Dominic Pinkney's World of Volunteering
Insights, confessions, challenges and celebrations of the volunteer world
I won’t beat about the bush, the Social Return on Investment (SROI) case for the NHS investing in volunteering is huge. Any NHS Neighbourhood or system that is serious about prevention or social isolation, to name just two examples, should be investing in volunteering, for two compelling reasons:1) the returns are massive, long-term and sustainable2) …
Continue reading “Why the NHS should be investing in volunteering”
Let’s end employee volunteering myths! Dominic Pinkney writes about myths and false tropes about corporate volunteering.
The launch of #ShoutVolunteering showcases the 7 quick and easy things you can do to shout about volunteering
Doing jury service is not volunteering but it is considered civic duty so I hope you do not mind a slight deviation from my normal posts. I recently carried out jury service (Feb 2026) and before I did I looked online to try and find out more about what it is like and found surprisingly …
SHOUT VOLUNTEERING – This was the clear message of a fantastic project launched on Saturday led by the wonderful Pippa Kirkbride and produced by the equally fantastic Christopher Hall. Far more than volunteering case studies, the Shout Volunteering project has collated real stories about how volunteering has changed people’s lives. As High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, …
Evidence suggests that in 2026 it is going to be critical to shout about the importance of volunteering to our society. We need to shout that volunteering is not a ‘nice to have‘ but an essential part of how we function and that volunteering will play a key success factor in the plans of national, …
Continue reading “Is 2026 volunteering’s most important year?”
Don’t worry they are not about to, but what if they did? I am very pleased that I (Works4U) am launching the ‘What if everyone stops volunteering?’ UK Report today! This is available to download at Works4U’s website: What if everyone stopped volunteering? This report is yet another example of me giving myself extra work …
Volunteering is not declining, it has just changed. Data shows that rates of formal volunteering have been declining across the UK for a few years now, but does this actually mean the desire to volunteer is declining? The short answer is no. Volunteering is not declining but the culture of volunteering has fundamentally and permanently …
Continue reading “Volunteering changes similar to changes in television viewing”
It’s very different now compared to 20 years ago. It is harder than ever for voluntary sector organisations, whether an individual volunteer involving organisation (VIO) or a volunteer infrastructure organisation, to promote volunteering to people who might be interested in volunteering. The world was very different twenty years ago. For starters the world of marketing …
Continue reading “Why promoting volunteering is harder than ever?”
Have you heard of the Volunteering Multiplier Principle? The Volunteering Multiplier Principle states that changes to the overall level of volunteering lead to a much more significant change for society and the economy. For example, if the general level of volunteering for the UK increased by 1% the knock-on multiplier effect would lead to a …
Dominic Pinkney's World of Volunteering