This week's episode features Mark Lever, former CEO of three leading charities: Helpforce, Royal Voluntary Service, and the National Autistic Society. Mark brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the volunteer landscape. Our conversation delves into the crucial topic of demonstrating and maximising the impact of volunteering—a core focus of Time for Impact. We also discuss the power of local community action and the vital role of grassroots volunteering. Mark's thoughtful insights offer valuable lessons for anyone involved in or interested in the world of volunteering.

Learn more about the organizations Mark has led:

• Helpforce:https://helpforce.community/

• Royal Voluntary Service:https://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/

• National Autistic Society:https://www.autism.org.uk/

Tune in for this engaging and informative discussion!

We hope you enjoy our discussion on volunteering in Northern Ireland, volunteering Infrastructure and the international volunteerism profession as much as we did.

We discussed the role of community sport and faith in volunteering, the role of infrastructure in boosting the profession, and the centrality of volunteerism in citizenship, democracy and the civic fabric. We discussed the changes in volunteering behaviour and the link between flexibility and inclusion.

Do check out the great range of insightful research papers on the Volunteer Now website

https://www.volunteernow.co.uk/publication-category/research/

We also referred to the latest household survey data on volunteering in Northern Ireland and some recovery since Covid. https://datavis.nisra.gov.uk/communities/experience-of-volunteering-by-adults-in-northern-ireland-202324.html#Definitions__technical_notes

We were delighted to be joined on the Time For Impact Podcast by Michael Phillips, Head of Volunteering at the great homelessness charity Crisis.

Crisis have some really exciting and truly ambitious plans to work in collaboration with the communities in which homelessness exists, with business, government and other charities to end homelessness in the UK.

They recognise that they cannot do it alone as an organisation nor as a staff body and that they need to be the convenors of a coalition of people united behind this shared purpose.

You can read more about their strategy here https://www.crisis.org.uk/ending-homelessness/plan-to-end-homelessness/

More information on volunteering at Crisis can be found here https://www.crisis.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/

In the midst of the discussion we reference the ‘Time to Change’ - you can read about them here https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/about-us

We mentioned the social media backlash to supermarkets selling Halloween costumes that stigmatise people with mental health issues. You can read more about that here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24278768#:~:text=Supermarket%20chains%20Tesco%20and%20Asda,its%20%22psycho%20ward%22%20outfit

As always we hope you enjoy the podcast. Please do follow us wherever you get your podcasts.

If you like what you hear, please give us a nice rating, and tell your colleagues about our show. We would really appreciate that.

We are always interested in ideas for future guests or subjects so do contact us via www.TimeForImpact.co.uk with suggestions and feedback.

And remember Time for Impact can always help you with your strategic volunteer thinking and demonstrating the impact of volunteering. We’d love to hear from you.