Welcome to
The Power of
Connection

This toolkit offers valuable resources for organising volunteer programmes that facilitate meaningful social interactions, aiding in the reduction of prejudice and fostering mutual understanding among diverse groups.

Get Started

Connecting Through Volunteering

“Shaping the Future with Volunteering is a group of 30 larger volunteer-involving organisations. We have been involved in helping develop this toolkit for the sector. It is designed to take you through the different steps needed to build stronger, more connected communities whatever the scope and style of your volunteering. The toolkit is based on evidence of how a focus on social cohesion can be foundational in improving the benefits to your volunteers and the communities in which they are based. Volunteering needs to find ways to be more inclusive of everyone in our society. This toolkit will help you develop your own action plan and be part of  the solution in improving diversity and reach across communities.”

Jeremy Hughes, CBE, Convenor of Shaping the Future through Volunteering

To the toolkit

The Toolkit

Already got an account? Dive straight into the toolkit now!

Getting Started

It’s time to explore The Power of Connection. View this introduction for an overview of volunteering.

View Getting Started

Unit 1 – Understanding Place

Explore the connections you have locally through your volunteering and consider ways to expand the diversity of your volunteers.

View Unit 1 – Understanding Place

Unit 2 – Bonding, Bridging, and Linking

Find out more about the benefits of building social capital connected to volunteering.

View Unit 2 – Bonding, Bridging, and Linking

Unit 3: Strengthening Social Cohesion

See which principles may support your volunteering and build social cohesion at the same time.

View Unit 3: Strengthening Social Cohesion

Unit 4: Choosing Social Cohesion Outcomes

Select the outcomes that fit with the type of volunteering you are engaged in. Remember that every group/organisation is unique.

View Unit 4: Choosing Social Cohesion Outcomes

Unit 5: Making an Action Plan

This is your opportunity to put your learning into action and apply what you have learnt from each unit.

View Unit 5: Making an Action Plan

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