How to Create a Buzz in Volunteer Management

During 2011, a small group of volunteer managers in the UK responded to an invitation to be part of a project that would ultimately allow them to develop new skills, extend their networks and create a team of ‘Volunteer Management Champions.’ The goal was to help create a ‘buzz’ about the volunteer management profession, and to raise the profile of the valuable work carried out by managers of volunteers across all types of organisations.

In this article, authors Rob Jackson and Sue Jones present the comments and view points of some of the volunteer managers who participated in this key group. Through the use of video and audio, these volunteer managers review their involvement and reflect on their achievements. A year on, they assess both the personal and professional impact of the project, and explain why and how more leaders and managers of volunteers should contribute to the field.