This year at Sufra, we've been dedicated to strengthening our Volunteer Programme. In our last financial year, over 245 volunteers gave 15,156 of their hours to volunteer at Sufra - that's over a year and a half of time! To thank them for their generosity, we're committed to making every second count.

The first steps towards this involved capturing data from a volunteer survey, so we know about our volunteers needs and learn key feedback on how we can improve. Key areas of focus were: Diversity and Inclusion, Volunteer Satisfaction, Training and Support, Communication, Personal and Professional Growth and Development and Feeling of Impact and Contribution. In August 2024, we heard from 72 volunteers; here are their responses:

A large proportion of Sufra volunteers either have a disability or health condition (25%) or preferred not to say (13%). Therefore, we need to be conscious as an organisation of putting in inclusive practices for volunteers, ensuring awareness, and engaging our community of volunteers with disabilities/health conditions so that they feel recognised, and we can put in practices which make them feel supported.

"It helps keep me distracted when I go through severe depression."

Overall, there is a good range of diversity within our volunteer pool who filled out the survey, which likely represents a diversity range in our volunteer teams. Within ethnic groups, 32% volunteers identified as white, (compared to 82% in England & Wales, and 54% in London), and the second highest proportion, 23% of volunteers, identified as Asian/Asian British.

"An inclusive approach where everyone is welcome, regardless of their backgrounds."

Positively most volunteers feel valued at Sufra – (46% strongly agree and 35% agree – overall 81%). However, we want to make all volunteers feel valued as Sufra could not function without it’s volunteers, volunteers are a key part of Sufra’s heart and culture, are hardworking and dedicated across all Sufra services.

"Meetings and events for volunteers make me feel valued and give me a chance to meet others."

Additionally, 66% of volunteers felt they had developed their ability to work under pressure (this was particularly signalled with cooking volunteers) and 51% of volunteers were supported to take on leadership roles – some volunteers didn’t want to develop this and enjoyed the more team based roles, which is why this is lower as a percentage than the other answers.

"I feel better about myself for giving back to my community and therefore to human kind, but my confidence, working in a team, working under pressure and leadership skills have developed over the years from my paid work environment. These skills have helped me 'slot' in easily with my volunteering roles."

There was a roughly equal mix of age ranges from under 18s to over 65s, with (40%) of volunteers being within the 35-54 range. The majority of volunteers that responded were from our foodbank, garden, and CWP, which reflects the higher proportion of volunteers that we have in those services.

"Feeling part of a great community – like a family."

There were roughly equal amounts of newer volunteers, to more established volunteers. More established volunteers will have had more time to develop skills and take on opportunities like training, but newer volunteers will be able to have experienced the newer procedures that we have put in place for recruitment and inductions.

"I am regularly told that I do a good job and that my work is valued and invited to appropriate staff meetings."

In response to the survey, the Sufra team have developed a 6 month action plan to better our volunteering programme. Some of the requests have already been implemented. For example,  volunteers said they wanted more feedback from volunteers in the decision-making process and therefore we have established two steering groups for the Garden and the Community Wellbeing Service, with the aim of have a steering group per service. Volunteers also said they wanted training on non-judgemental communication and managing risks with guests seen as challenging, therefore we organised two full-day Non Violent Communication training sessions in September and October.

For more information about Sufra's volunteering programme, email ben@sufra-nwlondon.org.uk.

And click HERE to learn more about the roles and sign up yourself!