Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp, Skype, and Facetime. These are now familiar terms to many of us as we spend more time online. For all the challenges this brings, there are also many benefits.
Thanks to the power of online communication, we have been able to take the Shared Interest story to new audiences such as Women’s Institute groups and Fairtrade Towns.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of our dedicated team of volunteers. This Volunteers’ Week, we reflected with some of our Ambassadors and Community Supporters on how we can engage successfully when onscreen instead of in person.
After all, one of the reasons volunteer talks work so well is because audiences enjoy hearing directly from those involved in the organisation. However, this personal connection has proved even more significant when communicating remotely, and at a time when connections are limited. Volunteers have told us that they enjoy being able to talk in a more conversational and relaxed way, compared to presenting from the front to a seated audience. The chat functionality on Zoom also makes Q&A sessions easy to manage.
The facility to add video content with ease has been very well received. This allows us to connect people with our customers across the globe, bringing them the true message of ‘finance with a human face.’ Similarly, volunteers are no longer restricted by distance when delivering talks, and are enjoying their ‘virtual visits’ instead.
So, while our calendar of talks, stalls and networking would usually be taking place across the country, we continue to capture the essence of these events with the use of technology. In fact, this year, we have planned our very first Virtual Festival for volunteers. You can find out more about the event here.
We want to send a huge thank you to everyone who has shown their passion and knowledge of Shared Interest at online events throughout the year.
If you would like to book a Shared Interest speaker for your event, please do get in touch with us on volunteers@shared-interest.com.
Thank you to our volunteers, Mike Holmes and Jacky Thomas, for their contribution to this blog post.
