My utopian vision for the future normal of volunteering

It is International Volunteer Managers Day – a day to celebrate the tireless, passion-driven work of people across the world, paid or unpaid, who help to organise, support and facilitate volunteering.

The theme of #IVMDay 24 is “What’s our future normal?”

While many things come to mind when considering this theme – the ethical use of AI in volunteer engagement, data privacy, flexible volunteering, making sure every generation is introduced to volunteering at a young age – I find myself coming back to this Breauna Dorelus, MPA quote time and time again.

‘Justice in volunteerism is dismantling the systems that make people in need so that “formal volunteering” becomes outdated and we just become community that cares for community. And when your neighbour needs something, you just show up for them.’

And as Erin Rebecca Spink, MA (she/her/hers) shared with those of us at Boroondara Volunteer Resource Centre’s IVM Day forum, volunteering is political!

In the future;

• Leaders of volunteer engagement are deeply involved in activism and lobbying for changes to the systems and policies that lead to inequality and disadvantage and the need for the services our organisations provide.

• #LoVols ensure the organisations they work for are inclusive and do not exclude people from volunteering through systemic discrimination.

• More volunteers with lived experience are in leadership roles guiding and supporting other volunteers to engage in meaningful ways that don’t reinforce stereotypes, disadvantage and exclusion.

What is your vision for the future of volunteering?