The National Association of Voluntary Services Managers (NAVSM) is a membership organisation that exists to support and develop best practice in volunteer management in the NHS and Healthcare to enhance the experience of patients, carers, the public and staff.
Members have access to NAVSM HUBS for networking and training as well as information and support to enable them to develop and maintain volunteering in a range of different healthcare settings across primary, acute, mental health, children’s, maternity, specialist and partnership organisations affiliated to the NHS.
NAVSM is democratically organised on behalf of members. We do not employ staff. Our National Executive Committee (NEC) is made up of people who have an interest in volunteer management, either as a current or previous VSM, and who dedicate their time to NAVSM
The National Executive Committee (NEC) consists of various officers elected from our membership. The committee works at a national level to promote volunteering and best practice in volunteer management within the NHS and Healthcare.
Our National Executive Committee (NEC) is made up of people who have an interest in volunteer management, either as a current or previous VSM, and who dedicate their time to NAVSM all NEC members give up their time voluntarily to support NAVSM.
The NEC operates in an open manner and is accountable to its membership. If you would like to find out more about the NEC, are interested in standing for election, or wish to discuss a particular issue, then please contact one of our NEC officers to find out more.
The role of the Voluntary Services Organiser was not generally recognised as a salaried and professional position until the late 1960’s early 1970’s.
NAVSM was started in 1968, as the National Association of Voluntary Help Organisers (NAVHO). It was created with the intention of providing support information and training to Voluntary Help Organisers (VHO’s) who were struggling to define their role within the NHS. This development was strongly supported by the Kings Fund which organised training days and appointed a development officer for VHO’s. As the involvement of the Kings Fund wound down, the emphasis shifted to the association itself to meet the developmental and training responsibilities of its members. In 1994, reflecting the development of its members’ role into a more structured management position, NAVHO changed its name to the National Association of Voluntary Services Managers or NAVSM.
In 2019/20 NAVSM registered as a company limited by guarantee and currently provides support to over 200 members working in the NHS and healthcare in all regions around England.
If you are finding it a challenge to secure funding to join NAVSM please click on the link below, you can use this letter to support your need to join NAVSM and justify your reasons for applying, you can also highlight the wider benefits to your organisation.
