How Volunteer Centre Greenwich widened access to volunteering
30/06/25
As part of their vision to change lives and communities through volunteering, Volunteer Centre Greenwich (VCG) has released a new guide showcasing the impact of their two-year initiative to make volunteering more inclusive and accessible for people with lived experience of poor mental health.
This guide is the culmination of extensive work undertaken with individuals who have first-hand experience of mental health challenges. Together, they explored what inclusion looks like in practice and how to reduce barriers to volunteering. The result? A series of small but meaningful changes that led to a 70% increase in volunteers starting with VCG.
These aren’t sweeping reforms—they are thoughtful, targeted tweaks that came directly from listening to the community. Coffee mornings to build trust, a short volunteer video to build connection, and a volunteers webpage with information people want to know before applying —all simple steps, but together they made a big difference.
This step by step guide offers clear evidence and practical guidance as a starting point for grassroots groups and charities thinking about how to increase volunteer participation, especially from underrepresented groups. It highlights the importance of user-led design and ongoing dialogue with those who often face the highest barriers.
Discover the guide below to make your volunteering initiatives more inclusive.