In short
Upcoming volunteer management conferences in the UK and Ireland include DSC’s online Volunteering in 2027 and Beyond (23 February 2027), Volunteer Ireland’s National Volunteer Management Conference (27 April 2027, Ennis) and the Charity Retail Conference (22 to 23 June 2027, Newport). The AVM and HVMN conferences run every year too.
Conferences are a chance for volunteer managers to learn from each other, hear about new practice and come back with ideas. This guide lists volunteer management conferences in the UK and Ireland for the rest of 2026 and for 2027, plus the regular events that haven’t announced their next dates yet. We check each event against its organiser’s website and update this guide as new dates are published.
Last checked: 2 November 2026. Always confirm dates, prices and booking details with the organiser before you book.
Coming up in November 2026
Volunteering Action Plan Conference: Bridging the Participation Gap
Volunteer Scotland’s free conference for volunteering practitioners, trustees and policy staff in Scotland.
When: 17 November 2026
Where: The Barracks Conference Centre, Stirling, and online
Details: Volunteering Action Plan Conference
Volunteer Management Conference 2026
An online conference from Government Events for volunteer managers, directors of volunteering, HR, safeguarding and policy leads, and trustees.
When: 18 November 2026
Where: Online
Details: Volunteer Management Conference 2026
Heritage Volunteering ’26: From Passion to Purpose
The Heritage Volunteering Group’s conference for volunteer leaders, managers and heritage professionals across the UK.
When: 24 to 25 November 2026
Where: Online
Details: Heritage Volunteering ’26
Volunteer management conferences in 2027
Volunteering in 2027 and Beyond
The Directory of Social Change’s annual online conference for volunteer managers. The agenda hadn’t been published when we checked, and a waiting list was open.
When: 23 February 2027
Where: Online
Details: Volunteering in 2027 and Beyond
National Volunteer Management Conference 2027
Volunteer Ireland’s conference for anyone who manages volunteers, paid or unpaid, in community, voluntary or corporate settings. County Clare is European Volunteering Capital in 2027.
When: 27 April 2027
Where: glór, Ennis, County Clare
Details: National Volunteer Management Conference
Charity Retail Conference, Exhibition and Awards 2027
The Charity Retail Association’s annual event for everyone working in charity retail, including the people who manage shop volunteers.
When: 22 to 23 June 2027
Where: ICC Wales, Newport
Details: Charity Retail Conference
Volunteers’ Week 2027
Not a conference, but a key date for every volunteer manager: a UK-wide week to recognise and celebrate volunteers.
When: 7 to 13 June 2027
Where: Across the UK
Details: Volunteers’ Week
Regular conferences still to announce 2027 dates
These events run regularly but hadn’t published their next dates when we last checked. We’ll add them as soon as they do.
AVM Conference
The Association of Volunteer Managers’ annual conference for volunteer managers, leaders and heads of volunteering across the UK. It usually takes place in October. Watch AVM’s events page.
HVMN Conference
The Hospice Volunteer Managers Network’s annual two-day conference for hospice volunteer managers. The last edition was 24 to 25 March 2026 at Coram Fields Conference Centre, London. Watch the HVMN conference page.
Inclusive Volunteering Conference
Formerly the Make Your Mark Volunteer Managers Conference, this free event is for volunteer managers in Scotland, especially in heritage, culture and nature. The last edition was 4 February 2026 at Edinburgh Zoo and online. Watch the Make Your Mark conference page.
NAVSM National Volunteering Seminar
The National Association of Voluntary Service Managers runs a national seminar for people who manage voluntary services in the NHS and health sector. Check the NAVSM website for the next date.
Working With Volunteers
CASE’s event for university fundraising and alumni relations teams who run volunteer programmes. The last edition was online on 9 June 2026. Watch CASE’s courses and events.
Volunteer Management Conference (Westminster Insight)
A London conference for volunteer management, HR, recruitment and engagement staff in the public sector and voluntary organisations. Westminster Insight says its next event will be announced soon. Watch the Westminster Insight conference page.
How to choose the right conference
Start with your sector. Hospices, the NHS, heritage, charity retail and universities all have their own events, with sessions on the issues you face every day.
Check for online options if time or budget is tight. Several events run online or hybrid.
Look for peer networks too. Many local volunteer centres run regular forums for volunteer managers between conferences.
Plan how you’ll share what you learn, so the whole team benefits, not just the person who went.
Bringing ideas home to your programme
Volunteero is volunteer management software for charities, nonprofits and events, with recruitment, scheduling, communication and reporting in one place. See how Citizens Advice manages over 2,000 volunteers across more than 250 locations, or book a demo to see how it works.
Related reading
Written by
Co-founder and CEO
Ashley Staines is the co-founder and CEO of Volunteero. After seven years in investment banking, he started it to make volunteering easier to organise.
