Volunteer centres provide active leadership in areas such as youth volunteerism, risk management, corporate volunteerism, mandatory volunteerism, community service orders, educational campaigns, and many more. Volunteer centres attract new volunteers and help retain current ones. They strive to communicate the tremendous benefits found in volunteering and they inform the public about the enormous impact volunteers have on the community. They increase awareness on the challenges volunteers face and on the need to better support their work through financial, legislative and social policies. Management consulting on volunteer programs Working as the nucleus of the volunteer community, volunteer centres communicate the most current information on volunteer management.
Centres also identify and connect agencies facing similar challenges so they can work together.
An effective volunteer program must be structured to protect the interests of the agency, volunteer and client. This requires stringent policies and diligent efforts to ensure that volunteers are matched appropriately. Volunteers can often be placed in positions of trust with those who are vulnerable. Volunteer centres can help agencies understand their responsibilities and therefore reduce their exposure to legal liability. There is a fine balance between creating the right protection and discouraging people from volunteering.