Event overview
Dr Chris Millora, Goldsmiths University of London, Book presentation and panel discussion with Sophie van der Ham and Oscar Pimlett
The United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of Volunteering, recognising volunteer action’s role in achieving development outcomes. In this presentation, I use a ‘literacy lens’ to reflect on what global rhetoric such as this looks like in practice, particularly within local, community-based volunteer organisations led by individuals who themselves come from vulnerable backgrounds. I will draw on insights from my recent book Local Volunteering, Adult Learning and Social Change in the Philippines (Bloomsbury Academic, 2025) to demonstrate how certain literacy practices might construct and intensify inequalities in locally led volunteer organisations. Bureaucratic forces from state and non-state development actors influence the activities, relationships, and identities of local volunteers through their interactions with written texts. As these bureaucratic ways of working permeate everyday volunteering practices, I will show how they ‘clash’ with more informal and flexible activities founded on community building and solidarity.
About the Author
Dr Chris Millora is Lecturer in Education at Goldsmiths University of London where he heads the MA Social Justice in Education Programme. He is a researcher with an interest in youth activism, volunteering and informal learning. He has led various research projects on social action and sustainable development including as Lead Researcher of the UN Volunteers' 2022 State of the World's Volunteerism Report and the Global Campaign for Education's global report on youth and student organising.
About the panel discussants
Sophie van der Ham works as Senior Programme and Policy Officer on volunteering good practice and equalities for the Mayor of London. She convenes the Equitable Volunteering Forum and works on improving trustee diversity. She’s also the good practice lead for the Mayor of London’s Olympics Legacy Volunteering Programme, Team London. The Equitable Volunteering Forum is a community of practice for those working on volunteer-involvement to share good practice and learning.
Oscar Pimlett is a primary school teacher working in South London, originally from the North of England. His interest in social justice comes from a Nurse mother and union-active father. Hearing of his parents on picket lines inspired Oscar to get involved with activism and since starting teaching 4 years ago, he has worked through the union to fight for change. He sits on the committee for the Lewisham NEU branch and was a London Youth Representative of the National Council of the NEU for 2 years. He has organised events and talks to drive union interest and is passionate about creating future generations of activists.
Dates & times
| Date | Time | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Jan 2026 | 5:30pm - 7:00pm |
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