activities & projects
Expertise in volunteering
The London Events Volunteering Calendar
Services for members
Membership is open to all organisations that provide volunteering support and development services within Greater London, and satisfy the Trustee Board that their objects, powers, activities and methods are consistent with the objects of GLV.
Interested in joining? See our Membership page or email info@glv.org.uk for more information.
Wave of Friendship
The Wave of Friendship programme supports the exchange of volunteers between London and Scotland. Volunteers can apply for grants of up to £500 to cover their expenses, including travel, accommodation and other costs.
Applicants can choose any fixed-term voluntary opportunity that takes place between now and September 2012 that demonstrates the values of the Olympics movement – friendship, respect, excellence, courage, determination, equality and inspiration.
For more information about the programme, and the simple application form, visit the Wave of Friendship website or email wave@glv.org.uk
London Events Volunteering Calendar
The London Events Volunteering Calendar is a free online service for the promotion of one-off volunteering opportunities at specific charitable or community events. It receives over 1000 hits a month. Members of the public can go to www.eventsvolunteering.org.uk, find an interesting event that fits in with their schedule and contact the event organisers, while event organisers can register their events on the website. Alternatively, email eventsvolunteering@glv.org.uk.
With over 30 new events on average being added each month, the London Events Volunteering Calendar can connect potential volunteers to all kinds of events, from managing nature reserve habitats to stewarding at charity races to collecting money for the London Air Ambulance. For volunteer advisors, it’s invaluable for connecting volunteers with events near to them.
Experts in Volunteering
Experts in Volunteering is a free London-wide service supporting outstanding volunteer management. Five Experts workers around London are working to build the capacity of volunteer involving organisations (VIOs), so that they are managing volunteers well and providing Londoners with fulfilling volunteering experiences.
Initiatives include:
- the Experts in Volunteering website which put volunteering trainers and consultants in touch with volunteering professionals and people looking to involve volunteers in their organisation
- free health checks for VIOs, supporting them in achieving best volunteer management practice
- the London Volunteer Management Charter which promotes good practice in supporting volunteers
- Training and Action Learning Sets
For more information on the project and for the details of the Experts worker in your region, contact anne@glv.org.uk
Principles of Volunteering
In January 2009, the London Stakeholders Volunteering Forum came together with guest stakeholders to discuss the definition of volunteering.
The Compact code on Volunteering currently defines volunteering as
“any activity which involves spending time, unpaid, doing something which aims to benefit someone (individuals or groups) other than or in addition to close relatives, or to benefit the environment.”
In response to an increasing interest in volunteering as a means to support people (back) into employment, and some clarity required around the differences between volunteering and work experience, the Forum felt it necessary to establish the principles behind the term ‘volunteering’.
Full details and a downloadable copy of the Principles of Volunteering are available here – Principles of Volunteering.
Endorsement of the Principles of Volunteering so far includes (aside from Volunteer Centres):
Age UK
Imperial College
Independent Academic Research Studies (IARS)
London Ambassadors (London Development Agency)
London Museums Hub
Mayor of London
Mentoring & Befriending Foundation
Norwood
Reach
Safer London Foundation
Samaritans
Sport England
TimeBank
University College Hospital
Volunteering England
Voluntary Services Overseas
West London Network
Support is continually growing – add yours by using the Comments box below.
i would like to be a volunteer helpline advisor for the crisis and suiside helpline,what oppertunities can you offer me?
My career route would be to get into family support but i would need to do the above and gain training and qualifications into for example health and social care courses and child protection/safeguarding courses,can your centre help me with the funds for these courses?
We can’t specifically help you but why not contact our member organisation Samaritans for any suggestions and opportunities they can offer – use their Member Link on our website. (right hand side column on all pages).
I am contacting you on behalf of my company and as a company of 45, we are planning to do some volunteer work for an evening in London in May 21-22, 2011. I have gone through your service and am contacting you to let me know of some opportunities to do so with organizations associated with you. Please, contact me at my email or phone.
Thanks for getting in touch.
I’m afraid we don’t actually broker opportunities at GLV. For such a large group I would recommend you contact your local London Volunteer Centre (see the Volunteer Centre page of the website). Some, such as Southwark, Hammersmith and Westminster, have an Employer Supported Volunteeering service which is spefically designed to help with what you’re looking for.
You could also search the London Events Volunteering Calendar for one off opportunities you’re interested in (www.eventsvolunteering.org.uk). And you might also want to look at the Wave of Friendship (http://www.peoplemakingwaves.org.uk/thewaveoffriendship), a bursary scheme for Londoners to volunteer in Scotland.
Hope this helps – good luck for now.
i would like to volunteer in housing either in housing associations or local borough housing. i have just completed a course in social housing management and would like to put my knowledge into practice.
looking forward for you reply.
Hi Rachel, really sorry, we’ve only just come across your comment. We don’t broker volunteer opportunities ourselves and would recommend you contact your local Volunteer Centre or have a look at http://www.do-it.org.uk to search for suitable opportunities. There’s links to both on the Volunteer Centres & Members page of the website. Good luck and all the best.