Make an impact with Volunteer Brum!

Have you discovered Volunteer Brum's 'one-off' events feature? This is an option designed for activities that happen just once - or don’t require an ongoing commitment. It’s a straightforward tool, but a flexible one. Organisations are using it in all sorts of ways to bring people in, raise awareness, and support their wider volunteering programmes. For example, you might use one-off events to: Find volunteers for community events – from local celebrations to neighbourhood activities that need additional support Run volunteer taster sessions – giving people a feel for your organisation and a chance to ask questions before committing Offer informal training or information sessions – helping people understand what’s involved and whether it’s right for them Encourage corporate involvement – many businesses are keen to get their staff involved in practical community activity Support local festivals – events such as Birmingham Mela, community arts festivals or events where volunteers can keep things running smoothly Help at sports events – from fun runs to local tournaments, where short bursts of support are often needed. Just as importantly, these opportunities work well for volunteers too. Not everyone is ready - or able - to take on a regular role. Some people are short on time but still want to give something back. Others are trying volunteering for the first time and want to see what it’s like before committing. For some, it’s about building confidence, meeting people, or gaining a bit of experience in a new area. One-off events give them that chance. They’re flexible, low-pressure, and often easier to fit around work, study, or family life. Several organisations are already making good use of this approach. Action Tutoring has been using Volunteer Brum to promote its Information Sessions for prospective volunteers. These short sessions act as a stepping stone into a more structured role. Brenda Turnbull of Action Tutoring explains: “Although our Volunteer Tutor role is a commitment over 10 to 20 weeks, we’ve used Volunteer Brum to promote our free 30-minute information sessions with quite a bit of success. These sessions are a ‘peek in the window’ ahead of applying. Not only have people come along to find out more, but we’re also able to send a link to a recording afterwards, which often leads to applications too. Thank you Volunteer Brum!” The Chamberlain Highbury Trust has taken a slightly d ifferent approach, using the one-off events feature to bring in corporate volunteers to help with practical tasks in their grounds. Emma Bangham, Trust Co-ordinator, commented "We've had a great response to the volunteering opportunities listed on Volunteer Brum! It's proved to be a really easy and effective way to spread the word about the different volunteering activities available to business groups and the general public at Highbury Hall and Park." Meanwhile, Digital NNS has been recruiting volunteers for its pop-up digital café sessions. These are short, informal sessions where volunteers can drop in for a couple of hours to help people build confidence using smartphones and other devices. Rickie Josen, Digital NNS Community Lead, said: "As a result of the volunteer recruitment campaign with Volunteer Brum, we have registered over 30 volunteers! At the first Digital Cafe in Northfield, we had 2 volunteers who were magnificent with our citizens from the moment they arrived. At the second event in the City Centre, four volunteers attended - and one even brought a friend! All the volunteers are very patient with visitors asking questions about their phones, and everyone leaves happy!" Adding a one-off event on Volunteer Brum is simple. When creating a new opportunity, you can select the “one-off event” option and enter the key details - date, time, location, and details of the support you need. You can also include clear, friendly information about what volunteers can expect, which helps people decide if it’s right for them. It doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, the simpler and clearer it is, the more likely people are to get involved. In the end, one-off events are about opening the door a little wider. They give people a way in - whether that leads to a longer-term role or just a one-off contribution. And for many organisations, that first small step is what makes all the difference. If your organisation needs more volunteers and you're not currently signed up to Volunteer Brum, get registered today: https://www.volunteerbrum.org/for-organisations .

Across Birmingham, the NHS and the city’s many charities are working hard to support patients, families and communities. Volunteers continue to play an important role in that picture - as a valued part of the wider health and wellbeing system. Our Volunteering for Health page brings together a wide range of opportunities that contribute to: Patient support within NHS settings Community health and wellbeing initiatives Tackling loneliness and social isolation Promoting healthier lifestyles Supporting recovery and independence For organisations delivering health-related activity - whether alongside the NHS or in the community - this page provides a shared space to showcase opportunities and help residents find the right route in. Health volunteering is often a first step for people looking to gain experience, build skills or explore careers in health and care. Making these roles visible and easy to access benefits the whole system. If you’re speaking to prospective volunteers, partners or stakeholders, please consider directing them to the Volunteering for Health section on Volunteer Brum. It’s a practical way we can collectively strengthen Birmingham’s health and wellbeing offer. Find health opportunities on Volunteer Brum

Across Birmingham, everyday life is moving online - from keeping in touch with family to managing appointments, bills and services. For many older people and those living with long-term health conditions or disabilities, this shift can feel daunting and, at times, isolating. That’s where Digital Café Volunteers come in. Digital NNS works with Birmingham’s ten Neighbourhood Network Schemes , along with community groups, social prescribers and social workers, to build digital confidence where it’s needed most. The focus is simple but vital: making sure everyone has access to the digital tools, technology and services that many of us now take for granted. Turning this vision into reality are Digital Cafés - friendly, local drop-in sessions to be held in community spaces across the city. Volunteers sit down with residents, often over a cuppa, and help them make sense of their own devices, whether that’s a smartphone, tablet or laptop. No pressure. No jargon. Just patient, one-to-one help in a relaxed setting. Volunteering is flexible and fits around real life. You can give as much or as little time as you’re able, using skills you already have. There’s no formal training required, because if you can use your own phone or laptop, you already know enough. The help people ask for is often simple but hugely important, like freeing up storage, managing emails, unsubscribing from endless newsletters, downloading or deleting apps, or setting up video calls to speak with family and friends. Volunteers are not expected to deal with more specialist issues such as the NHS App or online safety around scams. Those areas are covered by Neighbourhood Network Scheme staff and other trained professionals. Your role is about the everyday frustrations that can stop people using their devices with confidence. As Rickie Josen, Digital NNS Community Lead , puts it: “The beauty of Digital Cafés is that if you can use a smartphone, you have the skills we need. No special training required — just pick a café near you and give an hour when it suits you. You’ll be helping people unlock new opportunities through digital skills, from accessing essential services online to reconnecting with loved ones. “What matters most isn’t technical expertise, but kindness, patience and the ability to listen . We’re looking for people who enjoy helping others, can explain things clearly and treat everyone with respect and good humour. There are no age limits, and people from all walks of life are encouraged to get involved.” If you’d like to make a real difference in your neighbourhood - helping people feel more confident, more connected and less alone in a digital world – Digital NNS would love to hear from you. Join Birmingham’s growing network of Digital Café Volunteers and be part of something genuinely worthwhile. Find out more about this opportunity