Wellbeing in the Voluntary Sector Conference 2025
Past and Present Supporters include:
Overview
The outsourcing of public services to the third sector means the pressure on voluntary workers is perpetually increasing. Internal pressures such as work overload and managerial pressure, coupled with external pressures, such as the cost-of-living crisis demonstrates the burden on staff in the voluntary sector has heightened. Nevertheless, a report published by Mental Health UK (2024) stated that individuals found ‘having a healthy work-life balance’ (56%), having a supportive line manager at work’ (43%), ‘having a supportive network of professional colleagues or peers’ (42%), ‘reasonable adjustments at work’ (38%), ‘professional support for mental health’ (29%) and ‘organisations offering staff training around mental health at work’ (24%) alleviated stress and increased wellbeing. In the voluntary sector:
- The Working Families Index 2022 states over 80% of respondents from the charity sector reported being able to work flexibly
- A 2022 report published by the Peoples Health Trust found that 97% of organisations identified mental health support as their biggest challenge
- 82% of Voluntary Care Sector project leaders were concerned about staff burnout.
- 26% of charities observed an increase in staff reports of low wellbeing, alongside a similar rise 25% in sickness-related absences, according to a study from Pro Bono Economics and Nottingham Trent University (2023)
Join us at the Wellbeing in the Voluntary Sector Conference 2025 to collaborate on positive and innovative approaches to supporting wellbeing in the voluntary sector. You will hear best practice case studies and covering a range of key topics, including strategies for supporting vulnerable staff, building positive workplace cultures, reducing burnout, implementing safeguarding policies and fostering inclusive environments, as well as a panel outlining the impacts of the 2024 Autumn Budget on the voluntary sector and considering the positive impacts flexible working can have on wellbeing.
Why Attend?
✓ High-level keynotes on the latest trends and guidance for improving wellbeing within the third sector
✓ Listen and learn from best practice case studies on key challenges and solutions to improving staff and volunteer wellbeing
✓ Networking opportunities with speakers and senior colleagues from across the voluntary sector
✓ CPD (gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota)
For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285
Agenda
Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Keynote: Supporting Vulnerable Staff
- Strategising techniques for leaders to identify and support vulnerable staff
- Key advice on encouraging annual leave usage, monitoring wellbeing remotely, and implementing effective wellbeing measures
- Encouraging informal staff networks to foster community and resilience within the workplace
- Establishing open communication between line managers and their staff to reduce feelings of isolation
Keynote: Building a Positive Organisational Culture
- Cultivating trust, equity, and collaboration between leaders and staff
- Establishing core values within the organisational culture
- Facilitating a culture of psychological safety, allowing staff to take risks, make mistakes and express ideas and concerns
- Creating organisational support for a personalised approach to development
- Recognition of volunteer’s achievement by aligning leadership goals with staff satisfaction
- Consistently evaluating volunteer needs and reframing policy to support this.
Tiger de Souza MBE, Executive Director of People and Culture, Samaritans (CONFIRMED)
Key Supporter Session
Questions & Answers
Comfort Break
Case Study: Evaluating Flexible Working
- Outlining the benefits of flexible working, such as, a better work-life balance for staff, increased productivity and less absentees
- Encouraging leaders in the voluntary sector charity roles to advertise roles as flexible
- Empowering staff members to not rely on team leaders when they are absent/working from home and manage their own time based on outcomes and impact
- Supporting staff who feeling isolated from working at home
- Creating a culture in the voluntary sector that champions the value of flexible working.
Case Study: Providing Staff with Practical Mental Health Support Systems
- Providing specialist services, such as mental health awareness training
- Increasing staff confidence in dealing with such issues and help volunteers to learn new ways of looking after their wellbeing
- Supplying volunteers with optional support networks including regular supervision sessions with a trained counsellor, an external assistance programme or group reflective practice sessions with a professional
- Giving leaders the tools to regularly check in with volunteers or volunteers, which is particularly important if staff are working from home without in-person support.
Case Study: Strategies Reducing Burnout
- Strategies for creating adaptable work schedules to maintain efficiency while reducing burnout risks
- Identifying the link between burnout and stress factors, such as unclear objectives and goals, unrealistic deadlines and extra responsibilities
- Developing a culture that facilitates open and honest conversations with voluntary leaders and volunteers amongst themselves, can help create a sense of belonging and strong social purpose
- Providing the latest updates and insights about the possibility of a 4-day working week
Questions and Answers
Lunch Break
Keynote/ Panel: Considering the Latest Implications of Government Budgetary Changes
- Welcoming the increase of local government funding to ease the pressure on the voluntary sector providing public services from 2025
- Outlining the positive impacts of the increased Charity Commission budget from April 2025.
- Maintaining staff wellbeing while navigating the rising costs of running a charity as employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) and the national minimum wage are increased April 2025
- Balancing the benefits of having a healthy workforce and being an effective provider of charitable services
Key Supporter Session
Questions and Answers
Breakout Networking: Measuring Inclusivity in the Workplace: Overcoming Hurdles and Sharing Successes
This session will provide you a forum for discussing workplace inclusivity, offering a space for attendees to evaluate outcomes that benefit both employer and employee in practical settings. An open dialogue is encouraged for attendees to knowledge-share and cultivate more inclusive environments in their workplaces.Comfort Break
Keynote: Implementing an Effective Safeguarding Policy for Volunteers
- Ensuring all members of staff are aware of their role in applying a strong safeguarding policy
- Using regular information briefings to further embed safeguarding policies within the culture of the voluntary sector
- Creating an environment where staff feel comfortable to act as whistleblowers should there be a safeguarding concern
- Ensuring that volunteers know how to report something that worries them whilst volunteering and keep themselves safe
- Protecting the privacy of volunteers and service users in line with DLAG’s General Data Protection Policy (GDPR) policy.
Mandy Jones, Head of Safeguarding, Save the Children (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Volunteer Wellbeing at the Centre of the Latest Recruitment and Retention Strategies
- Offering development opportunities, mentorship programs and advancement opportunities to contribute to volunteer’s overall sense of wellbeing
- Conducting volunteer engagement surveys and analysing data such as demographics and exit surveys to tailor policy to support the wellbeing of volunteers
- Outlining how to make the volunteer recruitment programmes easy and accessible for a range of diverse applicants
- Strategies for creating innovative health and wellbeing packages for potential volunteers
Katie Bradshaw, Senior Consultant, NCVO (CONFIRMED)
Questions and Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Previous Speakers
Gemma Goyner
Head of HR
Lloyds Bank Foundation
Mike Robinson
Chief Executive
British Safety Council
Louise Golden
CEO
Together Project
Simon Blake
Chief Executive
Health First Aid England
Edward Walden
DEI Manager
Power to Change
Testimonials
It was a very good session, with excellent speakers. I really enjoyed hearing about their experiences and will take away many things.
Amazing and able to apply immediately.
Interesting and engaging.
A worthwhile conference that highlights the importance of in-house staff wellbeing, promoting an positive working culture, and identifying ways of improving how we support our employees.
Why You Should Attend?
✓ Hear high-level keynotes from leading organisations on the latest. diversity and inclusion guidance and advice for HR and management professionals.
✓ Case studies showcasing best practice in supporting marginalised staff in the workplace.
✓ A wide range of topics including improving racial diversity, tackling bias and discrimination, and creating an inclusive workplace.
✓ Networking opportunities with speakers and senior colleagues.
Who Should Attend?
| Job Title Example | ||
Head of Inclusion |
HR Advisor |
Senior People Partner |
People Manager |
Wellbeing Officer |
Engagement Manager |
Volunteer Recruiters |
Senior Leader in Non-Profit Sector |
Head of Workplace Wellbeing |
Pricing Options
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Sponsorship
Raise your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact us HERE
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access (coming soon)
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below:
