Customer Story: South Central Ambulance Charity
Improving the volunteer experience
South Central Ambulance Charity supports critical volunteer programmes that help save lives. Managing over 900 volunteers was once a complex and disjointed process, but since implementing Access Assemble, the charity has transformed its approach. From streamlined recruitment to automated processes and improved volunteer engagement, Access Assemble has become an essential tool in the charity’s operations.
Access Assemble
Challenge
- Volunteer management was relying on spreadsheets, shared folders, and manual processes.
- Recruitment was difficult, with application forms handled via Excel, causing delays and inefficiencies.
- Communication and record-keeping were inconsistent, leading to missing data and administrative burdens.
Approach
- Digitalised volunteer recruitment, moving applications online and eliminating outdated Excel sheets.
- Centralised all volunteer data, documents, and communication into one system for easy access and oversight.
- Introduced automation for tasks such as reference checks, reporting, and compliance tracking.
Results
- Significantly reduced administrative workload, allowing staff to focus on strategic volunteer engagement.
- Improved volunteer experience with a more accessible, structured, and efficient onboarding process.
- Enhanced reporting and tracking, ensuring better compliance and volunteer oversight.
I strongly recommend Access Assemble to other charities and have done many times. It's easy for the volunteers from the very start to end and makes the process of volunteering easier for both them and the volunteer managers.
South Central Ambulance Charity’s journey to seamless volunteer management
Before Access Assemble, South Central Ambulance Charity faced significant operational challenges. With 900+ volunteers spread across different programmes, maintaining accurate records was nearly impossible. Volunteers were recruited using Excel forms, and communications were scattered across multiple platforms, leading to lost information and inefficient processes.
Streamlined recruitment
One of the first major improvements South Central Ambulance Charity experienced was in volunteer recruitment. Previously, application forms were managed via Excel spreadsheets, which often resulted in missing data, errors, and delays. By moving recruitment online, Access Assemble enabled a more structured approach. Volunteers can now fill out digital forms, upload necessary documents such as driving licences and photo IDs, and track their application status. This has reduced administrative time and improved the accuracy and efficiency of onboarding new volunteers.
Centralised document hub
Managing policies, procedures, and updates was another challenge. Volunteers often struggled to find the latest information, and staff had to manually send updates across different platforms. With Access Assemble’s document hub, South Central Ambulance Charity now has a single, easily accessible location for all volunteer-related documents. This ensures that volunteers always have up-to-date information, reducing miscommunication and streamlining processes.
Automated reference and compliance checks
Previously, the South Central Ambulance Charity team had to manually follow up on reference checks, creating additional workload and slowing down the recruitment process. Access Assemble’s automation now sends reference requests and reminders without staff intervention, ensuring that applications are processed faster. This feature has significantly improved compliance tracking, reducing the risk of incomplete documentation and allowing South Central Ambulance Charity to meet NHS England’s volunteer management standards more effectively.
Volunteer engagement and communication
Keeping volunteers informed and engaged is crucial for South Central Ambulance Charity. Access Assemble’s news and messaging features allow volunteers to receive updates on events, policies, and achievements in real-time. The introduction of an event calendar has also made it easier to organise first aid cover and community events. Instead of relying on scattered emails, staff can now target specific groups of volunteers for event invitations, reducing logistical challenges and improving attendance.
User-friendly experience for volunteers
Volunteers at South Central Ambulance Charity have found Access Assemble to be incredibly easy to use, with many praising its intuitive and user-friendly interface. From signing up and submitting documents to checking their shifts and tracking their hours, everything is streamlined into one accessible platform. The ability to find key information, receive updates, and communicate seamlessly with staff has made volunteering a smoother and more engaging experience. Volunteers appreciate how they can manage their involvement effortlessly without unnecessary back-and-forth, ensuring they stay informed and focused on their vital roles within the charity.
Expense management
A major upcoming development is the integration of expense claims into Access Assemble. Volunteers will soon be able to submit expense claims digitally, making the process more transparent and efficient. This feature is expected to enhance financial oversight as well as showing volunteers the additional value they add as often volunteers don’t claim their expenses as they feel it’s even more value that they can add to the charity as part of their volunteering role. This leads to increased satisfaction and trust in the system.
Impact and benefits
South Central Ambulance Charity now operates with greater efficiency and transparency. The improved onboarding process allows new volunteers to begin their roles more quickly, ensuring the charity can provide life-saving support without unnecessary delays. Additionally, automated reporting enables better tracking of volunteer contributions and compliance with NHS England’s reporting standards.
Why South Central Ambulance Charity Recommends Access Assemble
South Central Ambulance Charity highly recommends Access Assemble for charities looking to enhance volunteer management. Key benefits include:
- One-stop-shop for all volunteer management needs, from recruitment to reporting.
- Time-saving automation that streamlines administrative tasks.
- Improved volunteer experience, ensuring better engagement and satisfaction.
- Scalability, allowing the system to grow with the charity’s needs.
Trusted by Charities Across the UK
Access Assemble is the go-to volunteer management solution for charities seeking efficiency, compliance, and engagement. If you want to revolutionise your volunteer management process like South Central Ambulance Charity, get in touch with us today or take a product tour!