Nought to volunteer manager in 6 months

I have had the opportunity to exercise so many skills over the last six months in a role that has required me to be manager, motivator, coach, entertainer, counsellor, cake-maker, archivist, negotiator and so much more. I love my job and the wonderful people I get to meet. Recent events have spurred me to share my experience in my very first blog:

Options in adult social care were disappearing so I started looking around and what jumped out was a new job in the library service as volunteer co-ordinator. Having volunteered for as long as I can remember and had some responsibility for volunteers at university (not to mention the attraction of a new challenge) I went for it and was very pleased to be appointed.

I knew that volunteering in libraries was an emotive subject and was under no illusions that there would be some resistance. What I was not prepared for was to hear from my father that he had been accosted by someone who made it very clear that I was not welcome. In the circumstances it was understandable; it transpired that this person was a library assistant and I can’t blame them for being concerned because the people who recruited me didn’t quite know what they wanted me to do so staff had no idea what I was there for and were wary of my arrival. I had work to do!

I got into the role straight away. Some quick wins and getting out meeting staff (sometimes shamelessly bearing biscuits!) won me acceptance and paved the way for some great success. With a little research and online tools I soon found my feet, I had a lot of freedom to make the role my own and the faith placed in me was rewarded with results. My profile grew and with the support of staff at all levels volunteering grew massively, in volunteer hours but also in the value added because of the time these fantastic people are giving.

As my confidence grew and I settled into the role it seemed natural to take a step back, expand my horizons and invest time in my professional development. By this point I saw myself as a volunteer manager (though my title is co-ordinator, if they called me a manager they’d probably have to pay more!). What a revelation, I was not alone! Suddenly I was part of a community, there were interesting and relevant debates and a group of practitioners who took my job seriously, who wanted to work together to become better. I have never worked in a profession so dynamic and passionate, keen to embrace new ideas and new technology to become more effective. I now have international contacts and have even been approached to share my knowledge and experience.

Yet there is a step we need to take together and soon. I’m nearly thirty, I have an M.A., a wealth of experience and ambition to grow and progress. Currently there are no opportunities in my current organisation, no system of qualifications and no structured path if I want to pursue it as a career. This is an important time to gain recognition and spread the word, to achieve the status volunteer management deserves and to attract the right people.

We all have our part to play and if anyone questions our ability to make a change I have a success story to share. It wasn’t easy but I submitted a comprehensive document detailing my first 6 months, thoughts on the future of volunteering in the council and the things I thought needed fixing in volunteering council-wide which won me an audience with the senior management team. Confidence in my ability and specialist knowledge meant that I could go with solutions, not just problems and speak with authority. As a result I feel that I have shaped the opinions of those who are making the big decisions about the future.

I will leave you with these words of wisdom:

Don’t confuse access with influence.

BUT

Being cynical doesn’t mean you’re being mature.

Oh and for those of you who might like to know there is a certain library assistant who now always greets me with a smile (they make a pretty good cuppa too!).