That’s the question we explored at our latest Community Catch Up on May 12, where 10 passionate locals came together to swap ideas on volunteer appreciation and retention. It was a vibrant mix—community groups, businesses, and organisations all pitching in: Country Universities Centre, Walking Together, Shoalhaven Palliative Care Volunteers, Treading Lightly, Milton P&C, and more.
Together, we imagined a world where every volunteer felt energised valued, and connected. Here’s what that could look like:
🌱 Big smiles and good vibes
🌱 Less loneliness, more confidence
🌱 A sense of pride and purpose
🌱 Loads of community events
🌱 Sharing knowledge, support, and resources
🌱 Everyone texting, calling, and contributing
🌱 A true team effort
Building a Volunteer Value Proposition
Mel Louth from Treading Lightly share her insights into building a Volunteer Value Proposition (VVP)—a clear statement that says: Here’s why it’s great to volunteer with us!
A strong VVP helps volunteers see:
- The benefits of being involved (skills, friendships, making a difference)
- That they are welcomed and valued from day one
- Their impact on the community
- That their time and energy is respected
It’s not just about getting people in the door—it’s about helping them stay because they feel like they belong, they feel supported and like they are making a difference.
Read more here about creating your own VVP!
Support, Celebrate, Sustain
We also talked about how to keep volunteers happy and supported:
- Check in regularly: What do you need to thrive?
- Celebrate milestones: shout-outs, notes, small gifts
- Share stories that highlight impact
- Build systems (like onboarding and policies) that make volunteering easier and safer
Wicked Questions, Real Impact
We also ran a Wicked Question activity—designed to help groups ask deeper, more powerful questions. This activity supports reflection and open thinking before jumping to solutions.
Want to Dive Deeper?
Here’s what participants said they’re keen to explore:
- Ideas from other organisations that are supporting and engaging with volunteers well
- Paid project roles for long-time volunteers
- Ways to stay connected when regular volunteering is hard
And Finally – A Shout Out
Big thanks to Caroline Boland and Bendigo Bank for providing coffee vouchers to help groups say a “thank you” to their volunteers. Because sometimes, appreciation looks like a hot cuppa and a smile.
Happy Volunteer Week everyone!