The Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) has announced that its new digital platform will be called GoVo, with 1,700 charities signed up ahead of its public launch next month.
Announced in March and backed by £5m from the People’s Postcode Lottery, RVS aims for its platform to “supercharge” volunteering in the UK by widening access and removing barriers.
It asked charities of all sizes to sign up in June and has so far received 1,700 registrations from charities before its scheduled launch in mid-October with members of the public interested in volunteering.
National charities that have signed up so far to advertise their volunteering opportunities include Oxfam, Parkinson’s UK, the Marine Conservation Society, Re-engage and Home-Start UK.
Local organisations including conservation charity Green Light Trust in Norfolk and Suffolk and the West Yorkshire ADHD Support Group have also joined GoVo.
RVS has now urged more charities to sign up to GoVo before its launch.
‘Potential to transform how volunteering fits into people’s lives’
Sally Munday, head of volunteering at Home-Start UK, said: “We are really excited to get involved with this project.
“This platform has the potential to transform how volunteering fits into people’s lives and we’re hopeful it will open the door to a whole new wave of volunteers, ready to make a real difference in their communities.”
RVS chief executive Catherine Johnstone said the platform was launching as the need to mobilise volunteers increases.
“As a sector we need to take that as a leadership challenge, and convene and innovate to drive forward the future of volunteering, so we can connect people in our communities,” she said.
“Challenges present opportunities, and so I think it’s an exciting time to be in volunteering.
“We've been so pleased to have support from across the sector with the development of GoVo, and I look forward to continuing to work together to break down barriers and evolve volunteering for all.”
