Volunteer involvement

Find out more about what it means to be a Macmillan Volunteer and how you can get involved to help improve the lives of those living with cancer.

Macmillan's commitment to volunteers

Macmillan has made a major commitment to involving volunteers in shaping and influencing the quality, delivery and future direction of our volunteering programmes and initiatives, as well as providing key insight into the experience of volunteers across the organisation.

By working closely with volunteers, we can ensure that we remain focused on the needs and experience of volunteers themselves. This will enable us to become more efficient and effective in the experience we create for volunteers, aligned with our organisational objective "to improve the key processes which support Macmillan to do its work as efficiently and effectively as possible".

Involvement gives volunteers a platform to:

  • Discuss upcoming or developing volunteer projects at Macmillan
  • Offer perspective and guidance on a range of topics including training, events, and developing new resources
  • Offer views, insights and suggestions that help us inform the improvement of volunteer recruitment, engagement and support.

Ultimately, this means being able to better support people with cancer to live life as fully as they can through volunteering and volunteers.

Principles

Outlined below are the principles that all volunteer involvement at Macmillan should follow.

The number one.

Collaborative

We work with volunteers as partners with experience and skills to share, enabling opportunities to contribute to /creating better volunteering experience, culture and value.

Because of this contribution, our strategy, products and offer have a greater focus and relevance for our wider volunteer base.

The number two.

Effective

We enable/develop ways of involvement which are effective, meeting both the needs and expectations of the volunteers and staff who are involved.

Our involvement activities are ‘based’ in evidence provided by data collected from a representative section of volunteers.

The number three.

Inclusive

We’re committed to building an inclusive community of volunteers, celebrating the diversity of thoughts and experience, and the role this plays in achieving better outcomes.

Giving people who may face additional barriers to getting involved an equal opportunity to participate and actively supporting volunteers to take control of their own personal growth and development; enabling them to choose the ways they become involved.

The number four.

Impactful

We create and sustain a culture of continuous improvement in achieving the objectives of the projects in which we involve, and through regularly reviewing our ways of working.

Volunteer involvement opportunities

Bring your passion for Macmillan and enthusiasm for volunteering to help us develop and improve our volunteering programmes. Check back soon to see our live opportunities across the UK.

The UK Volunteer Forum

The UK Volunteer Forum is a Board of Trustees approved programme providing a platform for volunteers to share their experiences volunteering, and in partnership with the Volunteering division, focusing on the strategic development of Volunteering policy and process as well as key organisational developments.

How often does the Forum meet?

The UK Volunteer Forum meets monthly online and face to face twice a year. If you would like to hear more about the Forum or would like to know if there are any opportunities to get involved directly, please email the Volunteer Forum team.

You may also be interested in

Local volunteering opportunities
We've got lots of opportunities to make your time matter. Find out about available opportunities and apply today.
Learning and Development for Volunteers

Get access to free learning and development materials to give you the skills you need to support people living with cancer.

Read the latest news for volunteers

Read the latest news from the Macmillan volunteering team and stories from Macmillan volunteers.