Dozens of organisations came together at the first New Forest Volunteer Collective to better share learning and expertise.
The New Forest Volunteer Collective was convened by the New Forest National Park Authority, in partnership with Community First, in Brockenhurst on Saturday (21 March) to foster a greater sense of volunteering community in the New Forest.
The event sparked in-depth thought-provoking discussions, as well as vital networking. There was also a talk on Community First’s Volunteer First service.
Discussions and feedback captured from the Volunteer Collective will be used to improve how volunteering-including organisations work together and better support the volunteering community in the New Forest.
The NPA also hosts an annual New Forest National Park Volunteer Fair in January, attended by 750 people with 50 organisations represented. It also hosts a volunteer finder on its website showcasing the breadth of volunteer organisations and opportunities available across the National Park.
Community First offers a volunteer brokerage service matching volunteers with organisations across Hampshire, including the New Forest.
New Forest National Park Authority lead access and volunteering officer, Adam Vasey said: ‘We often find that volunteer-including organisations make good connections at our Volunteer Fair, however this doesn’t extend much beyond who they happen to have a stall next to. So we created the New Forest Volunteer Collective, alongside Community First, to bring those organisations together to share expertise wider across Team New Forest.
‘Topics explored on the day included recruitment, particularly of younger and working age volunteers, micro-volunteering, conflict management, and celebrating volunteer achievements.’
Community First lead volunteering service coordinator, Jag Singh said: ‘It was genuinely inspiring to see so many organisations come together with a shared commitment to strengthening volunteering across the New Forest. There was a real openness in the room, with people sharing honest experiences, practical ideas and learning from one another.
‘At Community First, through our Volunteer First service, we see every day how important those connections are. This felt like a meaningful step towards building a stronger, more joined up volunteering community, and we are really looking forward to what comes next.’
The New Forest Volunteer Collective and the NPA’s ongoing support of volunteering in the National Park is made possible by National Lottery Players through our New Routes to Nature project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Find out more about volunteering in the New Forest on our volunteering webpage.
Find out more about Community First and its Volunteer First service here.