Time For Impact Podcast

Episode SummaryIn this episode of the Time for Impact Podcast, Chris and Matthew sit down with Lucia Ciolanel, Volunteer Engagement Manager at Asthma and Lung UK. Lucia shares her firsthand experience navigating the complex merger of two distinct volunteer communities—Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation. The conversation explores the challenges of breaking down organisational silos, the critical role of transparent communication, and actionable strategies for fostering a unified, purpose-driven volunteer base. About Lucia CiolanelLucia brings over 12 years of experience to the volunteer sector, having worked in various roles across critical fields such as domestic violence, elder abuse, and mental health. For the past two and a half years, she has driven volunteer integration at Asthma and Lung UK, playing a central role in harmonizing operations and volunteer culture post-merger. Key Topics Discussed The Power of Community in Volunteering: How a shared mission, genuine connection, and an empowering environment drive meaningful volunteer contributions. Overcoming Integration Obstacles: Practical steps for breaking down organisational silos, such as hosting joint networking events, running cross-training sessions, and clarifying roles so everyone understands how they fit into the larger mission. Strategic Communication During Transitions: The necessity of consulting volunteers before rolling out new initiatives to ensure they feel heard and valued. Building Trust Through Transparency: How to mitigate fears and generate buy-in by clearly explaining the rationale behind new policies and establishing a shared organisational language. Key Takeaways Build a strong, unified community among volunteers to enhance engagement and satisfaction. Communicate transparently and consult volunteers proactively to foster ownership and trust. Approach organisational changes with sensitivity, empathy, and flexibility, respecting volunteers' attachments to established practices. Links www.TimeforImpact.co.uk https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/support-us/volunteer-us Thanks to our wonderful sponsors volunteero.org investinginvolunteers.co.uk

🎙️ Episode: Why Cats Protection is Rethinking Volunteering, Membership, and Power Hosts: Chris Wade & Matt CobbleGuest: John May, Chief Executive of Cats Protection Episode Summary:How does a 100-year-old charity adapt to changing patterns of volunteering without losing its core identity? In this episode, Chris and Matt sit down with John May, Chief Executive of Cats Protection, to explore what happens when staff and volunteers intentionally share power. John shares how the charity—boasting around 1,000 staff and 10,000 volunteers—is broadening what participation looks like, navigating the tension between local branch autonomy and national responsibility, and building a future of volunteering that is flexible, diverse, and deeply connected to real-world communities. In This Episode, We Cover: A Journey in Leadership: John’s path from Scouts volunteer, teacher, and head teacher to his current role as a charity CEO and being the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire. Redefining the Partnership: Why Cats Protection is striving to become an "exemplar" volunteer organisation by repositioning staff and volunteers as true partners, rather than separate power centres. Elevating Volunteer Influence: Moving volunteer contributions beyond direct service delivery and into governance, product development, strategy, and creative work. Balancing Autonomy & Standards: Navigating the historical tensions between local branch independence and national standards, particularly regarding cat welfare decisions, funding, and shared resources. Expanding Participation: How the charity is widening access through flexible, micro-volunteering opportunities that accommodate different time commitments and support neurodiversity, including engaging with gaming communities. The Human-Animal Bond: A look at the Lifeline service and Cat Guardians programme, demonstrating how cat welfare intrinsically connects to human wellbeing, domestic abuse support, and end-of-life planning. 3 Key Takeaways: Volunteering isn't in crisis; it just needs a redesign. We don't have a lack of willing people; we have a need for more flexibility, trust, and better-designed opportunities that fit modern lifestyles. True partnership requires sharing power. To build an exemplar volunteer culture, charities must move away from top-down management and invite volunteers to shape strategy, education, and advocacy. Animal welfare is human welfare. By looking beyond rehoming, charities can create profound social impact—such as using foster networks to support individuals fleeing domestic abuse or providing peace of mind for the elderly. Resources Mentioned: Cats Protection Cats Protection Lifeline Service Cat Guardians Programme Support the Podcast:Like any creative endeavour, bringing the podcast to life involves real costs in production, editing, and planning. As a small charity consultancy, our primary income comes from providing paid advice and training, allowing us to freely share our hard-earned expertise. If you find the Time for Impact podcast valuable, please consider a small, entirely voluntary contribution of £4 through our Buy Me a Coffee account: buymeacoffee.com/chriswadetfi. Your generosity directly supports our ability to continue producing this resource for the sector. Join the Conversation:If you want to recommend guests for future episodes or discuss how Time For Impact volunteering consultants can help your charity, please email [email protected] or visit TimeForImpact.co.uk. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Episode OverviewWhat if volunteering could be as easy and intuitive as swiping on your phone? In this episode of Time for Impact, Chris Wade and Matt Cobble sit down with Paul King from Enjoy Development to discuss how technology is fundamentally transforming the volunteering landscape. If you are looking to better engage the next generation of changemakers—or if you are a charity overwhelmed by volunteer admin—this episode is for you. We explore the unique ways modern volunteers want to give back, the barriers they face when trying to get involved, and how Paul’s groundbreaking app, Impactful, is using AI to bridge the gap between eager volunteers and the causes they genuinely care about. In This Episode, We Cover: The Shift in Volunteering: How the motivations for community action are evolving, and what traditional recruitment platforms are getting wrong. The Birth of 'Impactful': How Paul King pivoted from a tech background to create an app that engages 13-to-30-year-olds by understanding their passions, rather than just listing generic roles. AI & Personalisation: How the app leverages AI to generate personalised volunteering ideas based on a user's unique interests and lifestyle. Meeting Youth Where They Are: From utilising platforms like Discord to connecting volunteers with causes before they even approach an organisation. The Challenge for Small Charities: Acknowledging the heavy administrative and funding burdens on small charities, and how modern tech tools can alleviate these pain points to foster a more vibrant community. 3 Key Takeaways from the Conversation: Understand the Motivation: Effectively engaging young people requires moving away from predefined roles and tapping into the specific social causes they are passionate about. Tech as a Bridge: Technology shouldn't be a barrier; it should be the bridge that connects passionate individuals with meaningful, accessible opportunities. Adapt to Survive: To attract and retain modern volunteers, charities must adopt innovative, user-friendly tools that streamline engagement and respect people's time. Join the Conversation!We would love to hear your thoughts on this week's episode. What cause would you support if given the chance? What is one thing that makes it easier for you to get involved in your community? How do you think tech can continue to enhance the volunteer experience? Drop your answers in the comments or tag us on social media! Resources & Links Guest: Paul King, Enjoy Development https://www.enjoydevelopment.com/ The App: https://www.impactfulhub.com/ Host: Chris Wade and Matt Cobble, Time for Impact (www.timeforimpact.co.uk) Tags:#Volunteering #TechForGood #Impactful #YouthEngagement #SocialChange #AI #CommunityService #TimeForImpact #NonprofitInnovation #CharityTech #Charity

Episode Summary: When every second counts, who answers the call? In this episode of the Time For Impact podcast, hosts Chris Wade and Matt Cobble are joined by Joe Crook, the National Volunteer Lead at the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE). Together, they explore the vital, life-saving role of the 9,000 volunteers embedded within UK ambulance services. Moving past the misconception of volunteers as "well-meaning amateurs," Joe unpacks the rigorous training these individuals undergo and how they work hand-in-hand with professional clinicians to save lives—especially in hard-to-reach rural communities. Whether you are a healthcare professional, a community leader, or someone looking for a pathway into emergency services, this conversation redefines what it means to step up in high-stakes environments. The Reality of Ambulance Volunteering: Why the 9,000 volunteers active in the UK are far more than just amateurs, and how they operate under the direct guidance of clinical control rooms. The Crucial Role of Community First Responders: How volunteers provide immediate, life-saving interventions (like during cardiac arrests) in rural areas before paramedics can arrive. Bridging the Professional Divide: Joe discusses overcoming the stigma sometimes associated with volunteers and highlights the unique, invaluable skills they bring to emergency response. Joe’s Personal Journey: From international volunteering in Bangladesh to his current national role, Joe shares how understanding the "privilege" of volunteering drives his passion for inclusivity. Pathways to Healthcare Careers: How volunteering acts as a stepping stone for social mobility, fostering the next generation of paramedics and emergency healthcare professionals. Joe Crook is the National Volunteer Lead at the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE). With a background rooted in international volunteering, Joe is dedicated to broadening participation and ensuring that diverse voices and backgrounds are represented in vital emergency service roles across the UK. Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE): https://aace.org.uk/ AACE's Volunteering Strategy : https://aace.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Volunteering-Strategy-Phase-3-v1.0-April-2026-.pdf Follow Time for Impact www.TimeForImpact.co.uk Join the conversation online: #Volunteerism #EmergencyServices #AmbulanceVolunteers #CommunityFirstResponders #Healthcare #SocialImpact #TimeForImpact #JoeCrook #AssociationOfAmbulanceChiefExecutives

In today’s fast-paced political landscape, ensuring young people have a voice is more crucial than ever. But how do we actually bridge the gap between disenfranchised youth and the political system? In this episode of the Time for Impact podcast, host Chris Wade sits down with Dan Lawes from My Life, My Say—a national charity focused on mobilising underrepresented young communities. Crucially, this isn't about adults speaking for the youth; it is a movement built entirely on the passion of young people volunteering their time to lead the charge. Dan shares his personal journey of grassroots, youth-led organising following the political shocks of 2016, and reveals how empowering young volunteer leaders is the secret to bringing an entire generation back to the democratic table. In this episode, we discuss: The 2016 Catalyst: How major political shifts like Brexit sparked a grassroots movement, driven entirely by young volunteers stepping up to engage 14,000 of their peers across the North West of England. The Power of Democracy Cafés: A look inside the innovative, peer-to-peer model where young people volunteer as trained facilitators to run community gatherings, identify local issues, and engage directly with policymakers. The Campaign for 'Vote 16': Why lowering the voting age could enfranchise 2.5 million young people, and how early inclusion creates lifelong habits of democratic participation and civic volunteering. Making Politics Relevant: Why traditional political outreach fails, and how youth-led, volunteer-driven initiatives successfully connect policymakers with young voters by focusing on real-world issues like housing, education, and the cost of living. Key TakeawayThe future of a healthy democracy relies on the active participation of young people. By stepping away from top-down outreach and empowering young volunteers to facilitate peer-to-peer discussions in their own communities, we can build a much more inclusive, representative, and resilient political system. About the Guest & OrganisationDan Lawes is a passionate advocate for youth democratic engagement with My Life, My Say (MLMS). MLMS is a youth-led, non-partisan charity heavily driven by the dedication of young volunteers, on a mission to empower their peers to participate in democracy and get their voices heard by decision-makers. This episode is proudly supported by the organisations championing the power of volunteering across the sector: Volunteers' Week: The annual celebration of the incredible contributions volunteers make across the UK. Investing in Volunteers: The UK quality standard for good practice in volunteer management. Volunteero: Volunteer management software helping charities streamline their processes and maximise their impact. *** Host: Chris WadeProduction: Time for Impact Ltd 🤝 A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors