Professional Skills Can Be Transformative

The power that drives charities and voluntary groups comes from passionate volunteers and tiny teams working incredibly hard to support their communities, but what they can often lack are specialist skills that larger organisations or businesses might take for granted.

This is where skills-based volunteering can be transformative. A few hours volunteering from someone with finance experience can help a charity improve budgeting, strengthen financial controls or prepare more confidently for funding applications. Legal professionals can advise on governance, safeguarding and policies. Someone with marketing or communications expertise may help a small organisation sharpen its message, improve social media or reach isolated residents who need support.

Digital and IT skills are becoming increasingly valuable as groups try to modernise their systems, improve cyber security or use of potentially time-saving online platforms, but ironically don’t have the time or resources to pay for support.

These skills, that may feel part of a natural working day to someone who uses them all the time, can be hugely valuable to a charity. Using these skills doesn’t have to mean committing endless hours either.

Dan Lewis was an HR professional with Vodaphone and saw an advert for trustees with his skills from Chippenham charity Doorway, which supports people sleeping rough and those at risk of being made homeless.

“I thought that contributing something in Wiltshire would be really valuable,” he said. “Doorway’s mission is something that really resonates with me, I think the work they do is really important in an area that’s actually remarkably understated considering the types of surveys that go on into the issues that we address.”

He spends a few hours a month on trustee work and is called upon to lend his expertise as the need arises. “It fits into my home and work life very nicely and by being in a position to support them as effectively as I can, and knowing then that that work can continue and that people are benefiting, is absolutely massive for me.

“There were 300 people last year who were helped by Doorway, which is a phenomenally large number. We’re dishing out hundreds of meals, tents and clothes and providing showers and allowing people to wash their stuff – and being a part of that is what I get out of it.”

Sustainable Warminster also needs a treasurer, said trustee Rebecca Krzyzosiak. “Our projects and community activities depend on careful, thoughtful management of our resources,” she said. “By keeping our finances organised and transparent, the Treasurer helps the group plan confidently, build trust, and continue making a positive difference in our community.”

Whether your background is in finance, law, marketing, design, IT, HR or management, your skills could help a charity become stronger, more resilient and better able to change lives. Sometimes the most valuable volunteering happens not on the frontline, but quietly behind the scenes.

WCA’s Wiltshire Together is a free community portal, which advertises volunteering opportunities for groups who sign up. There are lots of opportunities for people with professional skills.

WCA works with charities and groups to help them support volunteer training and development, and helps them develop links with the community. To find out more, contact Stacey Sims at community@wessexcommunityaction.org.uk.

Press release issued by Meadow Communications on behalf of Wessex Community Action.

For further details contact Gary Lawrence of Meadow Communications on 07866 422308 or gary@meadowcomms.co.uk.