Meet Our New Impact Partner: The Social Society

We're delighted to announce our new impact partnership with The Social Society, a national volunteer and events community making giving back simple, social, and genuinely fun.

And we're celebrating it properly: join us on The Rooftop on Thursday 23 April, 17:00-20:00, for an evening of drinks, good conversation, and the chance to meet founder Toni Finnimore in person.

Before the big night, we sat down with Toni to find out more about the story behind The Social Society, what makes their approach to volunteering so different, and how anyone in the Projects community can get involved.

What inspired you to start The Social Society?

I’ve spent 25 years working in community development — across mental health, end of life care, learning disabilities, and children’s services — and I absolutely loved it.

But over time, I saw funding being cut at a local level. Charities were stepping in to plug really critical gaps in communities, but without the time, skills, or infrastructure to do it sustainably.

Traditional volunteering models relied on funding for volunteer coordinators and long-term placements — three, six, even twelve months. The reality now is that many charities simply don’t have the resources to run those models anymore.

At the same time, people want to help — they just don’t have the time, or they don’t know where to start. That gap is where The Social Society came in.

We created a way to match local people and businesses with charities in real time — based on what’s actually needed — through micro-volunteering. So you can give a little time, but make a very real difference.

How would you describe The Social Society to someone completely new to it?

We’re a volunteer and events community. The easiest way to describe it? We’re a bit like the Bumble, Tinder, or Hinge of charity matchmaking… but without the dull chat and the ghosting — if you know, you know.

We connect people to local charities that need their skills, time, or energy — and we also bring people together in real life through events. It’s about making giving back feel social, fun, human, and local — not like a chore on your to-do list.

What makes your approach feel different - or more human?

It’s human because it actually starts with the human.

A lot of platforms are very plug-and-play — you sign up, scroll, and you’re left to figure it out on your own. We do it differently.

We have real matchmakers who take the time to understand what you care about, what you’re good at, and what you actually want to give. Because what ignites something in you is completely different to the next person — and that’s where meaningful volunteering starts.

When you match someone’s energy, skills, and motivations with a real community need, that’s when the magic happens.

What kind of impact have you seen?

The impact is huge — mainly because everything inside our community is based on real, live needs. We’re not guessing.

So often, people assume what charities need — money, fundraising challenges, a tree planting day — and those things absolutely have value. But rarely do people actually ask.

We do that legwork. We find out what’s really needed in communities, in real time, and connect people directly to that. That’s where the magic is.

We’ve supported thousands of people and local charities, and what we see is high engagement and long-lasting relationships — because the connection is genuine from the start.

For someone who wants to give back but doesn't know where to start - what's the easiest way in?

This is exactly why we exist. If you’re thinking, “I’ve only got an hour” — perfect. An hour is more than enough. Half a day? Even better.

You can sign up as an individual member, or as a charity if you need support. Once you’re in, you create a profile, introduce yourself, and either offer what you can give or ask for what you need. Then we do the matchmaking.

We connect you to the right people, the right opportunities — and make the magic happen.

Come and meet Toni at The Rooftop

Join us on The Rooftop for an evening of drinks, good conversation, and the chance to meet Toni in person. If you've ever wanted to do more for your community but haven't known where to start — or just haven't had the time — this one's for you.

The Social Society connects people and businesses with local charities that actually need their skills, time, and energy, right now. No three-month commitments. No dusty clipboards. Just real people doing real good together. Come along, say hello, and find out how easy it is to get involved.