Case Study: Plymouth Sound National Marine Park

With a mission to connect communities with Plymouth’s rich marine environment, Plymouth Sound National Marine Park (PSNMP) set out to deliver 100,000 volunteer hours over five years. To achieve this at scale, the team needed a more efficient, secure, and accessible way to manage volunteers across multiple partner sites.

Discover how PSNMP transformed its volunteer programme with Rosterfy—growing faster, engaging more volunteers, and freeing staff time to focus on impact.

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PROVEN RESULTS

The ROI of Rosterfy

PSNMP ROI Stats

Since adopting Rosterfy, the team can onboard and support volunteers more efficiently than ever—fueling rapid growth of active volunteers in just 12 months.

PSNMP ROI Stats 2

Volunteer participation has accelerated, thanks to smoother onboarding and easier access to opportunities through Rosterfy—contributing more than 20,000 hours toward the 100,000 hour goal.

PSNMP ROI Stats (1)

By cutting a significant amount of admin previously spent on onboarding and scheduling, Rosterfy gives the team more time to grow the programme and connect with volunteers.

“Introducing Rosterfy as our volunteer management system has increased our team’s capacity to onboard more volunteers, supporting the rapid growth of our volunteer programme over the past 12 months.”
 
Amelia Groom, Assistant Ranger at PSNMP

Transforming volunteer management for Plymouth Sound National Marine Park

Before Rosterfy, PSNMP relied on spreadsheets and email chains to coordinate volunteers. Tracking DBS checks, safeguarding records, and training compliance was essential—but labour-intensive for a small team.

Rosterfy provided a centralised, secure system that replaced manual processes, improved accuracy, and unlocked the capacity needed to scale.

"Our work is much more streamlined now—having all our event information, volunteer profiles, training opportunities, and communication in one place."  Amelia shared.

PSNMP has grown from 20 to more than 70 active volunteers (a 250% increase) transforming what the team can deliver.

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A better experience for volunteers

PSNMP volunteers have embraced the new system. Feedback shows they find Rosterfy easy to use, with the personal dashboard highlighted as a standout feature—making the system feel personalised to each volunteer.

Structured onboarding, e-learning modules, and clearer role pathways mean volunteers now join the programme feeling informed and confident in their roles from day one.

More than half of the PSNMP volunteer cohort already use the Rosterfy mobile app—particularly valuable for volunteers without regular computer access.

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"Rosterfy makes it easier to track everything, keep on top of where everyone needs to be, and see how they’re getting on. Communication has improved and it’s a lot easier to manage more people well.”
 
Amelia Groom, Assistant Ranger at PSNMP

Expanding inclusive and accessible volunteering opportunities

Rosterfy is enabling PSNMP to diversify its volunteering offer. New at-home roles, flexible opportunities, and clearer pathways make it easier for more people across the city to get involved.

Partnering with Improving Lives Plymouth, the team is also redesigning the volunteer handbook and onboarding process to keep accessibility and inclusion at the forefront.

From beach cleans to heritage work and community events, volunteers can now contribute in ways that suit their lifestyle, skills, and confidence.

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Pre-Rosterfy Challenges

  • Volunteer coordination relied on spreadsheets and email chains

  • DBS checks, training, and compliance tracking were manual and labour-intensive

  • Volunteers lacked flexibility and visibility of opportunities, training, and events

  • Admin-heavy workload limited time for programme growth and volunteer engagement

Post-Rosterfy Capabilities

  • Streamlined onboarding pathways with e-learning materials and role-specific training

  • Secure, centralised system for volunteer data and compliance

  • Mobile app and personalised dashboards that boost accessibility and engagement

  • Automated admin processes that free staff capacity (>20% of workload)

Building for the future

With thousands of hours already delivered and a growing, highly engaged volunteer community, PSNMP is well on its way to achieving its ambitious 100,000-hour goal.

Rosterfy continues to play a key role—supporting accessibility, strengthening communication, and helping the team deliver meaningful impact across Plymouth’s marine environment.

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Speak to one of our team today and see the impact Rosterfy could have on your volunteer programme.

In a short discovery call we'll learn about your current volunteer processes, explore your goals, and share best practices to streamline operations and enhance the volunteer experience.

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