Making the most of #MicroDay

Small is beautiful, especially today. Did you know today is designated Microvolunteering Day? One day. 24 hours. Take a few minutes to do good. Put simply microvolunteering is: 'bite-sized, on-demand, no commitment actions that benefit a worthy cause'. Millions of people all over the world are taking part in activity that is helping to change the world every day, but why not use this designated day to get involved? Here are just a few opportunities:

• playing games that are helping to analyse data to find a cure for cancer
• describing paintings using key words to help art historians catalogue collections
• supporting the missing maps project to create maps of vulnerable places to provide a vital resource for crisis relief on-the-ground staff as well as local people

For some, microvolunteering is a way to use their skills to help others. It can be an entry point into volunteering and thinking beyond their own everyday world. And clever charities are working out ways to draw in microvolunteers in beyond the initial give - treating microvolunteering as an entry point. Either to draw people in to give more time in the same way or get them closer so they are pre-prepared to help in other ways.

clever charities are working out ways to draw in microvolunteers in beyond the initial give

I was speaking to a volunteer manager at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland last week. They mentioned how they now have regular volunteers operating remotely from their places of work on online projects and social media for an hour or two a week. Evidence on how much this is happening is so far scarce. But so are volunteers, so I see many organisations adapting to how a new wave of people want to give their time. So today – why not play one for the games above? Or sign a petition and add your voice to collective action? Or go a step further and do something in person, like register with Meal Makers to share extra portions of home cooked-food with people in your area who are not always able to cook for themselves. Around the world, the power of the internet and new technology brings us so many new ways of reaching and connecting people, let’s make sure it’s to do good.