Association of Volunteer Managers (AVM)

Association of Volunteer Managers (AVM)

Overview

The Association of Volunteer Managers (AVM) is an independent membership organisation that supports professionals responsible for managing volunteers across the United Kingdom. It represents a distinct profession — volunteer management — which has grown significantly as charities, social enterprises, public sector organisations and community groups increasingly rely on volunteers to deliver services and support their missions. If you manage volunteers, coordinate volunteer programmes, or oversee volunteer engagement in any type of organisation, the AVM is the professional association that recognises and supports your role.

Who Should Join?

The AVM is relevant to anyone with responsibility for managing, recruiting, supervising, training, supporting or coordinating volunteers. This includes:

• Volunteer managers and volunteer coordinators in charities, social enterprises, and not-for-profit organisations
• Staff in public sector organisations who manage volunteer programmes
• Directors, managers and leaders in roles that include volunteer oversight and volunteer team management
• HR professionals and organisational leaders developing volunteer strategies
• Individuals new to volunteer management or seeking to develop their professional skills in this area
• Organisations looking to establish or improve their volunteer management practice

The AVM operates across the United Kingdom and welcomes both individual professionals and organisational members. Specific eligibility criteria and membership categories are available through the association's website.

Why Join?

Volunteer management is a specialised discipline that requires specific knowledge, skills and understanding — from recruitment and induction through to safeguarding, supervision, recognition and retention. Members of the AVM gain professional recognition and access to a community of practice dedicated to improving volunteer management. Joining signals your commitment to best practice in volunteer engagement and connects you with peers facing similar challenges and opportunities.

The association provides a professional home for volunteer managers who may otherwise work in isolation within their organisations. It offers evidence-based guidance, professional development, and networking with others who share expertise in managing volunteers effectively.

Member Benefits & Opportunities

AVM membership provides access to:

• Professional guidance and resources — Information, toolkits, and best practice guidance on volunteer management, covering recruitment, safeguarding, training, supervision, retention and volunteer recognition
• Networking and peer communities — Connection with other volunteer managers across the UK, enabling the sharing of experience, solutions to common challenges, and peer learning
• Professional development and training — Opportunities to develop knowledge and skills in volunteer management practice through events, workshops and learning resources
• Events and conferences — Regular meetings, seminars and annual conferences bringing the volunteer management community together
• Specialist knowledge and publications — Access to research, insights and publications relevant to volunteer engagement and management
• Professional credibility and recognition — Association membership demonstrates your professional standing as a volunteer manager and your commitment to effective practice
• Support and advice — Access to colleagues and resources that can help address specific challenges in volunteer management

Industry Role & Professional Standing

The AVM plays a significant role in establishing and promoting professional standards for volunteer management across the UK. As an independent organisation, it advocates for the importance of skilled volunteer management, contributes to policy discussions affecting the voluntary sector, and works to raise the profile and recognition of volunteer managers as essential professionals.

The association supports its members to implement best practice in volunteer engagement, which ultimately benefits the volunteers themselves, the organisations they serve, and the communities they support. Through its work, the AVM helps establish volunteer management as a recognised profession with distinct skills, knowledge and responsibilities — and membership connects individuals to this wider professional movement.

For more information: Visit the AVM website or contact the association directly for details about membership categories, fees and how to join.