The Open Data Institute (ODI), supported by DCMS, is leading a transformative initiative to improve how volunteering opportunities are found and shared. Currently, data about volunteering is often siloed, making it difficult for people to find opportunities and for organisations to connect with volunteers efficiently.
Our vision is to co-design, test, and prove the value of a modern open data infrastructure for the volunteering sector. This infrastructure encompasses the combination of data, technologies, policies, and standards needed to ensure data flows more freely and effectively. By strengthening the sector's data capabilities, we aim to enhance existing digital services, drive innovation, and ultimately make it easier for people to connect with volunteering and social action.
What is a Standards Working Group and who is it for?
A Standards Working Group is a community of subject matter experts, including: volunteering specialists, software providers, and data experts who collaborate to agree standards.
The group will be open to all and will provide technical expertise and real-world context necessary to ensure the standards and infrastructure we develop are robust, practical, and directly meet the needs of all stakeholders.
Upcoming meetings and Hackathon
We encourage active participation and will be working collaboratively. Please note these initial key dates, all of which will run online (using Google Meet) from 15:00 -16:00 GMT:
Wednesday, 12 November 2025
Topic: Introducing the project and draft model
Focus: We will walk through the project vision, outline our priority use cases, and introduce our initial draft data model for feedback.
Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Topic: API demonstration and refinements
Focus: An API is a means for computers to exchange information. We will demonstrate the API we are developing and refine the underlying data model.
Wednesday, 10 December 2025
Topic: Review and hackathon reflection
Focus: A session dedicated to reviewing the performance of our alpha system and reflecting on improvements and suggestions generated during the hackathon.
Hackathon
In addition to our structured meetings, we will be hosting a hackathon during the week commencing 1 December 2025. This is a crucial, hands-on opportunity to test and build against our developing infrastructure. More details on the agenda and registration for the Hackathon will follow shortly.
Get Involved and Share
Your expertise is invaluable to the success of this open data initiative. To join the Working Group, please fill in the form below.
We also strongly encourage you to share this invitation with any colleagues in your network who would benefit from being involved in setting the foundation for volunteering data standards.
If you have any questions about the working group, the hackathon, or the project’s objectives, please don't hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to working with you!
