While volunteering often brings personal rewards such as skill-building and emotional fulfilment, it’s equally important to recognise how vital volunteers are to our success and sustainability. They donate time, energy, and expertise that help us fulfil our mission and reach more people.
In the last year, over 400 people have donated their time to support our work. This donation could be something as straightforward as answering a survey to help us improve our services, or something as complex and involved as being on our board of Trustees.
One of the most immediate benefits a charity gains from volunteers is an increased capacity to serve. Many charities operate with limited budgets and staff, which can constrain their ability to carry out programmes and services. Volunteers help us make the most of our resources.
By donating their time and skills, volunteers allow us to allocate more funding directly toward programs and services. The financial value of volunteer hours can be substantial. The community think tank: Power to Change, estimates the value of a volunteer hour for Health Charities at approximately £31, equating to a saving of thousands of pounds for the MS Trust.
Examples of these are our ‘Read and Review’ volunteers who support our information team by going through new and old publications to ensure they are accurate and understandable, and our ‘Health Professional Liaisons’ who provide valuable information on MS services around the country. These cost efficiencies can be redirected to provide more support, information, develop new initiatives, or invest in our operational infrastructure.
Volunteers also enable us to extend our reach into the community. An example of this is a group of volunteers supporting our Facebook support group – acting as administrators and assisting our Enquiry Team in identifying queries and issues raised in the group. Without these volunteers, we would not be able to respond to as many queries and reach as many people.
Support volunteers bring a wide range of skills, experiences, and perspectives with them to the Trust. From medical professionals, digital marketers to students and retirees, this diversity enriches our operations and brings fresh ideas and solutions.
Many people view volunteering as a very simple and unskilled role – shaking a bucket outside a supermarket, but I am constantly surprised by the success I have in recruiting skilled people for very specific roles. In the past year, we have begun recruiting volunteer photographers to document major events for us, such as our annual conference, the London Marathon and the Great North Run.
The contributions of these photographers elevate the quality and professionalism of our work, and help us reduce the financial burden, which ensures the money is spent on programmes.
Often without realising it, volunteers serve as ambassadors in the community, helping raise awareness of our mission and work. Their personal networks can be instrumental in attracting new supporters, donors, and additional volunteers. As well as this indirect ambassadorial activity, we also utilise a group of volunteer community ambassadors – people connected to MS who can have a significant influence in their community.
Through their engagement, volunteer ambassadors help us build trust and credibility within the MS community and further afield, which is crucial for long-term impact. The presence of dedicated volunteers sends a message that we are well-supported and valued by those we serve.
Volunteers often play a critical role in fundraising efforts, from organising events, soliciting donations, promoting campaigns on social media and attending events to show their support. Their passion and authenticity can be powerful tools in encouraging others to give.
Additionally, it’s been demonstrated that volunteers are more likely to donate to the charities they support and advocate for, creating a dual impact by contributing both time and money. Their involvement significantly boosts our fundraising potential and long-term sustainability.
Volunteers help us to respond to challenges with flexibility, and which helps us to adapt to changing needs quickly. During peak periods, such as holidays or around major fundraising campaigns, we have been able to call on volunteers to step in at short notice and tackle a wide variety of tasks, including providing in-person office administrative support. This helps us remain responsive and resilient in the face of challenges.
In short, a committed volunteer base contributes to a positive and energised organisational culture. Our volunteers often bring enthusiasm, fresh perspectives, and a deep belief in the mission to make sense of MS. By supporting daily operations, spreading awareness, and helping to generate funding, volunteers contribute to the health and sustainability of the MS Trust, and in turn helps us to deliver our resources, services and programmes for the benefit of the MS community.
An ideal volunteering relationship sees volunteers walk away from their experiences feeling as if their time has been well spent and beneficial to the Trust. However, it is charities like ours that reap some of the most profound and lasting benefits. Volunteers help expand capacity, reduce costs, bring in essential skills, and strengthen community engagement.
Their efforts make it possible for charities to do more with less and to reach farther with greater impact. In many ways, the success of a charity is a reflection of the strength and dedication of its volunteer base. Investing in, valuing, and engaging volunteers isn’t just beneficial - it’s essential.
A huge thank you
Finally, I would like to thank everyone who took the time to support us through volunteering this year. It would be impossible for us to do what we do without you.
Mark Cruise
Volunteer Manager
