Volunteer Managers' Forum - 5th May 10 am to 11.30 am via Zoom
2022-05-05 10:00 - 11:30 (Europe/London)
Our Volunteer Managers’ Forum is open to anyone who works or volunteers in North Surrey and who is involved in the recruitment and/or management/supervision of volunteers.
Volunteer Management can sometimes be a solitary role within an organisation, and our Forum is a great way to meet other people who are doing a similar role to you and learn from shared experiences. We’re all in this together is never more true than now! As part of how we support you and how we all support each other, please join us for this session.
We are pleased to announce that a representative from InvestingInVolunteers will be presenting at the forum. They will be highlighting their UK quality standard for good practice in volunteer management which provides the ideal framework to assess the quality of your volunteer management.
Details and the link to the session can be found below but we would be grateful if you could email Alison at alison@voluntarysupport.org.uk to let her know you will be attending. Thank you.
Topic: Volunteer Managers Forum
Time: May 5, 2022 10:00 AM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82370686641?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 823 7068 6641
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Spotlight on Fundraising - 6th December 10.00 am via Zoom
2022-06-12 10:00 - 11:00
With the cost of living crisis affecting individuals and charities alike, effective fundraising has never been so crucial. Find out how to build a fundraising strategy for your organisation in this one-hour workshop.

Volunteer Managers' Forum - 8th September 10 am-11.30 am via Zoom
2022-08-09 10:00 - 11:30
Our Volunteer Managers Forum is open to anyone who works or volunteers in North Surrey and is involved in recruiting or managing/supervising volunteers. Volunteer management can be a solitary role within an organisation. Our Forum is a great way to meet other people doing a similar role and to share experiences.
This session will have a representative from the DBS Regional Outreach Service which works collaboratively with safeguarding organisations and organisations recruiting volunteers, acting as a single point of contact for all DBS-related enquiries within the region.

Volunteering and the Law - 3rd May 2023
2023-03-05 10:00 - 13:30
This workshop will provide an opportunity to learn about or refresh your knowledge on volunteering and the law.
Areas covered during the workshop are:
• the definition of volunteering and volunteers’ rights• the difference between a contract and an agreement• the impact on volunteering of Health & Safety, Insurance, the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 & the Equality Act 2010• the current DBS checks situation• volunteering and benefits• the guidelines around volunteer expenses• Volunteer Management Policies• Good Practice Measures
There is no charge for this workshop however places are limited so booking is essential.

Grants and Trusts Fundraising Applications - 10th July 2023
2023-07-10 09:30 - 15:00
This one-day training is an introduction to structuring and writing charity applications for grants and trusts (national and local):

Researching the need for your project
Planning
Measuring impact
Finding the appropriate funder
Application structure
Funding Strategy

Theory of Change Workshop
2024-03-19 10:00 - 15:00 | The Hythe Centre, 36 Thorpe Rd., Staines-upon-Thames, Egham, TW18 3HD
The theory of change is a way for a charitable organisations to think about and describe what they aim to achieve and how they hope to achieve it. The NPC see the theory of change as the foundation of charity strategy, evaluation, and communication.
On March 19th, Elliot Trevithick from New Philanthropy Capital will be hosting a workshop for organisations in North Surrey on the Theory of Change following a terrific presentation on the topic at our September Charity Networking Event.
In this session, you will be working on your own Theories of Change and are encouraged to bring more than one person from your organisation to take full advantage of the workshop. If this isn’t possible, individuals are just as welcome too.
If you have any questions about the workshop, please email: jordan@voluntarysupport.org.uk.

Surrey Heath Mental Health Forum
2024-04-23 10:30 - 12:00 | Online via Zoom
Our Surrey Heath Mental Health Forum continues to meet on a quarterly basis and we are delighted to announce the date for our next forum in April.
This event is for groups based in or operating across Surrey Heath with a connection to mental health, whether that’s through tackling isolation, age-related mental health or disability.
Each meeting has one or two speakers, followed by a roundtable session where people can give an update on their service and share anything new for discussion. It’s a great way to network with other organisations and share information.
This session will be meeting on Zoom. If you’re interested in attending, please contact libby@voluntarysupport.org.uk for more details.
Alternatively, you can call Libby at our Camberley office on 01276 402789.

Recruiting & Managing Volunteers
2024-06-06 10:00 - 15:00 | VSNS Chertsey Office, 6 The Sainsbury Centre, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 9AG, United Kingdom
This workshop is aimed at voluntary organisations who want to improve how they recruit and manage volunteers, and establish good practices to help retain the volunteers that they have.
Areas covered during the workshop are:

Evaluating and planning the recruitment process
Advertising and promoting your volunteer opportunities
What should be included in a volunteer policy/agreement
Understanding what motivates and de-motivates volunteers
Methods of recognising and rewarding volunteers.

Charity Networking Event - March 2025
2025-03-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Enterprise, Enterprise House, Vicarage Road, Egham, TW20 9FB, Enterprise House, Egham, TW20 9FB, United Kingdom
Join us for our first Charity Networking Event of 2025. We run these events quarterly to bring together charities and community groups across North Surrey to connect, share ideas, and gain valuable insights to support their work.
This is a great opportunity to build relationships with fellow third-sector colleagues and potential funders.
The first hour of the session will feature speakers sharing insights on key topics for the sector. In the second half, you’ll have a chance to network over tea and coffee, exchanging ideas and making new connections.
We’re pleased to announce that our first speaker will be Mark Nuti, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing and Public Health for Surrey County Council. He will be discussing devolution and its impact on Surrey, as the county has been selected for the first wave of reorganisation. This follows the decision to delay May’s County Council elections as part of the process.
We’ll also hear from Helen Frary, Voluntary Support’s Chair of Trustees, on trusteeship, and Jo Buckell, our Runnymede and Corporate Engagement Manager, on skill-sharing between charities and businesses.
The event will take place at Enterprise in Egham between 10am and 12pm and you can book your place using the short form below.
For any questions, please contact Jordan at jordan@voluntarysupport.org.uk or call us on 01932 571122.

Shaping Surrey Together - Local Government Reform Q&A
2025-04-15 12:00 - 13:00 | Online via Microsoft Teams
Shaping Surrey Together – Local Government Reform Q&A
We’d like to invite you to join Surrey County Council for an online conversation about the future of local government in Surrey.
Hearing from residents and community organisations is vital in helping shape the upcoming Local Government Reform.
They want to better understand the potential opportunities, challenges, and impacts of any changes – and that means engaging with stakeholders like Voluntary Support and its local networks in North Surrey.
Nicola Kilvington, Director of Corporate Strategy and Policy at Surrey County Council, will be hosting the session to share the latest updates, hear your views, and answer your questions on Local Government Reform in Surrey.
This online session will take place on Tuesday, 15 April between 12pm and 1pm.
If you wish to attend, please click here at the time of the event.

Volunteers Week: Surrey Heath drop-in
2025-06-03 10:30 - 12:00 | Cafe Bistro, 1 Pembroke Broadway,, Camberley, GU15 3XD
???? It’s My Week – And Yours! ????
Have you ever considered becoming a Volunteer?
Join us this Volunteers’ Week and discover how just one hour of your time can change someone’s life and yours.
???? Come and meet us in person!
We’re hosting a friendly get-together with all the inspiration you need to get started. Learn more about all kinds of ways to help, on your terms and in your time.
???? Already a volunteer?
Or part of a local organisation? Come celebrate with us!

Volunteers Week: Staines drop-in
2025-06-04 10:30 - 12:30 | Elmsleigh Shopping Centre, Ground Floor, South Street, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 4QB, United Kingdom
Thinking about volunteering? There’s no better time to get involved!
Join us this Volunteers’ Week and discover how just one hour of your time can change someone’s life and yours.
???? Come and meet us in person!
We’ll be at the Elmsleigh Shopping Centre. Drop by for a chat and to find out more about good causes in your area that are in need of volunteers.

Volunteers Week: Chertsey drop-in
2025-06-05 10:00 - 14:00 | VSNS Chertsey Office, 6 The Sainsbury Centre, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 9AG, United Kingdom
Thinking about volunteering? There’s no better time to get involved! Join us during Volunteers Week for a warm welcome, a cup of tea and a slice of cake. It’s a great chance to meet our team, and learn how you can make a real difference through opportunities like our Time to Talk befriending scheme. Come along and see how rewarding volunteering can be!
And if you’re a local organisation, why not say thank you to your amazing volunteers by inviting them to our special Volunteers’ Week celebration? Join us for a cuppa, a slice of cake, and a small gift as we recognise and appreciate the incredible contribution of local volunteers. It’s a lovely way to show your gratitude and celebrate all they do!

New: Trustees Forum - January 2026
2026-01-28 18:00 - 19:15 | VSNS Chertsey Office, 6 The Sainsbury Centre, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 9AG, United Kingdom
If you are a Surrey-based Charity Trustee, we would like to invite you to join us for an engaging early-evening Trustees Forum designed to bring Surrey trustees together for reflection, connection, and practical peer learning.
This friendly and focused session will create space for you to share your headline updates and hear what is going on for other Trustees in their roles. We will explore challenges with one another, engage in a short creative exercise designed to spark fresh thinking around impact and value. We’ll also spend time discussing a key governance topic chosen from issues which trustees have told us matter most such as board effectiveness, safeguarding responsibilities, legal concerns, or the changing landscape of local government in Surrey.
Our expert leader on the day, Helen Frary, is a trustee champion, a very experienced professional in the charity sector and a trustee herself at VSNS. She will guide conversation to help you with networking, to help surface insights, and to capture themes that can feed into future sessions.
We’ll finish with a short wrap-up to highlight the emerging themes and signpost you to relevant resources and more specific support, as well as to invite thoughts on what trustees would find most useful to explore at the next forum.
This will be the first of an ongoing bi-monthly Trustees Forum where you will have regular opportunities to exchange ideas, gather suggestions from peers, and reflect on what you want to take forward in your organisation.

Trustees Forum - March 2026
2026-03-26 18:00 - 19:15 | VSNS Chertsey Office, 6 The Sainsbury Centre, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 9AG, United Kingdom
If you are a Surrey-based Charity Trustee, we would like to invite you to join us for an engaging early-evening Trustees Forum designed to bring Surrey trustees together for reflection, connection, and practical peer learning.
We’ll discuss key governance topics such as board effectiveness, safeguarding responsibilities, legal concerns, or the changing landscape of local government in Surrey.
We’ll finish with a short wrap-up to highlight the emerging themes and signpost you to relevant resources and more specific support, as well as to invite thoughts on what trustees would find most useful to explore at the next forum.
This bi-monthly Trustees Forum is a regular opportunity to exchange ideas, gather suggestions from peers, and reflect on what you want to take forward in your organisation.

Trustees Forum - May 2026
2026-05-27 18:00 - 19:15 | VSNS Chertsey Office, 6 The Sainsbury Centre, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 9AG, United Kingdom
