Volunteers are the lifeblood of many charities. However, for trustees, volunteer involvement in an operational context is not only a strength, but also an area of governance responsibility. Read on to find out more

Many new trustees assume volunteer recruitment and management is purely an operational matter. Yet while staff may oversee day-to-day volunteer coordination, trustees are responsible for ensuring that appropriate systems, policies and oversight exist.

Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (GRASAC) have recently tripled the size of their trustee board – and increased its diversity and experience. Susanna Morris, Volunteer and Participation Co-ordinator, explains how they achieved this

When I started working on our trustee recruitment, I’d not recruited to a board before, and if I’m honest, felt a little out of my depth! I was relatively new to my role, coming from a predominantly clinical and training background, so I approached the task from what I know - encouraging involvement and making individuals feel welcome.

Read on to hear how Susanna and colleagues successfully adapted their recruitment process to help you do the same.

James Hancock is Vice Chair of Trustees for The Birds of Prey Project and, as a young trustee, he is dedicated to increasing the representation and quality of experience for trustees aged 30 and under. To this end, he shares his trustee journey so far, exploring how board members can help young trustees thrive

I became a trustee in December 2024 primarily because I enjoy, and find a great sense of purpose in, helping others. Becoming a trustee for The Bird of Prey Project in Bath has allowed me to do this through something that I am very passionate about, namely promoting the welfare and conservation of birds and wildlife.

A new non-profit organisation, committed to making the processes for giving and receiving funding easier for everyone involved, is launching in September. Fund Gloucestershire’s mission is to transform how funding flows to communities across Gloucestershire.

The Inclusive Gloucestershire Pledge is a collaborative countywide initiative bringing together VCSE organisations to demonstrate a shared commitment to creating more inclusive, welcoming, and accessible communities across Gloucestershire.

Throughout July and August, Age UK Gloucestershire has been encouraging people in mid-life to embrace the benefits of moving more, helping them to enjoy the best possible health and wellbeing in later life

Do you know anyone who might benefit from some gentle exercise by doing the following activities?

As part of our Spotlight series, Wendy Kewley explores how Ebony Carers strengthens support for carers from Gloucester’s Caribbean community by working collaboratively with local organisations

It’s 10am on a summer morning and Martha and the Vandellas are singing ‘Dancing in the Street’ loudly in a community hall in central Gloucester. A few elderly people are sitting on chairs around the room tapping their feet to the beat. It’s hard not to. A few more are following the chair exercises that Kate, the fitness trainer, is enthusiastically demonstrating on stage.

We are delighted to share the launch of Fund Glos, a new online funding platform designed to make it easier for community organisations, charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises across Gloucestershire to access funding opportunities and strengthen local impact.

Changes are coming for organisations registered with the Charity Commission and organisations registered with Companies House.

The Big Conversation on Care is a chance for everyone in England to have their say on the future of adult social care. It is part of the work being undertaken by The Independent Commission on Adult Social Care, led by Baroness Louise Casey.

On 1 August 2026, the Occupational Therapy service previously provided by Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust transferred into Gloucestershire County Council’s Adult Social Care service. 

The Government has announced its decision to create a single unitary council for Gloucestershire. Consequently, Gloucestershire is preparing for one of the largest transformations in its local governance structure in decades. 

Active Gloucestershire’s Systems Leadership Programme is equipping participants to work across organisational boundaries to create the conditions where everyone can be more active and live healthier lives. 

Between 2023 and 2026, Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance and The Summerfield Charitable Trust partnered on an innovative investment strategy designed to bring grant-making decisions closer to the communities they serve. This blog is part of a series exploring what has been learned along the way and highlighting some of the exciting projects being supported through this approach.

The SWAG Cancer Alliance is inviting applications for one-off funding to support innovative projects that improve population health outcomes and reduce health inequalities. 

As the Summerfield Community Chest projects draws to a close, Jill Parker, Project Lead, reflects on the lessons learnt.

Gloucestershire's new single council will be called Gloucestershire Council, the Government has confirmed. Ministers have also confirmed that the new authority will be represented by 110 councillors.