Have you wondered about the true difference we make through our Rotary ​service? Do you ever consider the time you give personally and just what that ​social impact offers to communities?

In recent research a clear message was that people are looking to build their ​social giving record alongside their professional CV as this aligns to the values ​employers are seeking.

Equally, businesses look to record their social and environment impact. So, the ​question for Rotary was how we capture the data that details the impact of each ​member, while also building that into a collective story of our overall impact.

The answer has come to us through a global product called Be Collective, a ​volunteer management and community engagement platform.

Be Collective founder Rob Wise believes that if we are going to engage and ​inspire the next generation of volunteers, tackle community sector sustainability, ​and make corporate social responsibility really mean something, we need tools ​that enable collective action. We agree.

Over the past year, Rotary GB&I has been working with Be Collective to provide ​an integrated platform that seamlessly connects for our members using your ​Rotary single sign-on access (more on that shortly!).

We’re calling this platform the Impact Portal.

Using the network of our six Clusters (you will have read about clusters in ​previous editions – groups of neighbouring districts!), opportunities are posted ​giving sign-up options for you to take part in service projects, help at events, and ​volunteer for roles in your District and/or Great Britain and Ireland.

When you sign in, you’ll be presented with opportunities happening in your area, ​but with the simple click of a button you have access to all opportunities across ​the country. You may be travelling and want to take part, you might fancy ​combining service and family so signing up gives that extra incentive to book the ​time away you’ve been promising yourself, or it may be there’s an opportunity in ​your location that takes your eye! Whatever your motivation, the Impact Portal ​(powered by Be Collective) showcases some fun and fabulous service ​opportunities to get involved with.

As you will know, any system is only as good as the information within it and in ​this case, we need to know about the service and events taking place across the ​region to populate the platform.

A ‘soft’ request for information was made in the earlier months of 2024 and now ​many of you will know that Club Secretaries have been receiving a personal call ​from the Rotary Support Centre to directly connect and enquire about what’s ​happening in your area.

To share your project, you’ll complete an online form, and we’ll do the rest, so ​please do go loud and proud on the great service and events you have planned.

There is a general set of criteria that makes an opportunity right for the Impact ​Portal.

• First, it’s important that you are looking for people to help! If you are running ​a project and your club member numbers cover all the needs, then it’s ​unlikely you’ll be looking for others to work alongside you.

• Secondly, the project/event will be happening from late autumn onwards – ​we are building the opportunities into the platform so it’s ready to launch ​early autumn and we don’t want everything to be time-expired!
  

• Finally, it would be great to see the platform populated with recurring ​opportunities. This is not essential, but we know that in working together ​friendships develop and you build trust that gives confidence to run those ​events year after year. Your activity might be annual, monthly, quarterly or ​any other frequency of recurrence. That said one-off service/events are ​equally important so please don’t be shy and share your amazing activity with ​us.
  

The aim of bringing this platform to life is to complete a set of digital tools that ​connect us, member to member. Rotary without borders, simply an amazing ​network of tens of thousands of people who meet and build friendship by ​sharing ideas and taking action. Your club relationships are maintained but the ​door is widely open for others to meet and connect with you.

The vision is to access Rotary through a single log in point (set Face ID on your ​phone for faster access!) and then choose your member experience/service. This ​vision is being realised with a new Rotary digital ecosystem.

One log in and one door of entry for all things Rotary bringing service, resources, ​stories, forum-chat, and member connection together in a single Rotary GB&I ​digital platform.

Look out for more information coming straight to your inbox over the coming ​weeks!

HOW THE IMPACT PORTAL WILL ENHANCE ​THE ROTARY EXPERIENCE:

• Allow clubs to advertise their projects, activities and volunteer requirements ​to other members
  
• Allow members to establish their own ‘Volunteer CV’ to track their personal ​impact
  
• Allow clubs to forge closer working relationships with each other and ​maximise their resources and impact
  
• Allow direct members to engage in service activities across the Great Britain ​and Ireland club network