The power of the right volunteer match

For The Friendly Food Club, food is a way to bring people together, build confidence, and create lasting change. Based in Dorset, the charity reaches thousands of people each year through cooking and food education sessions. This is work that relies not just on passion, but on the right expertise behind the scenes.

As CEO Liz Guilmant-Cush explains, volunteers are central to that impact:

“Volunteers are absolutely key in being able to transform those sessions from purely a tool and a mechanic into something that’s really impactful and beneficial to the people that come along.” 

When the organisation transitioned into a registered charity, the need for specialist skills became more urgent. Strengthening the board was a priority, particularly in areas like finance and fundraising, where expertise is essential but often difficult to access.

At the same time, the charity was growing - and with that came additional needs across communications, video, legal support, and volunteer coordination. Like many small charities, The Friendly Food Club faced the challenge of building capacity without the resources to hire.

Turning to Reach Volunteering gave the team a different way forward. Rather than casting a wide net and managing large volumes of unsuitable applications, they were able to take a more focused, skills-based approach.

The platform allowed them to identify and approach individuals with the right experience, review their backgrounds in advance, and build a clear sense of fit early in the process. As Liz reflects:

“You’ve got that two-way connection. It’s not just an advertising site where you put the advert up. You can also search and reach out to people who have the skills you need.” 

That ability to assess experience upfront made a practical difference too.

“You can look at their CV, see their previous experience, and filter through potential applicants… so by the time we go back to meet them, you have a very good feeling about whether they’re going to work for us or not.” 

What began as a way to recruit trustees quickly grew into something more. As the team saw the quality of matches and the value volunteers brought, they began using Reach to fill a wider range of roles from communications support to project-based work and specialist advice.

“Once a system proves itself, you feel more confident about using it for other opportunities as well.” 

The difference has been both immediate and long-term. Friendly Food Club successfully recruited three trustees through Reach, bringing in expertise that has strengthened the organisation at its core.

One trustee, with a background in fundraising and marketing, has gone beyond a strategic role to actively support delivery by helping to unlock new income.

“Having a trustee is great, but having a trustee with capacity is even better… we’re absolutely delighted with that.” 

That contribution has helped generate £30,000 in additional income in just six months. This was a significant boost for a growing charity. At the same time, financial oversight has improved through another trustee’s expertise:

“His management accounting is absolutely second to none and has really improved the governance of the charity.” 

For Liz, the value of these contributions is clear:

“They’re invaluable. They each brought something really special.” 

More than individual outcomes, the experience has shifted how the organisation thinks about support from filling immediate gaps to building sustainable capacity.

Looking back, Liz highlights that successful volunteering is about more than matching skills to roles. It’s about creating genuine connections between people and purpose — where both sides feel invested from the start.

“It’s about giving somebody a really clear idea about who you are and the values and the personality of the organisation.”

That clarity has shaped how the organisation approaches every opportunity. Not just focusing on the skills they need, but on finding people who truly connect with their work.

The result is more than short-term support. It’s stronger leadership, greater confidence, and a growing sense of what the organisation is capable of achieving with the right people alongside them.