The world of volunteerism has fundamentally changed since 2020. How can established organisations adapt to shifting demographics, motivations, and a post-pandemic market? In this episode, we go straight to the source of innovation and legacy, speaking with Karen Leies, CEO and President of The Seeing Eye, the world's oldest guide dog organisation.

Karen shares the unique challenges The Seeing Eye faced and how they refused to stand still. We take a deep dive into their transformative partnership with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to analyse the new volunteer landscape and develop a data-driven strategy. Discover how they are now marketing volunteer opportunities to entirely new audiences, and a focus on creating meaningful roles for families. This conversation is packed with actionable insights for any leader looking to energize their volunteer program and build a resilient community for the future.

Plus, for our UK listeners, discover the foundational role The Seeing Eye played in helping to establish the UK's own Guide Dogs for the Blind association.

About Our Guest:

Karen Leies is the CEO and President of The Seeing Eye, the pioneering organisation that has been enhancing the independence, dignity, and self-confidence of people who are blind through the use of Seeing Eye® dogs since 1929. With a deep commitment to the organisation's mission, Karen leads a dedicated team of staff and volunteers in continuing a legacy of excellence and innovation in the guide dog movement.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Seeing Eye: Learn more about their incredible work, mission, and volunteer opportunities at www.seeingeye.org.

• Boston Consulting Group (BCG): Explore their work in the social impact sector at www.bcg.com.

• Guide Dogs for the Blind (UK): For our UK listeners, learn more about the organisation The Seeing Eye helped inspire at www.guidedogs.org.uk.

  
  

  Connect & Continue the Conversation:

  Thank you for tuning in to Time for Impact! We are dedicated to bringing you the freshest thinking in volunteerism from professionals who are making a real difference.

  Stay tuned as we continue to bring you conversations with volunteerism leaders from around the world.

  If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Time for Impact on your favourite podcast platform. It helps us reach more professionals like you.

  
  

  If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who believes in the power of connection.

  
  

  Like any creative endeavour, bringing the podcast to life involves real costs in production, editing, planning, and execution.

  This podcast is our gift to the profession. However, If you find the Time for Impact Podcast valuable and wish to fuel future inspiring conversations and ideas, please consider a small, entirely voluntary contribution of £4 through our Buy Me a Coffee account: ⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/chriswadetfi ⁠⁠⁠ . Your generosity, however small, directly supports our ability to continue producing this resource for the sector. Thank you for being part of our community. 🙏

What does the future of volunteering look like?

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Katerina Manoff, the dynamic CEO of the US charity, ENGin. Katerina, whose journey has taken her from Ukraine to Harvard and across the commercial and education sectors, shares how she is channeling her unique expertise into pioneering a new model for non-profits.

ENGin connects Ukrainians of all ages looking to improve their conversational English with a global network of fluent speakers. But it's the how that is truly impressive for us. We explore how ENGin has built a slick, user-friendly, and incredibly flexible digital platform that supports thousands of volunteers without sacrificing a warm, inclusive, and welcoming community feel.

Join us as we discuss the art of scaling volunteer engagement, the critical role of technology in building community, and the profound personal and professional growth that occurs on both sides of the screen. We delve into the power of individual stories to demonstrate impact and celebrate the meaningful, cross-cultural connections that are changing lives one conversation at a time.

I was so moved by ENGin's mission and model that I've even signed up as a volunteer myself!

About Our Guest:

Katerina Manoff is the CEO of ENGin. Born in Ukraine and educated in the United States, Katerina is a Harvard graduate who brings a powerful blend of commercial strategy and educational passion to the non-profit sector. Her leadership is shaping the future of digital volunteering, creating scalable solutions that foster deep human connection.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Crafting an Exceptional Volunteer Experience: How ENGin has made its onboarding and participation process so slick, user-friendly, and welcoming.

• The Power of Flexibility: Why modern, digital-first volunteering must be adaptable to volunteers' lives.

• Scaling with Soul: The challenges and triumphs of growing a volunteer base into the thousands while maintaining a strong sense of community.

• Tech for Good: Leveraging technology not just for efficiency, but to build genuine, inclusive communities.

• More Than Altruism: The unexpected pathways for professional and personal growth that volunteering can offer.

• The Impact of a Story: How sharing authentic experiences from volunteers and students demonstrates the true impact of the mission.

• A Two-Way Street: Exploring the mutual benefits of volunteering and the value it brings to both the student and the mentor.

• Beyond Borders: The importance of building meaningful, one-on-one connections across different cultures.

Resources & How to Get Involved:

• Learn more about ENGin's mission: https://www.enginprogram.org/

• Become a Volunteer: Inspired by our conversation? Join me and thousands of others making a difference. The commitment is flexible, and the impact is immense. https://www.enginprogram.org/volunteer

• Follow ENGin on Social Media:

  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/65703219/admin/feed/posts/

  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enginprogram/

• • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enginprogram/
  • Bluesky : https://bsky.app/profile/enginprogram.bsky.social
  • YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@ENGinprogram
  • Telegram: https://t.me/ENGinprogram

  
  

• Thank you for listening to Time for Impact. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and share it with someone who believes in the power of connection.

  
  

  Like any creative endeavour, bringing the podcast to life involves real costs in production, editing, planning, and execution.

  This podcast is our gift to the profession. However, If you find the Time for Impact Podcast valuable and wish to fuel future inspiring conversations and ideas, please consider a small, entirely voluntary contribution of £4 through our Buy Me a Coffee account: ⁠buymeacoffee.com/chriswadetfi ⁠ . Your generosity, however small, directly supports our ability to continue producing this resource for the sector. Thank you for being part of our community. 🙏

How can volunteering move from being a 'nice-to-have' to a strategic asset that helps the NHS meet its most critical targets? In this episode, we uncover how HelpForce and its partners are revolutionising the role of volunteers, transforming them into a powerful force for change.

We're joined by Amerjit Chohan, the new CEO of HelpForce, Laura Greene from Kingston and Richmond NHS Trust, and dedicated volunteer Ray Symons. During our conversation, we learned why HelpForce were described as alchemists, supercharging the impact and leverage of NHS volunteering teams.

We explore how HelpForce's expert approach to impact evaluation is proving how volunteers are critical in helping patients get home sooner and freeing up vital NHS resources. We also delve into their innovative programmes, from creating pathways to employment to providing a robust consultancy model that gives volunteering professionals bigger backup. This is a story about delivering proven national solutions while celebrating local flavour, power, and fit.

Please do check out their new initiative 'Giving Back, Transforming Care'. https://helpforce.community/giving-back-transforming-care

Guests:

• Amerjit Chohan: The new CEO of HelpForce. He discusses his vision for embedding volunteering into the strategic fabric of the NHS, using data and evaluation to drive transformational change.

• Laura Greene: Head of Volunteering and Community Partnerships at Kingston and Richmond NHS Trust. Laura shares the on-the-ground perspective of partnering with HelpForce and how their support provides "bigger backup" to local volunteer managers.

  
  

• Ray Symons: A dedicated volunteer at Kingston Hospital. Ray provides the essential human element, sharing how the structured support and clear goals empower him to make an even greater difference to patients and staff.

• NEW CAMPAIGN - Giving Back, Transforming Care: Explore the new initiative and find out how you can support it.

  • Link: https://helpforce.community/giving-back-transforming-care

• HelpForce: Learn more about their national work, programmes, and impact evaluation.

  • Website: www.helpforce.community

• Kingston Hospital Volunteering: Find out more about the work Laura and Ray are involved in.

  • Website: www.kingstonhospital.nhs.uk/get-involved/volunteering/

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• Thank You for Listening to Time for Impact!

  If this conversation sparked an idea or inspired you, please share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Don't forget to subscribe on your favourite podcast platform and leave us a review—it helps us prove our own impact!

  
  

  Like any creative endeavour, bringing the podcast to life involves real costs in production, editing, planning, and execution. As a small charity consultancy, our primary income comes from providing paid advice and training, allowing us to freely share our hard-earned expertise and insights through this podcast and our blog. We believe deeply in empowering the charity sector's success.

  This podcast is our gift to the profession. However, If you find the Time for Impact Podcast valuable and wish to fuel future inspiring conversations and ideas, please consider a small, entirely voluntary contribution of £4 through our Buy Me a Coffee account: buymeacoffee.com/chriswadetfi . Your generosity, however small, directly supports our ability to continue producing this resource for the sector. Thank you for being part of our community. 🙏

In this powerful live-recorded episode, we were thrilled to partner with NAVCA (The National Association for Voluntary and Community Action) to host a vital conversation in front of their members.

Following up on NAVCA's excellent Guide to Inclusive Volunteering, hosts Chris Wade and Matt Cobble are joined by an expert panel to explore how we can move from intention to action. How do we adapt our cultures, processes, and language to make our organisations genuinely welcoming and inclusive for everyone?

We are joined by three incredible guests who share their frontline experience: Holly Notcutt from Volunteering Matters, who champions youth social action; Debbie Saddler from Unlock, an organisation working with people with criminal records; and Ciara Devlin, CEO of Breaking Barriers, a charity helping refugees into employment.

This episode is packed with practical advice, challenging questions, and inspiring insights for any organisation looking to build a more diverse, dynamic, and truly representative volunteer team.

Meet Our Expert Panel

• Holly Notcutt (Volunteering Matters): Holly works on the #iWill movement, a UK-wide campaign that believes all children and young people should be supported and empowered to make a positive difference on the issues that affect their lives, their communities, and broader society.

  • Learn more at: https://www.iwill.org.uk/ and https://volunteeringmatters.org.uk/

• Debbie Saddler (Unlock): Debbie is the Head of Delivery and Programmes at Unlock, a national advocacy charity that provides a voice and support for people with criminal records, helping them to move on positively with their lives.

  • Learn more at: https://unlock.org.uk/

• Ciara Devlin (Breaking Barriers): Ciara is the CEO of Breaking Barriers, a charity dedicated to helping refugees in the UK acquire meaningful employment.

  • Learn more at: https://breaking-barriers.co.uk/

Is it volunteering if it's a meeting? Is it charity if it's a sales pitch? In this groundbreaking episode of Time for Impact, we sit down with Andrew Kaufmann, the visionary founder of the Time to Give Network, to challenge everything you thought you knew about giving back.

Andrew, with his roots in the high-stakes world of FinTech sales, brings a revolutionary perspective to the non-profit sector. He saw firsthand how difficult it was to capture the attention of influential leaders and decision-makers. He also recognised the immense value of their time. This sparked a game-changing idea: what if that time could be a powerful tool for social good?

In this conversation, we delve into Andrew's innovative model that allows the influential and time-poor to support causes they are passionate about in a way that suits their demanding schedules. We explore how the Time to Give Network is connecting businesses with key figures, with the "payment" for their valuable time and insights being a donation to their chosen charity.

Tune in to discover:

• The unique proposition of the Time to Give Network: turning a meeting into a charitable act.

• Why this flexible, high-impact form of volunteering is attracting influential individuals who might not engage in traditional charitable activities.

• The powerful ripple effect: how a single conversation can translate into significant support for a worthy cause.

This episode will leave you questioning the very definition of volunteering and inspired by the untapped potential of turning everyday business interactions into opportunities for meaningful impact. Is this the future of corporate social responsibility and individual giving? Listen now and decide for yourself.

Find out more about Andrew Kaufmann and the Time to Give Network:

• Website: https://www.timetogive.network/

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• If you find the Time for Impact Podcast valuable and wish to fuel future inspiring conversations and ideas, please consider a small, entirely voluntary contribution of £4 through our Buy Me a Coffee account: buymeacoffee.com/chriswadetfi . Your generosity, however small, directly supports our ability to continue producing this resource for the sector. Thank you for being part of our community.

Hosts: Chris Wade & Matthew Cobble

Guest: Victoria McCormack, Grow Remote (Ireland)

Episode Summary:

In this inspiring episode, Chris and Matthew are joined by the incredible Victoria McCormack from Grow Remote in Ireland. Grow Remote is a pioneering organisation dedicated to fostering vibrant communities of remote workers, not just across Ireland but beyond borders. We dive deep into how the rise of remote work is breathing new life into small communities, creating deeper bonds, and enhancing community cohesion in powerful and unexpected ways.

Victoria shares invaluable insights into how charities and community groups can better leverage the immense potential of remote workers, offering practical strategies for engaging and empowering these skilled individuals. We explore innovative approaches to volunteer recognition and reward, moving beyond traditional methods to truly value contributions. A key takeaway from our conversation is Victoria's compelling perspective on initiating volunteering by first identifying challenges, rather than immediately presenting solutions, and the transformative power of bringing local people together around shared problems. We also delve into the critical importance of cultivating opportunities for leadership that aren't tied to formal positions or titles, recognising that leadership can be fluid and fleeting, yet incredibly impactful.

Key Discussion Points:

• Remote Workers as Community Catalysts: How the influx of remote workers can revitalise local economies, bring diverse skills, and foster a renewed sense of belonging in smaller towns and villages.
• Strengthening Community Cohesion: Exploring the tangible ways remote workers contribute to the social fabric and create stronger, more connected local communities.
• Charities & Remote Talent: Practical advice for charities on effectively engaging remote volunteers, understanding their unique skills, and integrating them into impactful initiatives.
• Rethinking Volunteer Recognition: Innovative and meaningful ways to reward and acknowledge the invaluable contributions of volunteers, moving beyond traditional methods.
• The "Challenge-First" Volunteering Mindset: Victoria's powerful philosophy on identifying community challenges as the starting point for volunteering, encouraging organic, problem-driven solutions.
• The Power of Convening: The importance of bringing local people together to discuss shared challenges, fostering collective problem-solving and action.
• Fluid Leadership: How to create opportunities for leadership within communities that are not bound by formal titles or positions, recognising the dynamic and often temporary nature of impactful leadership.

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• Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

  • Grow Remote: Learn more about their mission and initiatives at www.growremote.ie
  • Support Chris and Matt's work: If you've enjoyed this episode and want to support the Time for Impact podcast, you can buy Chris a coffee at coff.ee/chriswadetfi
  • Time for Impact Consultancy: For all your volunteering strategy and impact measurement needs, visit www.timeforimpact.co.uk

  Listen Now:

  The Time for Impact Podcast is available on all the usual platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

  
  

Welcome & Introduction

• Welcome to Episode 23 of Time for Impact!
• This is a special celebratory episode marking the 41st Annual Volunteers' Week in the UK (June 2nd - 8th, 2025).
• We're diving deep into the significance of this week, the impact of volunteering, and how we can all play a part.
• A huge thank you to all the incredible volunteers across the UK for their dedication and invaluable contributions.
• Today, we're thrilled to be joined by two fantastic guests who are at the heart of the volunteering sector.

Introducing Our Guests

• Margaret Starkie: Partnership and Communications Manager at Volunteer Scotland. Margaret plays a vital role in promoting and supporting volunteering across Scotland, leading on impactful campaigns like Volunteers' Week. With Volunteer Scotland since 2009, she brings a wealth of experience in advancing volunteer participation.
• Dominic Pinkney: CEO of www.works-4u.com, a not-for-profit social enterprise specialising in employee volunteering and sponsor of this year's Volunteers' Week celebrations. Dom is also the CEO of two bustling London volunteer centres: Volunteer Centre Camden and Hammersmith & Fulham Volunteer Centre. He's a passionate advocate for volunteering, with experience presenting on the topic at the United Nations and recently leading the "London Vision for Volunteering" initiative.

Discussion Points Covered:

• The History and Enduring Impact of Volunteers' Week:
• Initiatives, Ambitions, and Strategic Importance:
• The Power of Partnership:
• Reward and Recognition of Volunteers:
• The Broader Volunteering Landscape (Insights from our Guests):

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• Call to Action:

  • Get Involved! This Volunteers' Week, explore how you can make an impact in your community.
  • Thank a Volunteer! Make a special effort to acknowledge and appreciate the volunteers you know.
  • Organisations: Use Volunteers' Week to reflect on your volunteer program, share learnings, and engage your stakeholders.
  • Find volunteering opportunities:
  • Share your volunteering stories and how you're celebrating Volunteers' Week using the hashtag

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  #TimeForImpact and #VolunteersWeek.

  Thank You & Closing Remarks:

  • A massive thank you to our guests, Margaret Starkie and Dominic Pinkney, for sharing their invaluable insights and passion.
  • To Nicola Gower for organising.
  • To Volunteer Scotland, Volunteer Now, NCVO and WCVA for organising Volunteers Week year after year through the UKVF.
  • Thank you to our listeners for tuning in to this special Volunteers' Week episode of Time for Impact.
  • Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more inspiring conversations.

  Follow Us:

  • www.TimeforImpact.co.uk and on our linked in page
  • Volunteer Scotland: https://www.volunteerscotland.net/
  • Works4U: https://www.works-4u.com/
  • and of course Volunteers' Week: https://volunteersweek.org/

  
  

  Time for Impact provide a wide range of consultancy, learning and impact analysis services to the volunteering world. Please get in touch, we'd love to be of assistance.

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