SSAFA Volunteer Knowledgebase

'NDP in Action' Townhall January 2026

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The 'Network Delivery Project (NDP) in Action' Townhall sessions held on 19 January and 21 January were open to all volunteers and employees.

Town Hall Recordings

You can watch a recording of the meetings using the links below:

19 January 1800-1915

21 January 1100-1215

What We Covered

What community engagement actually looks like

Chris Laker, Community Engagement Manager (CEM) for South East and London, joined by Keith Mewes, Community Engagement Volunteer (CEV), shared how the Kent branch is already seeing the benefits. Keith spoke with enthusiasm about how the new model has reduced administrative constraints, giving volunteers the time to focus on the meaningful engagement they really enjoy doing.

Making your day-to-day as volunteers easier

Ritchie Caswell, Volunteer Experience (VE) Team Leader, introduced our new helpdesk system and extended phone hotline hours. These improvements aren't just technical changes; they are designed to enable a better volunteer experience. With more than 18,000 emails and over 700 phone calls handled last year, we know how important it is that volunteers get a fast, helpful response when needed. More details can be found here.

Stronger together: Caseworker insights

A live conversation between Michelle Ankers, Regional Casework Manager (RCM) for Greater London, and Gerry Corkery, Caseworker, showed exactly how regional offices and caseworkers are collaborating. Gerry shared how NDP has brought clearer communication routes, consistent standards for casework across the network, and stronger regional office support, making his casework role easier and more effective.

Specialist services spotlight

Nikki Durnell, Senior Serving Community Officer, reminded us of the wide range of services that SSAFA provides, and demonstrated how the Serving Community Team (SCT) works across the network to provide dedicated support to the serving community. She also highlighted how SCTs work collaboratively with local branches, regional teams and other SSAFA services to keep beneficiaries at the centre of our ‘One SSAFA’ approach.

Turning your local wins into well-spread stories

Laura Mitchell, Senior Storytelling Manager, and Fiona Wright, Regional Marcomms Manager (RMM) for the North, shared how local branch activities can be turned into compelling stories for news outlets. This collaboration helps build SSAFA’s profile and ensures your hard work gets the recognition it deserves. Click here to learn more – featuring conversations with volunteers from the West Yorkshire and Durham branches.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the discussions and shared their first-hand experiences. These insights truly bring the NDP model to life and show how strong we are when working together.

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