Our Ambassador Appreciation Scheme
SPW wants to thank and value volunteers by offering both rewards and personal thanks. Each part of the programme gives different ways to celebrate and support what volunteers do. Everything has been planned together with single parent volunteers.
Events:
Ambassador Appreciation Events:
We host volunteer-only events to strengthen the Ambassador community and make sure everyone feels informed and connected.
Award Socials:
We run annual relaxed award events to show how much we appreciate our Ambassadors, giving out awards.
Monthly Meetings and Socials:
Every month we hold an Ambassador meeting, with a space for children to be entertained while the meeting takes place. Afterwards, we have a social decided by our volunteers. We’ve had pottery, bingo, massages, and crafts, to name a few.
Once a month, we also have an adult-only social after the meeting to allow Ambassadors to unwind and connect.
Team Days:
Our Ambassadors are part of the SPW team, so we invite volunteers in for team days alongside SPW staff.
Evolve: Skill Development and Training
Training Courses:
Our Ambassadors get access to the same training as SPW staff and can put forward ideas for training they’d like to take part in. We’ve offered Peer Mediation training, Food Hygiene, and more.
Training Portal:
Ambassadors get full access to our online portal, with videos that feature Ambassadors themselves! The portal is updated regularly with bite-sized videos on topics like boundaries, mental health, being a peer lead, diversity and inclusion, safeguarding, and hosting your first event.
When training is completed, we send out a certificate.
Lunch and Learns:
These are quick, half-hour online sessions during the week that cover topics around mental health, wellbeing, and practical skills like listening.
Peer Evaluator Training:
Ambassadors can train with the Mental Health Foundation to run focus groups, surveys, and interviews for the Thrive project — putting evaluation and research skills into practice.
References: We offer references or recommendations for future opportunities, recognising the skills and experience you’ve gained. We also offer observed references — where we come and see you in action — so that volunteering with SPW doesn’t become a barrier to future opportunities.
Rewards and Thanks
TEMPO Time Credits: Stay informed on TEMPO Time Credit options, which let you redeem credits for different experiences and activities.
Travel Expenses: Reimburse reasonable travel expenses to support volunteers in their commitment.
Volunteer Packs: Once you’ve completed the Peer Lead Approach online training we’ll send you out a Volunteer Pack with everything you need to get going.
A5 checklists
A5 safeguarding flow chart
Lanyard
Peer Lead Training Certificate
Tent cards for events
Passport to collect stamps for everything you get involved in
2x attendance sheets
SPW stickers
"Don’t clear my plate" card
Happy Post: We often send our volunteers post to show our thanks — a postcard, keyring, or a small gift.
Recognising Ambassadors:
Certificates
We present certificates for milestones as Ambassadors, and for any training completed.
Spotlight Features
Newsletters: We include a “Volunteer Spotlight” section to highlight individual contributions.
Website and Blogs: We have dedicated sections on the website for volunteer recognition.
Social Media: We share photos and stories to celebrate volunteer efforts.
Lanyards and Branded Items
We provide lanyards, badges, or other branded items to create a sense of identity within the organisation.
Involving Ambassadors:
Ambassador Feedback
You decide what you volunteer for and what events you help set up.
We hold regular meetings and focus groups.
We run surveys to gather your ideas on improvements.
You can help plan events or projects through focus groups or case studies.
We ensure a constant loop of co-production and feedback.
Accommodating Needs
We work with you to co-design your role so volunteering with SPW works for you and removes any barriers.
Opportunities for Leadership
There are opportunities to be part of the SPW leadership team.