Is skills-based volunteering a good fit for your charity?

Why the time is right for skills-based volunteering

There are two reasons why now is a better time than ever before to try out skills-based volunteering.

The first is financial. While no-one can say for certain what the long-term economic repercussions of COVID-19 will be, they don’t look good.

Much has been made of a massive shortfall in charity fundraising. Yet research suggests that the public retains a high level of trust in charities at this time.

Just because a supporter may not have the money to give right now does not mean they can’t contribute value to your organisation at this difficult time. Many charities are moving their fundraising activities online.

Supporters with digital skills could be vital in helping the small charities that will be most affected by COVID-19 make this transition.

The second reason is that a high number of people in the UK are either unemployed or on furlough. Skills-based volunteering can offer them a lot in this difficult time. Many people will want to help in a time of crisis, but traditional volunteering excludes those with limited mobility or other underlying health conditions, who may need to continue to shield or self-isolate. Skills-based volunteering will allow them to make a valuable contribution.

It can also help to plug gaps in a CV whilst a volunteer is job-hunting. Anyone who works in a digital role will know the importance of staying professionally active. Digital moves at a quick pace and anyone who is out of work for some time runs the risk of their skills becoming out of date. Skills-based volunteering allows digital professionals to continue to use their skills and to avoid becoming rusty or suffering the drop in confidence that can come from a prolonged period of unemployment.