Inclusive Volunteering Interview with Andrina

As part of Inclusive Volunteering Week at VAL, Katie Cecilia from the Communications and Marketing team sat down with Andrina Dawson, the Co-ordinator for Volunteering at VAL, to talk about the importance of inclusive volunteering. 

What is inclusive volunteering?

“Inclusive volunteering is about creating opportunities and environments where people from culturally diverse backgrounds can comfortably engage. It involves breaking down barriers to volunteering by ensuring spaces are accessible, welcoming, and friendly.”

Why is inclusive volunteering important?

“Inclusive volunteering is crucial because we must strive to make our approaches and services accessible to as many people as possible. Nobody should feel excluded or unable to participate in volunteering due to their backgrounds and life experiences. By fostering a diverse and representative community, we create spaces that are accessible and reach a wider range of people.”

In what ways does Voluntary Action Leeds champion inclusive volunteering?

Equity is a fundamental value at VAL and guides our organisational work. Equity is where individuals are given the specific support, they need whereas Equality is where everyone is treated the same. In October 2023, equity was a critical component of the Volunteering Strategy for the city which VAL produced and is leading on the delivery. Through collaboration and discussion, it was determined that prioritising equity in volunteering initiatives was essential.

How does VAL highlight the effectiveness of inclusive volunteering initiatives?

At VAL, we continuously celebrate the impact of inclusive volunteering initiatives. For example, initiatives like “Volunteers of Leeds” showcase the diversity of volunteers in the city, including those who may not traditionally engage in formal volunteering. We also highlight the difference individuals with lived experience can make to organisations in Leeds through programmes like Giving Time.

How does VAL collaborate with community partners to promote inclusive volunteering?

Following the launch of our strategy, VAL established a task and finish group to drive key priorities, including inclusive volunteering. This led to the development of a toolkit outlining inclusive volunteering principles. We also engage volunteer managers through social media posts and invitations to get involved in promoting inclusive volunteering.

If you are a volunteer manager interested in making an impact, please reach out to Andrina via email at andrina.dawson@val.org.uk as we are always looking to collaborate with those who share our commitment to inclusivity.