A few days ago, we held an away day for our staff and volunteers in the Association. People travelled from across the country, where many volunteers met each other for the first time in person. The day was an opportunity for us to unite in our vision, values and strategic ambitions.
It was so good to hear what our team values, what they see as important to the Association, and to remind one another of our expectations. We had values like integrity, welcoming, empathy and kindness come up. Being able to reflect on the last 12 months, what we do well, what we can improve on and what we’d like to see in the future also opened conversations to different points of view. We can so easily get stuck in our own ways of working, or our team’s way of working, that we forget to look around us. Our Away Day was an opportunity for those blinkers to be removed and conversations to be had in a safe, understanding environment.
When it came to sharing updates on our strategic direction and projects, it was a delight to celebrate all that we are achieving together. By tweaking slightly what we already do well, we are having a greater impact and making strides towards our strategic ambitions.
One of the joys of leading such a large volunteer group is the fresh eyes and perspectives that come with each volunteer. Whether they’ve been involved with a Nightline in the past or not, they come with such passion and motivation that enables the Association as a whole to achieve so much.
Having recently undergone a big recruitment drive as part of an organisational restructure, we are looking forward to holding another Away Day before long. If you want to get involved, please have a look at our volunteer page – perhaps you’ll be joining us at our next Away Day?
