When we talk about volunteers, it’s easy to default to a familiar picture – extra support, an additional pair of hands, someone helping to fill a gap.
But that view only tells part of the story.
Across YMCA Fairthorne Group, volunteers are bringing far more than time. They bring experience, specialist skills, and the kind of perspective that can quietly transform how teams operate – if we create the space for it.
Claire May’s journey is a clear example of this in action. Joining as a Volunteer Administrator, Claire didn’t step into a traditional “support” role. Instead, she applied her professional experience across a range of areas – from HR data management and system clean-up to supporting onboarding processes and researching venues for major events.
This is work that requires trust, capability, and attention to detail. And it’s exactly where volunteers can add real value.
What stands out even more is how Claire describes her experience – feeling welcomed, appreciated, and part of the team. That sense of belonging is not incidental. It’s what allows volunteers to contribute meaningfully, rather than sit on the edge of the organisation.
This is where the shift matters.
If we continue to see volunteers as “extra help,” we limit what’s possible. But when we start asking:
- What skills do we need?
- What challenges are we trying to solve?
- Could a volunteer support this?
…we open the door to something much more powerful.
In practice, this can look like:
- Clearing backlogs that teams haven’t had time to tackle
- Supporting admin or system improvements that benefit everyone
- Bringing in specialist skills that don’t exist within the team
It also changes the experience for volunteers themselves. Instead of feeling like they’re filling time, they feel like they’re making a contribution that matters.
Volunteers are already part of how we deliver our work. The opportunity now is to rethink how we engage them – not as an add-on, but as a capability within the organisation.
Because when we get that right, the impact is felt across every part of the charity.
