Between April and July 2025, we delivered seven Community Marketplace Volunteering Events, hosting one in each district of the county. These events were held in the following places.
The events aimed to reach residents we don’t often hear from, particularly those living further from existing Volunteer Centres, and to bring local organisations together to chat to public attendees about volunteering.
Each Marketplace created an open, welcoming space for people to:
The events attracted a diverse mix of stallholders, from small community projects to large regional charities, as well as hundreds of visitors who came for a free cuppa, a chat, and to find out how to get involved.
To reach as many residents as possible, promotion combined online and offline outreach, social media campaigns, local press, leaflet drops, and pre-event town visits by staff and volunteers.
These events formed the foundation of this evaluation, helping to reflect on the Marketplace approach to connecting communities, building awareness, and inspiring volunteering.
We created a survey to collect feedback from participants at our Community Marketplace events. The first survey targeted members of the public who attended the events. Specifically, the survey aimed to explore:
Approximately one-third (31.8%) of respondents were already volunteering, with a further 25% having volunteered in the past.
The remaining 43.2% were completely new to volunteering, suggesting the events effectively reached fresh audiences.
Significantly 84.1% of respondents discovered community groups or organisations they had not previously known about, showing that the events were successful in broadening awareness of local Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations.
38% of respondents connected with an organisation they intended to support or volunteer with, while another 31% were considering it.
Nearly 70% of respondents left inspired to take future action, showing clear potential for future volunteering activity and engagement.
85.7% of respondents said they would attend another event, demonstrating enthusiasm for future participation, with events being valued and worth repeating in local communities.
What else did we learn?
The term “volunteering” can be off-putting; some people are more receptive to phrases like “helping out” and a preference for more informal and flexible opportunities.
A need to engage more young people, as older volunteers may be fatigued or over-committed. and a recognition that social media alone won’t reach everyone, particularly retirees or people who are out of work.
Change the terminology –
Event Visitor
people don’t want to
volunteer, but are happy
to “help out”
Find young people to
Event Visitor
volunteer (older ones are
tired!)
At each event attendees were asked the question, “How would you like to find out about volunteering opportunities?” The summary below highlights the key themes from their responses.
Face-to-face and local engagement:
Offline promotion:
Online and digital channels:
Personal networks:
Alongside the public survey, a second questionnaire was distributed to Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations that took part in the Community Marketplace events.
This survey aimed to capture the experiences, outcomes, and support needs of participating organisations. Specifically, the survey aimed to explore:
A key objective of the Community Marketplace events was to help local organisations connect with potential new volunteers, and the results were highly encouraging. 71% of participating organisations reported making new volunteer connections during the events, demonstrating that the format provided an effective environment for outreach and engagement.
Organisations described having meaningful conversations with individuals who expressed genuine interest in getting involved, learning about local causes, or exploring short-term volunteering opportunities.
Several noted that the informal, welcoming atmosphere of the events made it easier to start conversations and build trust with members of the public who might not otherwise approach a stall or volunteering service.
Organisations identified several recurring barriers to recruiting and retaining volunteers. The most commonly mentioned challenges were:
Other frequent themes included:
Less common but notable challenges included:
The findings underline a need for streamlined recruitment processes, targeted skill-matching, and further promotional support to help organisations attract and retain volunteers effectively.
What organisations say would help
Organisations were invited to share what kind of support or resources would help them overcome the volunteer recruitment and retention challenges they face.
The most frequent request was for greater help with advertising and publicity, including funded campaigns, improved local promotion, and practical training in social media and communications.
Other common priorities included volunteer management support, such as clearer induction and training processes, and networking opportunities that enable collaboration across the sector.
Several organisations also highlighted transport barriers and a need for more inclusive and diverse volunteering roles to attract a wider range of participants.
Feedback from participating organisations was overwhelmingly positive. Nearly all respondents reported a high level of satisfaction with the Community Marketplace events, praising their welcoming atmosphere, strong local attendance, and opportunities for connection.
Over 90% of organisations said they were satisfied (47.8% “very satisfied”, 43.5% “somewhat satisfied”), while only a small minority (1.4%) expressed any level of dissatisfaction.
Similarly, nine in ten organisations (90.1%) indicated they would attend a future event, confirming the continued value of the Community Marketplace format as a platform for collaboration and volunteer recruitment.
Great environment, friendly,
VCFSE Organisation Attendee
quality conversations had between
other charities and the general
public. Follow-up conversations are
already in the diary
When asked what organisations enjoyed most about taking part, respondents overwhelmingly highlighted the opportunity to connect, both with the public and with each other.
Networking and collaboration were mentioned more than 50 times, with many participants valuing the friendly atmosphere, well-organised setup, and supportive event team.
Several noted that these events helped spark new partnerships, volunteer interest, and practical follow-up conversations beyond the day itself.
Networking with other groups
VCFSE Organisation Atendee,
was very helpful. It was
encouraging to see so much
cooperation.
Spilsby
The Community Marketplace events clearly demonstrated their value as a local, inclusive, and collaborative model for connecting communities.
Across seven events, feedback from both public attendees and VCFSE organisations shows that the format successfully inspired volunteering, built awareness of local services, and strengthened
relationships within Lincolnshire’s voluntary sector.
With high satisfaction, strong participation, and clear demand for future events, the pilot provides robust evidence that the Community Marketplace approach is both effective and scalable. The events have proven that by connecting people, places, and purpose, the Community Marketplace model can play a role in developing Lincolnshire’s voluntary and community sector.
For the full report please follow this link to view our Community Marketplace Event Feedback Survey Analysis PDF document.
Volunteering is choosing to do something for the benefit of others, or for your community or the environment, without being paid to do it and is open to anyone.
It can bring great personal rewards and is a great way to:
If you would like to find out more about volunteering, would like to volunteer, find volunteering opportunties near you, or even take part in micro-volunteering from the comfort of your home, please follow this link to the volunteering page on our website where you can find out everything you need to know about volunteering.
