Welcome to our Volunteer Managers Newsletter

Included in this edition:

• Volunteering in Cumbria Portal Updates
• Good Practice in Volunteer Management Training Sessions
• West Cumbria Volunteering Fair
• Eden Volunteer Fair
• Trustee Recruitment Sessions
• County Volunteer Managers Network
• First Aid Awareness Training for Volunteers
• Best practice in Governance - Workshop 1
• Employer Supported Volunteering
• Volunteer Coordinator Job Vacancy
• Other events and information for community organisations

Is your organisation registered on the Volunteering in Cumbria Portal?

Please remember to log into the Volunteering portal to review and update your volunteering opportunities to make sure your volunteering opportunities are up to date, and any new volunteers registered have been contacted 😊

Log in here

Check out this mini-training video, which shows how organisations can spice up their opportunity descriptions with font styles, text sizing/colours, and links.

There's also a new AI helper to help you generate opportunity descriptions so you can word your opportunities in an even more appealing way to attract new volunteers!  

Check out the video on Rewording Volunteering Opportunities Descriptions support.

See: TeamKinetic Feature: HTML in Opportunity Descriptions

Following on from our 4 Online Good Practice in Volunteer Management Training Sessions in the last quarter, come and join Cumbria CVS over two face-to-face workshops to discover more about the key principles of best practice in volunteer management.

Our next workshops are face-to-face and will bring together Volunteer Managers or anyone with a responsibility for managing volunteers, and will look at:

Creating a Positive Volunteer Journey (Workshop 1) and What to do when volunteer management gets challenging (Workshop 2)

Workshop 1 - Creating a Positive Volunteer Journey

Good Practice in Volunteer Management Workshop 1 (Cumberland) – Creating a positive Volunteer Journey
Date: Wednesday 17th September 2025
Time: 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Where: Whitehaven Golf Club
Address: Red Lonning, Whitehaven CA28 8UD

Good Practice in Volunteer Management Workshop 1 (Westmorland & Furness) – Creating a positive Volunteer Journey
Date: Wednesday 8th October 2025
Time: 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Where: Holiday Inn Express
Address: Market Street, Barrow-In-Furness, LA14 2LR

Workshop 1 will cover:-

• - Creating a Positive Volunteer Journey
• - Understanding the principles of good volunteer journey management
• - Ability to identify and map a positive journey for a volunteer
• - Understanding what a positive or negative volunteer experience is
• - Reflection on your role as a Volunteer Lead and how you can lead and supportive, positive volunteer journey planning and development within your organisation
• - Get top tips, tools, templates, and share ideas and experiences to help you shape effective volunteer management processes in your organisation

Workshop 2 - What to do when volunteer management gets challenging

Good Practice in Volunteer Management Workshop 2 (Cumberland) – What to do when volunteer management gets challenging
Date: Wednesday 1st October 2025
Time: 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Where: Shaddongate Resource Centre

Good Practice in Volunteer Management Workshop 2 (Westmorland & Furness) – What to do when volunteer management gets challenging
Date: Thursday, 23rd October 2025
Time: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Where: Stricklandgate House
Address: 92 Stricklandgate, Kendal, LA9 4PU

Workshop 2 will cover:-

• - The basic principles of good volunteer management
• - Identifying potential difficult situations with volunteers that require action
• - Understanding the wider impact of not dealing with difficult situations with volunteers
• - Understanding the policies and procedures to put in place for volunteers
• - The importance of having a problem-solving process for volunteers
• - How to have difficult conversations with volunteers

Our next Volunteering Fair will be in West Cumbria on the 18^th September. We will be at The Solway Hall in Whitehaven from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm.

This event aims to attract the general public to come along and to meet local groups, charities or organisations to find out about local volunteering opportunities and how individuals interested in volunteering can register and become a volunteer.

You can find out more information and register here

Thank you to all the organisations that come along to our events and make them the success that they are.

Our Eden Volunteer Fair will take place on Wednesday 22nd October at Penrith Lesuire Centre. Organisations can set up from 10 am and the event is open to the general public from 11 am to 1 pm.

This event aims to attract the general public to come along and to meet local groups, charities or organisations to find out about local volunteering opportunities and how individuals interested in volunteering can register and become a volunteer.

You can find out more information and register here

Thank you to all the organisations that come along to our events and make them the success that they are.

Missed Session 1? - Don't worry, you can still book onto our remaining sessions!!

Join us to unlock the energy you need to find the next Trustees for your board. Get top tips, tools, and templates and learn best practices for your trustee recruitment.

We know that getting the best Trustees for your organisation can be a critical factor in your organisation's development in the best way. And we also know that it is really difficult to recruit Trustees. Please join us for three sessions that we have designed to support you in recruiting the brilliant Trustees you need. 

These online sessions from 1.30 pm-2.30 pm will share best practice in Trustee Recruitment and top tips to get you started. We will introduce 2 or 3 tools per session for you to try immediately and apply as soon as possible to kick-start your Trustee recruitment.

The course is made up of 3 one-hour sessions, free for VCSE and non-profits. After each one-hour session, the facilitator will stay online for a further 30 minutes for informal networking and questions.

Session 2:Getting ready to Recruit Trustees: key tools and templates for your trustee recruitment (24th September)  

This Session will cover

• Review and develop trustee role descriptions
• Design of your trustee recruitment process and procedures, and timetable
• Develop Trustee Recruitment Advert
• Interview checklist – sharing best practice thinking
• Interviewing – checklist, interview questions, references, appointing (best practice examples)

Plan your recruitment process, draw up a trustee role description, and get ready to engage with candidates.

Templates covered in this session include 

• Trustee Role Description
• Trustee Application Form
• Interview Checklist
• Tools covered in this session include
• Recruitment plan

To book session 2, please click here

Session 3: How to Recruit Trustees: marketing and advertising techniques to find new trustees (14th October)

This Session will cover:

• Developing a trustee recruitment marketing plan
• Developing Marketing Materials, including case studies and content
• Targeting and advertising for a new trustee
• Diversifying trustee boards, including targeting young people, skilled professionals and retired people
• Working with the local media to promote trustee volunteering roles
• Utilising existing business and other networks
• Utilising the Volunteering Cumbria Portal
• Signposting to specific trustee recruitment websites

Templates covered in this session include 

• Volunteer Trustee Poster
• Volunteer Trustee Social Media Graphic
• Tools covered in this session include
• Volunteer Trustee Recruitment Plan

To book session 3, please click here

Virtual Volunteer Trustee Recruitment Session (Organisation Bookings)

Date: Thursday, 6th November 2025
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm online via Zoom

Cumbria CVS is hosting a Get on Board and Become a Volunteer Trustee Virtual Volunteer Trustee Recruitment Session on Thursday, 6 November 2025, from 6.30 pm-8 pm online via Zoom. This event is part of Trustees’ Week 2025 to support organisations in Cumbria looking to recruit new trustees.

Cumbria CVS is inviting 8 organisations that are looking to recruit new trustees to attend this event in order to talk about their organisation, trustee volunteering opportunities (e.g. General trustees, Chair, Treasurer, Secretary), when and where trustee meetings take place, skills needed, etc

For more information and to book your organisation space, see: Virtual Volunteer Trustee Recruitment Session (Organisation Bookings) | Cumbria CVS

The next meeting will take place on 25th September 2025 from 10:00 to 12:30

at Penrith Rugby Club, Winters Park, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 8RQ

The agenda of the meeting is:

Inclusive Volunteering: Focus on Refugees and Asylum Seekers 

To register your place, please click on the link below:

County Volunteer Managers Network Meeting | Cumbria CVS

This training is aimed at volunteers who support local organisations to enhance their skills and knowledge. The course will equip them with an understanding of First Aid Awareness and cover a range of content including: responding to common incidents like choking, bleeding and cardiac arrest, the role of a first aider, assessment of incidents, dealing with an unresponsive casualty and dealing with minor injuries.

This course is always very popular, so please use the links below to book early to ensure a space. 

Click here to book Thursday, 18th September 2025,1.30 pm – 4.30 pm.

Holiday Inn Express, Market Street, Barrow in Furness, LA14 2LR 

Click here to book Thursday, 16th October 2025, 9.30 am – 12.30 pm 

Stricklandgate House, 92 Stricklandgate, Kendal, LA9 4PU

Please note that this event is aimed at volunteers supporting the work of organisations that are members of Cumbria CVS across Westmorland and Furness. We are unable to offer places for paid members of staff.

Are you a new trustee or considering joining a charity board? This online introductory workshop provides an overview of the vital role trustees play in shaping, guiding, and safeguarding charitable organisations.

Join us for an engaging and informative session that demystifies governance and equips you with the basic knowledge to fulfil your duties effectively.

Who should attend?
This is designed for any new and prospective trustees, directors or management committee members who are interested in having an introduction to non-profit governance.

Click here for more information and to book your place.

This event is part of our This Is Us project, made possible by Westmorland and Furness Council through funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund

Westmorland and Furness Council recently introduced an Employee Supported Volunteering Policy, enabling staff to undertake volunteering within their local communities. This is great news, and as a result, we have been approached by a group of 10-15 staff who would be keen to support an organisation with an outdoor activity. It would need to take place on a weekday and ideally somewhere fairly central in the Westmorland and Furness patch. If you have any ideas for this eager group of volunteers, please contact Caroline Burden at caroline.burden@cumbriacvs.org.uk

We are seeing an increase in requests from local employers and businesses for group volunteering opportunities that their staff can get involved in throughout the county. If you have any projects that could be supported please let us know.

Howgill Family Centre is a registered Charity with a national reputation for innovative practice in its work with families and children. It has been operating in the Communities of Whitehaven and the surrounding areas of Cumberland for 40 years and is currently looking for a Volunteer Coordinator.

Please see below the Job Description and Person Specification

Job Description

Person Specification

If you would like further details, please contact Faye Eldon at Faye.Eldon@howgill-centre.co.uk

Social Prescribing Wellbeing Festival
Friday 8 August 2025, 10 am - 3 pm
Whitehaven Rugby League Club Recreation Ground, Coach Road

FREE FUN DAY for the Community. Special guests include Marathon Man Gary McKee and WRLFC mascot Pride the Lion. Cumbria CVS and the Step Forward into Volunteering and Employment Team will be there!

Carlisle Community Groups Network Meeting

16th September from 6 - 8 pm at Currock Community Centre, Carlisle.

This is a free event for any Carlisle-based community organisations to come together to celebrate what we do, to share information and to raise any concerns. It is also a chance to get involved in working together for the future of Carlisle Community Groups.

To book a place, email valuedvoicesinitiative@gmail.com

This meeting has been organised voluntarily by the following local community groups: Age UK Carlisle and Eden, Carlisle Matters, The Glenmore Trust, iCan Wellbeing Group, Love Carlisle and Valued Voices and hosted for free.

Anchor - Union Court scheme in Cumbria - Union Lane, Brampton, CA8 1BX – Community Space

Anchor is the biggest provider of specialist housing and care for older people in England.
We currently have an amazing space at Anchor - Union Court scheme in Cumbria - Union Lane, Brampton, CA8 1BX. This space has housed charitable organisations before, and they would like this space to be used for the benefit of the community.

It has:

• 198 square meters of space
• Private entry
• Toilet / Disabled Toilet / Disabled bathroom with hoist/bath and shower
• A kitchen
• Multiple side rooms
• Storage
• Small garden area

They are looking for an organisation to occupy the space long-term.

They would like to offer this space at no cost, with the occupier only paying for their own utilities. Images and a video of the space can be requested via the contact below.

Anyone interested can contact Rebecca Heede, Community Partnership Manager – Rebecca.heede@anchor.org.uk.

Together for Good Information Session – 18th September 25, 19:00 to 19:45 Online

Together for Good supports third sector, community groups and non-profit organisations to promote opportunities they have where businesses, via their employees, can provide support on a voluntary basis.

The organisations must be delivering benefits directly in West Cumberland (former areas of Allerdale and Copeland) to be able to access the services on the platform.

To find out more about Together for Good, the session and to book your place
click here

Cumbria CVS

info@cumbriacvs.org.uk
01768 800350

Shaddongate Resource Centre
Shaddongate
Carlisle
CA2 5TY

Cumbria CVS offers a free membership service for Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations throughout Cumbria. This membership gives you access to our free services, including:

Newsletters (get our monthly e-bulletin and Funding newsletter first)
Governance Support
Add your organisation to our member's directory and searchable map
Advice
Policy Templates
Training and events
Funding support
Networks
Free job adverts
Volunteering support
Right to vote at our AGM