Frequently asked questions for volunteers - October update

We've compiled this FAQ page to help answer any questions you might have about the Macular Society's recent structure update. If you have any further questions, concerns or feedback, please get in touch by emailing feedback@macularsociety.org.

What feedback did you receive and what changes have you made to the proposal?

We received lots of feedback from volunteers and staff alike. Thank you for taking the time to share your views. Here are some of the key points that were raised and how we are responding to them.

• England is a much bigger region than any of the devolved nations, and so it is a much bigger job. More resource might be needed in England.
  • We’ve added an extra role in England compared to the proposal, to make sure the country’s size and diversity are reflected in our coverage
• It isn’t clear what the collaboration and engagement managers will do, how will they do the work of an RM over a much bigger area?
  • These roles are not expected to do the work of an RM. They will be there to support local groups proactively with regular check ins with group leaders, and they will engage with professionals and health systems, but will not be carrying out the day-to-day support of groups in the way that RMs used to do. This day-to-day support will be done by the volunteer and group support team. The titles have been changed to ‘community engagement’ to be clearer about what these roles will be doing.
• Groups admin team do not have the capacity at the moment to respond to my enquiry, how will this work when we have to route more questions through them?
  • The new volunteer and group support team is larger than the current groups admin team, and within this team there will be a total of six people supporting volunteers centrally. While capacity is still limited, we’ve combined roles so that we can respond more consistently.
• I have a close relationship with my regional manager and they have provided excellent support over the years. How will I get on without them?
  • We recognise that many of you have built trusting relationships with your regional managers over the years. The new team will continue to prioritise personal, responsive contact, even though much of this will now take place by phone or online rather than in person. We will introduce the new team members as soon as they are in post, and will focus on building up relationships with the team who will be answering your questions going forward. In many cases these will be some of the same people that you have been dealing with in the past.
• I don’t like the model of a ‘friendship group’
  • We aren’t using this term any more and will work together to explore flexible ways to run groups. Volunteers will be involved in this process to determine how we move forward.

Where will we go to for support now?

The community engagement managers will support with regional information and regular catch-ups, the volunteer and group support team will offer practical support with running your groups, such as venues and membership. The community development manager will be working on ways to maintain and develop our peer support programme into the future. We will provide clear guidance on exactly who to contact once we have assigned people to roles.

What support are you no longer providing?

Volunteers are essential to our services and we will always aim to support you with your needs. The level of in-person support will need to change with the new structure. While we recognise that volunteers have found in-person support helpful in the past, in most organisations volunteers do tasks such as paying in cash and checking venues as part of their roles running support groups. We can provide support on the telephone if you have concerns about any element of your role.

What is expected of me now as a volunteer?

The volunteer roles will remain very similar to how they are at present. The only change will be if you were receiving in-person support to do tasks like checking venues.

I have accessibility needs. How will I carry out my role?

We are committed to making volunteering with the Macular Society accessible to all. We know many of our volunteers have different access needs and we want to make sure everyone feels supported. We will be asking for feedback soon to help us do that.

What if I can’t run my group any more?

We really value our volunteers and the amazing work you do, and we hope you will continue to support people with macular disease in your area. If you do decide to step down, we would fully support you in finding someone to take over the running of the group. If a group isn’t able to continue, we’ll do everything we can to keep members connected and supported.

What if my local service users don’t have a group to go to?

We recognise that not all areas have a convenient group to attend, and that in some cases groups might close. We are looking at our telephone and virtual support groups offering to cater to people who might not be able to attend a physical group.

How will I get speakers for my group?

Many groups are already able to curate a full speakers programme, and this will continue. For groups who are struggling with getting speakers, we are looking to build up a library of video content on helpful topics. You will be able to use this to show your groups and have a discussion. If you are unable to fix a speaker for a particular event, we can offer ideas for sessions you can run that would be supportive to your group members.

How will new groups get off the ground?

This will be part of the role of the community engagement team. They will support with finding an appropriate model to offer peer support in each area/nation.

Who will work with hospitals, devolved governments, health boards etc?

We recognise the impact that regional managers have had in engaging with community health and political organisations in their area, and we want to continue this work. This will be in the community engagement team’s roles. They will be engaging at senior levels with health organisations to raise awareness of our services and form partnerships.

What information will I get and who from?

You will receive regular communication from the volunteer communication and learning officer. This will include information from the Macular Society, resources to support you in your volunteer roles and regional information. You can also reach out to the volunteer communication and learning officer if there is information you would value, as we will be looking to get feedback on what is helpful so we can build on this going forward.

Who can help me with finances?

The groups finance coordinator role will be moving into the finance team to support with the better management of group finances. They will still be available to support group finance queries and annual returns.

I’m worried the Society is too research-focused. What about people with macular disease now?

While our commitment to pioneering research remains strong, we are equally committed to providing compassionate, practical support for everyone affected by macular disease. The new team structure is designed to protect that support for the long term.

Regional organisation chart

Please see the organisation chart below, we have also included this as a Microsoft Powerpoint slide for download if you prefer.