Skip to main content
Create an account for suggestions personalised to you and your organisation
Create account
Information
1 minute read

Recognising and valuing volunteers

Meeting National Standards and Strategy Seal Meeting National Standards and Strategy What's this?

This resource provides practical suggestions on how organisations can recognise and value volunteers in both day to day activities and formal recognition processes. It highlights the importance of acknowledging volunteer contributions to support engagement and satisfaction.

The guide supports organisations to embed recognition into their culture, ensuring volunteers feel appreciated and motivated to continue their involvement.

Benefits for volunteer managers

  • value and recognise volunteers and volunteering contributions
  • improve volunteer motivation and engagement
  • support retention of volunteers through positive experiences
  • strengthen organisational culture and appreciation of volunteers.

How to apply this resource

This resource is most useful when developing recognition strategies, improving volunteer engagement practices, or integrating appreciation into everyday volunteer management approaches.

Downloads and sources

Visit source (opens in new tab)

More about the author

National organisation supporting volunteering and volunteer development across Scotland.
disclosures@volunteerscotland.org.uk Contact Volunteer Scotland
Visit website (opens in new tab)
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)

Contribute to the Gateway

Leave feedback

Was this resource useful?

Make a Suggestion

If you find a great resource that isn't in the directory or want to provide feedback on the Volunteering Gateway, drop us a line!

More like this

Templates

Supporting your volunteers

Guidance on how to effectively support volunteers throughout their involvement.
1 minute read
Volunteer Scotland
General
Guides

Best Practice Guidelines

Volunteering New Zealand’s Best Practice Guidelines help organisations create positive volunteer experiences. They provide practical principles, examples and guidance on recruitment, onboarding, support, training, recognition, celebrating impact and volunteer exit.
1 minute read
Volunteering New Zealand Tūao Aotearoa
General
INVOLVE
Tech

INVOLVE

Volunteer management a headache? INVOLVE simplifies everything! Automate tasks, gain instant insights, schedule visually, track hours effortlessly, and collaborate seamlessly. Built in Australia, your data's safe. Focus on your purpose, not admin.
Volunteer database Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Task management Compliance Reporting Event management
Better Impact
Tech

Better Impact

Better Impact offers a comprehensive software solution for volunteer program management, to simplify administrative tasks and enhance volunteer engagement across every stage of the volunteer lifecycle.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Compliance Reporting Social media Donations
Be Collective
Tech

Be Collective

A volunteer management & community engagement platform. Be Collective is all about empowering volunteering and the organisations supporting volunteering to build stronger, more sustainable networks for doing good.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Task management Compliance Reporting Resource management Social media Event management Donations
scheduled

Standard 8: Policy and Practices are Continuously Improved

This free one-hour session explores continuous improvement in volunteer programs, including feedback, evaluation, policy review and impact measurement. Gain practical tools, share ideas with peers, and earn 1 CPD point.
VolunteeringWA
–
Free
scheduled

October Volunteer Leadership Network meeting 2026

Volunteering is strongest when it is understood, valued and supported across an organisation, not just by volunteer leaders. Hear how one organisation built awareness, gained support and created shared ownership of volunteering. Explore practical ideas.
Volunteering Queensland
–
Free
scheduled

An Introduction to Child Safeguarding for Volunteer Involving Organisations

Learn the essentials of child safeguarding and how to create safer environments for children and young people. Explore the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, emerging WA requirements, and practical steps to support compliance and practice.
VolunteeringWA
–
Free