Inspiration for recognising and showing appreciation to staff and volunteers

Inspiration for recognising volunteers and they work they do towards your charity's mission.

Inspiration for recognising and showing appreciation to staff and volunteers

Inspiration for recognising volunteers and they work they do towards your charity’s mission.

Recognising volunteers is essential for maintaining an engaged, motivated and connected team. Here are some creative ideas to show appreciation, along with examples from other charities:

Acknowledge long-term commitment by celebrating specific milestones

Salford CVS has a Recognition Scheme for Salford charities that awards certificates for 100, 500, and 1,000 hours of service.

Host a special event or awards ceremony to recognise outstanding contributions

Salford CVS organises The Heart of Salford Awards which celebrate volunteering in the community, inspiring others through public recognition.

Neighbourhood Watch celebrated volunteers in June by encouraging nominations for a Coordinator to receive a Volunteer Recognition Award. This was part of a whole week of activities such as The Big Lunch.

Offer unique rewards or experiences as a thank you for exceptional service

Room to Reward partners with hotels to provide free short breaks for deserving volunteers. Charities and community groups can nominate their “Hidden Heroes” for a complimentary hotel stay as a thank you for their service.

Carefree is a charity that uses a similar concept to provide breaks for unpaid carers.

Nominate your people for national recognition

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service is an annual award for which any group of two or more people doing volunteer work in the UK can be nominated.

The new Charity Heroes Awards have a category for Volunteers, as well as Charity Leaders of the Year.

Implement systems for volunteers and staff to appreciate each other’s efforts

You could create a “kudos board” or digital platform for sharing appreciation messages among staff or volunteers or have a peer recognition programme like Ronald McDonald House Charities UK. Their programme, Shining Stars, allows colleagues to recognise each other’s contributions and impact. Each quarter, they award five different winners, called Shining Stars with £50 vouchers.

Barts Charity has an intranet where colleagues can send and receive a “Barts Heart”; when a certain number is received, staff can choose from a selection of small gifts.

Celebrating publicly achievements and stories of staff and volunteers

Cancer Research has a dedicated page for “Celebrating the achievements of our volunteers.”

Sending a small note of thanks

A small gesture of thanks like a handwritten card or small gift can convey thanks in personal way. This is something Barts Charity have included in their programme.

A LinkedIn post from Helen Ball, CEO of Causeway, shared what they were doing to help look after their team and show appreciation.

These are a few ideas for inspiration. Why not tailor how you recognise staff and volunteers to your charity’s culture and mission?

The article by Management Centre provides five practical steps for managers to keep their fundraising team members engaged, including regular check-ins, goal-setting, encouraging creativity, open communication, and providing recognition, all of which contribute to fostering a supportive and productive work environment.

This resource by CIOF offers guidance on creating a positive and open working culture in fundraising organisations, emphasising strategies for leaders to foster an environment where team members feel valued and empowered.