Welcome back to the Volunteer Coordinator Forum! And a (very belated) happy 2026 to you all — somehow January is already nearly behind us.
January can be a tricky month to navigate. It’s dark, it’s cold, and the daily dilemma of whether the heating is too hot or not quite warm enough — combined with the endless layering and de-layering — is enough to tire anyone out, before we even get to our actual jobs! That’s exactly why this group exists: to offer support, shared wisdom and connection within Southampton’s volunteering community.
I always come away from the meetings having learned something new, and it’s genuinely refreshing to hear what everyone is working on across their organisations. During today’s catch-up, the forum team reflected on the end of last year, sharing updates on each organisation’s activities and how everyone is resetting and planning for the year ahead. A key topic of discussion was data collection, with many organisations currently gathering information or developing surveys for their volunteers and clients, and considering how this data will be used to inform future work. We use data every day, raising the question of whether collecting more data is a hindrance or a valuable tool.
I’m not much of a New Year’s resolutions person — I feel like I already have plenty on my plate without adding more! However, one thing I would love to do this year is get out and about more across Southampton. I’d really enjoy visiting you, seeing what you do, and learning more about organisation or charity. Please do get in touch and let me know when might be a good time to visit.
I’m also pleased to share that Parent Support Link have very kindly offered to host our next Coordinator meeting in April.
As always, keep going. I hope to see many of you at upcoming events or meetings, and if you support with volunteering — you know where to find me.