RSVP, Emma Thomas-Hancock, Director of Delivery

At Volunteering Matters our strategy is all about being ‘place based’ and how that impacts communities. The volunteer leaders and organisers of RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Programme) have been leading the way and championing this approach for over 30 years! They do this by leading and organising local place-based social action in communities across the UK.

The social action is equally as varied and as creative as the volunteers leading RSVP, it is also totally focused on place and meeting the needs of the communities. What RSVP volunteers lead is not prescribed by Volunteering Matters; it is completely driven by the needs of the local communities they are part of. That is what makes RSVP so impactful, sustainable, and so special.

The magic ingredient is the autonomy and freedom that RSVP volunteers have to develop and lead social action. However, to do this in a way that has the backup and support from Volunteering Matters, the RSVP steering group (all volunteers themselves) have developed the RSVP toolkit.

The RSVP toolkit is a simple step to step guide to setting up and running a locally-based social action initiative, that covers everything from:

  • Recruiting volunteers
  • Supporting volunteers
  • Communications & marketing
  • Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
  • Health & Safety
  • Safeguarding and insurance.

If you are interested in being involved in RSVP, or if you are under 50 years old, and would like to set up place-based social action in your community, Volunteering Matters can support you on that journey, so please do get in touch. And thank you to all our wonderful RSVP volunteers who are truly leading the way.

If you would like to get in touch please email: RSVP@volunteeringmatters.org.uk