How to embrace micro-volunteering

Life is busy. It can often feel like you are being pulled in different directions. So, fitting in a regular volunteering commitment can be hard.

 

More people are looking for volunteering opportunities where they can drop in for an hour or two, without committing to anything too serious. This is called micro-volunteering.

 

 

What is micro-volunteering?

 

The NCVO says that micro-volunteering is “small bite-size volunteering with no commitment to repeat”. It says there are eight characteristics that make up micro-volunteering. These are:

• Duration: The activity can be done in a short amount of time
• Access: The volunteering task is easy to start and do
• Immediacy: The task can be started and finished quickly
• Convenience: Volunteers can do the activity where they want – at home, for example – and when they want, such as in the evening
• Level of formality: You don’t need the same level of agreement that you would have with a person doing formal volunteering
• Frequency: A volunteer can do it as a one-off activity
• Activity: The task can be done discretely and does not rely on other actions
• Location: Can be done online or offline

 

 

Rise in demand for micro-volunteering

 

One charity that has seen an increase in micro-volunteering is the British Heart Foundation. There has been a rise in younger volunteers in its charity shops, who are dropping in for an hour or two without committing to regular or long-term volunteering.

 

The charity surveyed its retail volunteers in summer 2024, which showed that almost three in four (73%) 16- to 18-year-olds are volunteering for up to five hours a week. Plus, volunteers of all ages are choosing to do ad hoc shifts rather than traditional regular volunteering patterns.

 

Macmillan also offers micro-volunteering opportunities for those who don’t want to commit to regular volunteering. This includes activities such as sharing the charity’s campaigns on social media, signing a petition to help advocate for people living with cancer, and writing thank you cards to fundraisers.

 

Each month, the charity shares different ways that people can do micro-volunteering.

 

But micro-volunteering isn’t a new concept.

 

In 2012, Cancer Research UK ran a series of projects to give over 5,000 volunteers the chance to support research into four different cancer types. Volunteers were able to contribute over 11,000 analyses through their phones.

 

 

The benefits of micro-volunteering for charities

 

The Charity Excellence Framework says there are a lot of benefits for charities that decide to offer micro-volunteering. By offering opportunities for those who don’t have time to commit to regular volunteering, it can increase the number of volunteers. This means you can access skills and experience you might not have been able to before.

 

Creating micro-volunteering opportunities means you can recruit volunteers from anywhere in the UK, not just in the local area.

 

You may also be able to recruit volunteers who would normally be excluded from volunteering opportunities. For, example older people and disabled people. You may also be able to attract people who can’t typically do formal volunteering such as those who work nine to five and those with caring responsibilities.

 

 

Activity ideas for micro-volunteering

 

Community Impact Bucks says you may be able to adapt existing volunteering opportunities and turn them into smaller actions. For example, tasks that people have previously found too demanding. You may also want to think about offering remote opportunities and the chance to volunteer out of office hours, so in the evenings.

 

The Charity Excellence Framework offers examples of micro-volunteering on its website. These include running events, giving talks to local organisations to promote a charity’s work, and mentoring staff.

 

It’s a good idea to talk to current volunteers and those who interested in volunteering to find out their ideas. That way you can create micro-volunteering opportunities that fit in with their skills and interests.

 

 

Managing micro-volunteering

 

Even though micro-volunteering involves short tasks, volunteers still need support and direction. You need to put a plan in place and develop processes for managing micro-volunteering at your charity. An article from the Association of Volunteer Managers says you need to know what activities you will offer and who in your organisation is going to manage micro-volunteering.

 

Once you’ve recruited your volunteers, you need to sit down with them and make sure they know what they are doing. Give volunteers simple and clear instructions. Also, give feedback on what they have done and let them know the difference they are making to the charity. Micro-volunteers may feel a bit disconnected from the charity, so it’s important to keep them up to date and motivated.

 

 

Promoting the benefits to volunteers

 

When you communicate micro-volunteering opportunities to the public, let people know what the benefits are to them. They don’t have to commit to a regular activity and can fit it in when and where they like. It’s inclusive of everyone. Micro-volunteering also doesn’t involve as much training as formal volunteering so people can get started straight away. Also, the British Heart Foundation says that micro-volunteering supports positive mental health and is a chance to meet new people.