Workshop Information

Workshops Overview

Heritage Volunteering ’26 features over 12 highly interactive workshops, each designed to offer practical tools, reflective space, and real‑world insight into volunteer engagement across the heritage sector.

Two  workshops can be selected each day, enabling you to attend four sessions across the two conference days. Each listing below includes an overview, key themes, and the practical takeaways delegates can expect.  Recordings and presentations will be shared with attendees who secured a ticket for this year’s conference,.

This page will be updated as final workshop titles and descriptions are confirmed but the 12 workshops are listed below:

Tuesday 24 November

10:20–11:20am and 11:40am-12:40pm

 

1. Engaging Employer Volunteering Effectively: From One‑Off Volunteering to Lasting Impact

Presenter: Charlotte Linton, Durham Community Action

Overview: Many organisations experience employer‑supported volunteering (ESV) as one‑off, task‑based activity that can be resource‑intensive and offer limited long‑term value. When approached strategically, however, ESV can become a powerful tool for building capacity, developing skills, and strengthening community impact. This workshop explores how voluntary and heritage organisations can move beyond one‑off volunteering opportunities to develop meaningful, sustainable partnerships with employers.

You’ll explore:

• Building employer relationships — initiating, nurturing, and sustaining partnerships with local businesses
• Designing strategic volunteering roles — creating opportunities that meet real organisational needs
• Creating mutual value — shaping experiences that benefit organisations, volunteers, and employers

You’ll leave with practical knowledge of:

• Developing long‑term employer partnerships
• Structuring impactful ESV opportunities
• Ensuring sustainable, mutually beneficial outcomes

 

2. Supportive Pathways and Partnerships: Creating Volunteering Opportunities for Young People with SEND

Presenter: Eldina Bolic, Birmingham Museums Trust

Overview: Young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) often face barriers to accessing meaningful volunteering opportunities. This workshop explores how heritage organisations can design supportive, inclusive pathways that enable young people with SEND to thrive. Drawing on practical experience and partnership models, Eldina will share approaches that build confidence, skills, and belonging while strengthening organisational inclusion.

You’ll explore:

• Co‑designing accessible volunteering pathways with young people, families, and educators
• Building partnerships with SEND organisations to create safe, supported entry points
• Removing barriers to participation through flexible roles, communication, and adjustments

You’ll leave with practical knowledge of:

• Developing inclusive role design
• Creating supportive volunteer journeys
• Embedding SEND inclusion into organisational practice

 

3. Landing Your Message: How to Turn ‘NO’ into ‘Yes’ in Volunteer Management

Presenter: Jennie Mann, Bloom Volunteering

Overview: Volunteer managers often face resistance — from colleagues, leaders, or partners — when advocating for change, resources, or new approaches. This practical workshop focuses on the communication skills and influence techniques that help you shift conversations, build buy‑in, and turn a “no” into a constructive “yes”. Jennie brings real‑world examples and tools that help volunteer managers communicate with clarity, confidence, and strategic impact.

You’ll explore:

• Understanding organisational resistance and what sits behind a “no”
• Framing your message for influence
• Using evidence, stories, and timing to strengthen your case

You’ll leave with practical knowledge of:

• Techniques for shifting conversations
• Building internal allies and champions
• Communicating with clarity and confidence

 

4. Retention by Design: Unpacking What Makes Volunteers Stay

Presenter: Mirabai Ruskin, English Heritage

Overview: Volunteer retention is not a mystery — it is shaped by design, culture, and clarity. This workshop explores the factors that influence whether volunteers feel connected, valued, and motivated to continue. Mirabai will guide participants through the psychology of belonging to a community, the role of expectations, and the practical steps organisations can take to create environments where volunteers get what they need out of the experience (if not more!) and want to stay.

You’ll explore:

• What drives volunteer motivation and long‑term engagement
• Designing roles and experiences that support retention
• Creating cultures of appreciation and belonging

You’ll leave with practical knowledge of:

• Retention‑focused role design
• Improving volunteer experience touchpoints
• Building a culture that sustains commitment

 

5. Influence Where It Matters: A Practical Workshop for Volunteer Managers

Presenter: Rachel Stewart, FRS Consultancy Ltd

Overview: Volunteer managers often influence without authority — navigating complex systems, advocating for volunteers, and shaping organisational priorities. This workshop focuses on the practical skills needed to influence effectively at every level. Rachel brings tools from leadership, behavioural insight, and systems thinking to help you understand where influence sits and how to use it with purpose.

You’ll explore:

• Mapping your spheres of influence
• Using strategic communication to shift thinking
• Influencing upwards, sideways, and across teams

You’ll leave with practical knowledge of:

• Identifying leverage points in your organisation
• Building influence through relationships
• Applying influence tools to real‑world challenges

 

6. Volunteer Reflect Grow: Inspiring and Sustaining Volunteering

Presenter: Susannah Pickering‑Saqqa, University of East London

Overview: Reflection is a powerful tool for sustaining volunteer engagement, deepening learning, and strengthening motivation. This workshop explores how reflective practice can be embedded into volunteering programmes to support wellbeing, growth, and long‑term commitment. Susannah draws on research and practical models to show how reflection can transform both volunteer experience and organisational culture.

You’ll explore:

• Models of reflective practice suitable for volunteer programmes
• Creating reflective spaces and conversations
• Supporting volunteer wellbeing through reflection

You’ll leave with practical knowledge of:

• Integrating reflection into volunteer journeys
• Tools to support volunteer growth
• Building reflective organisational cultures

 

Wednesday 25 November

10:20–11:20am and 11:40am-12:40pm

 

7. The Impact Autopsy: Moving from Vanity to Sanity Metrics

Presenter: Chris Wade, Time for Impact

Overview: Impact measurement in volunteering is often dominated by “vanity metrics” — big numbers that look impressive but reveal little about real change. This workshop takes you through an “impact autopsy”, examining what your data actually tells you and how to shift towards meaningful, actionable insight. Chris will guide you through practical tools for understanding contribution, value, and outcomes in ways that support better decision‑making and stronger stories of change.

You’ll explore:

• Identifying vanity metrics and why they fall short
• Understanding contribution vs attribution
• Designing metrics that reflect real impact

You’ll leave with practical knowledge of:

• Building a sanity‑metrics framework
• Using data to inform decisions
• Communicating impact with clarity and honesty

 

8. New But Motivated – Growing Your Passion for People with the Right Support

Presenter: Emma Flack, Chatsworth House Trust

• Details coming soon 

 

9. When Things Go Wrong: Dispute Resolution Skills for the Volunteer Sector

Presenter: Lee Greenwood, IYVS

Overview: Conflict is an inevitable part of working with people — but with the right skills, it can be managed constructively and compassionately. This workshop explores dispute resolution in volunteer settings, where relationships, emotions, and organisational values all play a role. Lee brings practical tools for navigating complaints, disagreements, and difficult conversations with confidence.

You’ll explore:

• Understanding sources of conflict in volunteer environments
• Skills for de‑escalation and active listening
• Approaches to fair, trauma‑aware resolution

You’ll leave with practical knowledge of:

• Managing disputes with confidence
• Creating transparent, supportive processes
• Strengthening trust after conflict

 

10. Pathways to the Past and Future: Using Time Credits to Support Participation

Presenter: Rachel Gegeshidze, Tempo

Overview: Time Credits offer a powerful way to recognise contribution, build community participation, and open new pathways into volunteering. This workshop explores how heritage and voluntary organisations can use Time Credits to widen engagement and support people who face barriers to involvement. Rachel will share practical examples of how Time Credits create reciprocal, motivating systems that benefit both volunteers and organisations.

You’ll explore:

• How Time Credits work and why they motivate participation
• Designing roles that align with Time Credit models
• Building partnerships to expand opportunities

You’ll leave with practical knowledge of:

• Implementing Time Credits in your organisation
• Supporting volunteers through reciprocal systems
• Measuring the impact of Time Credit engagement

 

11. 5 Barriers We Built into Volunteering — And How to Dismantle Them

Presenter: Tracey O’Neill, Tracey O’Neill Consulting

Overview: Many of the barriers volunteers face are unintentionally created by the systems, assumptions, and habits within our own organisations. This workshop examines five common barriers — from language to processes to culture — and how to dismantle them to create more equitable, accessible volunteering. Tracey brings practical insight into redesigning volunteer experiences so more people can participate meaningfully.

You’ll explore:

• Identifying hidden organisational barriers
• Understanding how systems exclude
• Redesigning processes for inclusion

You’ll leave with practical knowledge of:

• Removing structural and cultural barriers
• Creating accessible volunteer journeys
• Embedding inclusive practice across teams

 

12. What Happens Behind the Scenes: Building Volunteer Systems That Work

Presenter: Tuesday Davies, Macmillan Cancer Support

Overview: Behind every successful volunteer programme is a set of systems — often invisible — that make recruitment, communication, safeguarding, and support run smoothly. This workshop explores how to build and maintain systems that are robust, human‑centred, and fit for purpose. Tuesday will share practical insights into designing processes that reduce friction, support volunteers, and strengthen organisational resilience.

You’ll explore:

• Mapping your volunteer systems
• Designing processes that support people
• Improving communication and workflow

You’ll leave with practical knowledge of:

• Building systems that scale
• Strengthening consistency and safeguarding
• Creating smooth, supportive volunteer experiences

 

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