Strengthening Our Volunteer Community: Reflections from the “Managing Volunteers – The Nuts & Bolts” Webinar
This week, members of the Medics for Rare Disease team attended the Small Charities webinar “Managing Volunteers – The Nuts & Bolts.” As the team behind the charity’s Ambassador Programme, it was an invaluable opportunity to reflect on the way we support our volunteers and explore ways to keep improving.
The session covered a wide range of themes: from volunteer rights and agreements to developing robust policies, supporting motivation, and understanding the importance of clear expectations. We came away with several practical tips that will help us further strengthen the structure around our Ambassador Programme.
But it also offered something just as important: a moment of reassurance.
We’re Already Doing a Lot Right
It was encouraging to recognise that many of the recommended best practices are things we already have in place. At Medics for Rare Disease, we take pride in ensuring our volunteers and ambassadors feel valued, informed and connected. Some of the key elements we already deliver include:
Annual induction for all ambassadors
Regular online catch-ups to stay connected and share opportunities
An annual face-to-face meeting to strengthen relationships and bring the community together
Annual certificates recognising every ambassador’s contribution
Ongoing opportunities for involvement, development and co-creation
These are not just administrative processes, they are part of how we build a community where our volunteers feel genuinely seen, supported and engaged.
Feedback That Means Everything
One piece of feedback we recently received truly made our week:
Wanted to let you know how great you are as an organisation at engaging us as volunteers and genuinely making us feel a part of the charity
Hearing this reinforces that our approach is working. Our ambassadors are at the heart of our mission to build a medical profession that understands and supports those living with rare conditions – their voices, enthusiasm and commitment make us stronger.
Continuing to Improve
While it was reassuring to see that we are on the right track, the webinar also highlighted areas where we can continue to develop, particularly in strengthening our volunteer policies, refining role expectations and ensuring we maintain clarity as the programme grows in to 2026.
We’re excited to take these insights forward and build an even more supportive, empowering ambassador experience in 2026 and beyond.
