How to remove barriers to volunteering with technology and data

Volunteering has the power to bring people together, strengthen communities, and drive meaningful social change. But for too many people, barriers - both visible and invisible - prevent them from getting involved. A truly diverse and inclusive volunteer programme ensures that everyone, regardless of background or ability, has an equal opportunity to participate and contribute.

Rosterfy’s latest white paper, Inclusive Volunteering: How technology and data strengthen diversity, provides actionable insights to help volunteer-involving organisations (VIOs) remove barriers and build more inclusive programmes.

This article explores key themes from the white paper and explores the broader conversation around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in volunteering.

Understanding the barriers to volunteering

Despite best intentions, many volunteer programmes struggle with accessibility and representation. A decline in diversity among volunteer groups in the UK has brought DEI to the forefront, prompting government initiatives that emphasise the importance of inclusive strategies. Now more than ever, organisations must identify and address the barriers preventing potential volunteers from getting involved. These common barriers include:

• Financial Constraints: Travel costs, childcare, and unpaid commitments can exclude those from lower-income backgrounds.
  
  
• Accessibility Issues: Physical, sensory, and cognitive barriers can deter people with disabilities from volunteering.
  
  
• Lack of Representation: When volunteers don’t see people like themselves in an organisation, they may feel unwelcome.
  
  
• Unconscious Bias in Recruitment: Traditional outreach methods may unintentionally exclude diverse candidates.
  
  
• Limited Flexibility: Rigid volunteering schedules can prevent people with caring responsibilities or shift work from participating.

Addressing these challenges requires a proactive, data-driven approach.

The role of data in driving inclusion

Many organisations want to improve diversity in their volunteer base but struggle to measure their current state. Without clear demographic data, it’s difficult to:

• Identify underrepresented groups
  
  
• Track trends in recruitment and retention
  
  
• Measure the effectiveness of DEI initiatives
  
  
• Provide accountability to funders and stakeholders

Our white paper outlines key DEI metrics every organisation should track, including demographic representation, retention rates across different groups, and volunteer satisfaction levels. By leveraging volunteer management technology, organisations can gather real-time insights and make informed decisions about outreach, support, and programme design.

Best practices for inclusive volunteer programmes

To create an equitable and welcoming volunteer culture, organisations should focus on:

• Expanding Outreach & Partnerships: Collaborate with grassroots organisations, cultural groups, and disability networks.
  
  
• Offering Flexible Opportunities: Provide micro-volunteering, remote roles, and adaptive roles to accommodate diverse needs.
  
  
• Using Inclusive Language & Storytelling: Ensure volunteer recruitment materials reflect a diverse range of lived experiences.
  
  
• Providing DEI Training: Equip staff and volunteers with the skills to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment.
  
  
• Listening & Adapting: Regularly collect feedback from volunteers to continuously improve accessibility and engagement.
  
  

Bradford 2025 - A model for inclusive volunteering

Bradford, the UK’s City of Culture for 2025, is committed to building an inclusive and representative volunteer programme. By actively engaging diverse communities, translating volunteer materials into 13 languages, and providing accessibility information upfront, they have created a model for DEI in volunteering. Already, 24 languages are spoken by volunteers, and 59% of their cohort identify as being part of Black or Asian ethnic groups.

This initiative demonstrates when organisations prioritise inclusivity, they not only build stronger volunteer networks but also enhance the impact of their programmes.

To learn more about how Bradford 2025 actively remove barriers to volunteering and foster a culture of inclusivity, watch our on-demand webinar. 

How Rosterfy supports DEI in volunteering

Technology can be a game-changer in breaking down barriers to volunteering. Rosterfy helps organisations:

• Automate DEI data collection to track diversity metrics
  
  
• Streamline volunteer recruitment to reduce bias and widen reach
  
  
• Enhance accessibility through user-friendly digital processes
  
  
• Provide real-time reporting to measure and improve DEI efforts
  
  

“Rosterfy is a lot more automated and streamlined, but another massive benefit is the reporting side of it. We can have a real picture of the demographics of our volunteers and who’s engaging so we can identify gaps and then take steps to make sure that we’ve got an inclusive and representative cohort of volunteers."

Ellie Reid, Head of Workforce Development, London Youth Games

With Rosterfy, organisations can go beyond good intentions and take measurable action to create truly inclusive volunteer opportunities. Read the London Youth Games case study to learn more about their leading volunteer programme and the impact of Rosterfy on DEI efforts.

Moving forward

Building a diverse and inclusive volunteer programme requires an ongoing commitment to data-driven strategies and meaningful engagement. By embedding DEI at every stage of volunteer management, organisations can foster greater representation, improve volunteer retention, and ultimately strengthen their impact on the communities they serve.

Want to learn more? Download our latest white paper, Inclusive Volunteering: How technology and data strengthen diversity, for in-depth guidance on creating inclusive volunteer programmes.

About Rosterfy

Rosterfy’s volunteer management software is used by nonprofits, charities, sporting federations, local governments, and more to better manage their volunteer programmes by improving how they can recruit, screen, train, and retain volunteers. Our market leading technology is an end-to-end solution designed to help you provide a world-class experience for your volunteers.

Book a demo to discover how Rosterfy can take your volunteer programme to the next level.