Customer Story: Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland
How Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland transform their volunteer management
Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) has revolutionised its volunteer management programme since the implementation Access Assemble volunteer management software. By streamlining processes, enhancing volunteer engagement, and improving recruitment efficiency, Assemble has helped CHSS build a stronger, more connected volunteer community, empowering volunteer line managers to focus on relationships rather than paperwork and processes.
Access Assemble
The challenge
Across Scotland’s communities volunteers deliver CHSS’s strategy, widen their voice, and bring unique skills and insights. CHSS is committed to ensuring volunteers have the best possible experience and their systems support this. "We were looking for a solution that would streamline the volunteer lifecycle including volunteer recruitment, engagement, and management while reducing administrative burdens on the volunteer and our volunteer line managers ", explains Liz Wigelsworth, Head of Volunteering at CHSS. They also needed a platform that could foster better communication and engagement with volunteers across the organisation.
Choosing Access Assemble
CHSS conducted a thorough evaluation of various volunteer management platforms. "We put together a list of criteria, involved key stakeholders, and held demos with several providers. Assemble stood out because it was specifically built for volunteer management, and it really met all our needs," Liz shares. After involving colleagues and volunteers from across CHSS, Access Assemble was the clear choice.
The impact
Since rolling out Assemble, CHSS has experienced significant improvements in how they manage and engage with their volunteers. "Assemble has transformed the way we communicate with volunteers. With almost 80% of our volunteers regularly logging in now, we can keep volunteers up-to-date with our strategy, organisational updates and celebrate successes in one central place," says Liz. The team has moved away from email newsletters and WhatsApp groups, consolidating everything within Assemble’s secure platform. Assemble has also brought major efficiencies in recruitment. "We’ve seen a 37.5% decrease in the time it takes to receive volunteer references," Liz highlights. The streamlined processes mean that volunteers and line managers can track recruitment progress in real-time, reducing the need for manual follow-ups.
Key takeaways
- Time savings: Automated workflows have significantly reduced the time spent on administrative tasks, freeing up volunteer managers to focus on building relationships.
- Increased volunteer engagement: With almost 80% of volunteers logged into Assemble, CHSS has seen a rise in volunteer participation and event attendance.
- Enhanced compliance and training: Volunteers can now track their own training and compliance, with real-time updates visible to both volunteers and managers.
- Improved recruitment analytics: CHSS can now analyse recruitment data, adjusting strategies based on what’s working and where improvements are needed.
Assemble is built by people who understand what volunteer managers need!
Streamlining volunteer recruitment and onboarding
One of the most significant changes brought by Assemble is the streamlined recruitment process. "Previously, recruitment was manual, which often led to delays," says Liz. Now, Assemble automates everything from reference checks to volunteer onboarding. Line managers can see exactly where each volunteer is in the recruitment process with just a click, saving time and ensuring a smoother experience for all involved.
Building stronger volunteer communities
Assemble has made it easier for volunteers to feel part of the wider CHSS community. The platform allows volunteers to engage with one another through messaging and the news site. “It’s created a sense of belonging,” Liz explains. “Volunteers feel more connected to the organisation, and we’ve seen increased attendance at appreciation events as a result.”
Improved volunteer engagement
For CHSS, Assemble has struck the perfect balance between efficiency and engagement. With features like the document hub, news updates, and messaging centre, volunteers have access to everything they need in one place. Liz says,
It’s much easier for volunteers to engage with us now, and they can see the impact of their contribution through the platform.
The role of data in driving improvements
One of the biggest advantages Assemble brought to CHSS was data. "We can now pull up real-time reports on volunteer numbers, compliance, and recruitment. This helps us make informed decisions and improve areas where we see gaps," Liz explains. "For example, we can now easily track how many views each volunteer opportunity gets, how many people apply, and how many go on to start with us. It’s been revolutionary in how we approach recruitment. We can tailor our marketing based on real data which makes it more impactful."
The power of Assemble for volunteer management
Assemble’s volunteer management system has proven invaluable for CHSS. “It’s built by people who understand volunteer management,” Liz emphasises. By automating processes and providing real-time insights, Assemble allows CHSS to focus on what matters most—building meaningful relationships with their volunteers.
“I would 100% recommend Access Assemble to other volunteer managers,” says Liz. “It has a big user group, and together, we’re pushing innovation in volunteer management. Assemble adapts to changes in the sector - whether it's how people want to volunteer or external factors impacting recruitment. Without Assemble, we wouldn’t have been able to embrace innovations like micro-volunteering.” The platform is tried and tested, used by many organisations, and provides the tools to support and enhance volunteer management.
It doesn’t replace relationships, but it enables you to manage volunteers more effectively.
Take the next step with Access Assemble
If you’re looking to improve your volunteer management like Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, Assemble is the solution for you. Start streamlining your recruitment, improving engagement, and making data-driven decisions.