Launched in 2024, Working4Good is a dedicated service which provides free specialised training and support to help build stronger foundations for future volunteers and volunteering in Hull.
This service was designed and delivered by Hull Community and Voluntary Services (Hull CVS) as a further expansion to the wraparound support we have provided to local volunteers and voluntary organisations since 1981.
The need for this service was shaped from research conducted in 2023 to understand:
- the needs of and barriers faced by people locally around volunteering and employment.
- the types and quality of routine training provided to local volunteers.
- which opportunities are available to young people.
From this research, Hull CVS found that whilst volunteering provides anyone with the chance to make a difference, try activities in a safe environment and the opportunity to build local communities, for some, taking that first step is the most difficult and there needs to be some kind of entry-level support available.
When looking at volunteering opportunities for young people, we found the only legal restriction is for profit-making organisations, who are not allowed to have anyone join them who is under the age of 14. Despite this however, some organisations do not provide any specialised roles for young people or have the relevant policies, procedures and insurance to support people who are under the age of 18.
With the above in mind, we designed Working4Good to offer three different strands of support:
Volunteer Academy Training Programme
The Volunteer Academy Training Programme is a Hull-based initiative which provides volunteers with a robust package of practical information and advice to improve their overall experience.
By imparting knowledge that conforms to current legislation and guidelines at no cost to the individual or organisation, our aim through this programme is to help address the gap between the quantity and quality of training offered to volunteers in Hull.
In our first year, Working4Good:
Delivered 21 Volunteer Academy Sessions
Welcomed 215 Attendees
with 62% aged 16 to 25 years old
with 62% aged 16 to 25 years old
Received 187 Evaluation Forms
with an average 87.4% module satisfaction rate
with an average 87.4% module satisfaction rate
Volunteer to Employment Programme
The Volunteer to Employment Programme was designed to offer individuals person-centred support by understanding their needs and long-term ambitions and working with them at their pace to ensure they gain maximum benefit from their volunteering journey.
Through this offer of support, we aimed to:
- improve individual wellbeing, confidence and outcomes through one-to-one support.
- upskill local people by sourcing opportunities specifically suited to their goals.
- bolster the resilience of local voluntary organisations through a more self-assured volunteer-base.
Following the Volunteer Academy Training Programme, we offered every attendee the option of this support. In-addition to this, we began working closely with local education settings to offer this support directly to students to enhance future further education and job applications.
In our first year, Working4Good:
Supported 76 People
through dedicated one-to-one sessions
through dedicated one-to-one sessions
Sourced 195 Volunteering Opportunities
with particular interest in Community, Health and Older People
with particular interest in Community, Health and Older People
Provided 190 Training Opportunities
such as Level 1 Award in Volunteering, Level 2 in Mental Health First Aid and Level 3 in Education and Training.
such as Level 1 Award in Volunteering, Level 2 in Mental Health First Aid and Level 3 in Education and Training.
Youth Work Experience Programme
Over the past few years, Hull CVS has received increasing interest from young people (16 to 18 years old) regarding volunteering and work-related experiences.
When considering the important elements to build effective framework for future volunteering in Hull, we believed that understanding the barriers faced by young people, voluntary organisations and education should be one of our core principles.
Our aim through Working4Good, beyond building the framework to expand opportunities for young people, was to create a singular platform for organisations to advertise and young people to access opportunities applicable to them.
In-addition to this, we wanted to ensure that the platform offered that reassurance to each party involved that only suitable opportunities would be available, so created a verification process for users and organisations to ensure that everyone on the platform has been approved by a member of the team.
To ensure the opportunities were applicable for the young people on the platform, we created a process to visit education settings and conduct one-to-ones with students so we can learn about their hobbies, interests, favourite subjects and future aspirations.
From this information, we aimed to target local voluntary organisations and businesses with a view to providing any necessary support to advertise their opportunities on the platform.
This platform was built and launched on Tuesday 12th November 2024 at our dedicated Working4Good Launch Event.
This event was held at The Edge, a digital hub in Hull, between 4:30 PM and 7 PM, with invitations extended to local organisations, businesses and education settings.
Following this, Working4Good:
Welcomed 32 Launch Event Attendees
representing 10 businesses, 7 education settings and 4 voluntary organisations
representing 10 businesses, 7 education settings and 4 voluntary organisations
Had 10 Opportunities Added
with other expressions of interest received
with other expressions of interest received
Supported 39 Students
through education setting based drop-in sessions
through education setting based drop-in sessions