard to organisational requirements/ responsibilities
- How to engage remotely people that were let down by the system
- Reward and recognition for volunteers who work remotely, solo e.g. befrienders
- Though we have volunteer events within the year a lot of our volunteers have lost enthusiasm
- Recognition for they voluntary work
- Understanding support needed from
- Accent problem. Age Gap
- Why can’t I engage with Black & Caribbean & African communities? It’s not that we don’t try without outreach, going to where people are/may be. I can’t translate those convos into volunteers.
Corporate Volunteering
Phil Hanks, Corporate Volunteering Lead at Community Southwark, updated on his work matching corporate volunteers and community groups. Read the corporate volunteering presentation and contact Phil at phil@communitysouthwark.org to find out more or book a corporate advice appointment.
Resources Round Up
- Southwark Stars nominations are open! The deadline is the 18th of April. Anyone can nominate outstanding volunteers or community groups. Nominate a Southwark Star
- A new volunteering database for Southwark will be rolled out this summer! Community Southwark is moving to SimplyKinetic and will share details with the network as we progress
- Big Help Out is taking place this year from 7th – 9th
- Simply Volunteer London replacing TeamLondon. TeamLondon will close on the 15th of April so make sure you register for Simply Volunteer!
- Doit.Life has a new look – it now includes sections for volunteering events and group activities
- LondonLifelines invites submissions to their website to feature volunteers doing amazing work in London
