Creative Lives is developing a new Volunteering in the Arts toolkit to help arts groups ensure their volunteers feel welcomed, informed, supported and appreciated.
Founded in 1991, Creative Lives champions community and volunteer-led creative activity, working to improve opportunities for everyone to take part in creative projects. Their latest research, the Creative Lives Monitor 2025, highlights that many local groups struggle to convert creative participants into committed volunteers.
To inform the new toolkit, Creative Lives is inviting creative groups to share their ideas and examples of volunteer support through a micro-grant competition. The winning submission will receive a £250 micro-grant (£290 in Ireland), and stories will feature in the final online guide.
Deadline for submissions: Tuesday 30th September 2025.
Submissions, including examples and photos where possible, should be emailed to: info@creative-lives.org.
For more information, visit the Creative Lives website or read editor Kelly Donaldson’s blog post on Third Force News.
