Making Connections: Volunteer sharing and resource pooling

The first in a new series of Making Connections - for community organisations to discuss collaborative solutions to the common problems faced their organisers, volunteers and members. All welcome.

Focus Area: Volunteer sharing and resource pooling

This event brings into focus the discussions often held in the moments between talks, during networking sessions, and towards the end of events where different community organisers, volunteers and members explore common issues and interests to collaborate. Here we take it forward by starting the conversation in that setting.

Agenda

Before attending, participants are asked to consider, compile (and send in where able) potential solutions to the common problem of sharing volunteers and pooling resources, with attention given to what their organisation could potentially bring to the table.

At the event, these potential solutions are collectively introduced before we discuss the barriers, actions, current examples of success or failure, overlap, needs and likely wants that may arise. We then break for a reflection over food. We then workshop next steps, decisions, alignment, and where progress is made book in initial follow up there and then.

There are no obligations to take actions forward, but we would encourage those attending to only join if you have the intention of cross-community collaboration.

Order of the day

12:30-12:35 - Welcome, housekeeping and expectation setting

12:35-13:00 - Introduction to potential solutions

13:00-14:00 - Focus 1: Discussing barriers, actions, current examples, overlap, needs and wants

14:00-14:30 - Reflection over food

14:30-15:30 - Focus 2: Discussing next steps, alignment, decisions, and booking them in

Closing Remarks and Soft Stop

15:30-16:30 - Further discussion and networking

Location

Cambridge Central Library, Grand Arcade, Cambridge, CB2 3QD

Food

A finger buffet and light refreshments will be provided.

Future Focus Areas

• Managing capacity and preventing burnout - Saturday 7 Feb 2026, 09:30-13:30

• Collective grant writing - date to be confirmed

• Bridging the City-Shire gap - date to be confirmed

• Training and support for Community Researchers - date to be confirmed

Acknowledgements

Making Connections is a collaboration between all community groups who attend. The event is organised by the Resilience Web in collaboration with Cambridge Zero.