Opening the inbox

The inbox is where every direct conversation lives. Both messages you've sent and messages you've received from other volunteers show up here.

Where to find it

Look for Inbox in the sidebar — usually with a small envelope icon. On a phone, you may need to open the menu first.

The unread badge

A small number next to the Inbox link tells you how many conversations have new messages you haven't read. The number drops as you open each one.

Filter tabs

At the top of the inbox you'll see three tabs: All, Unread, and Starred. Click any thread's star icon to mark it for later — the Starred tab shows just those.

How conversations are listed

The most-recent conversation comes first, twenty per page (use the pager at the bottom for older ones). Each row shows the other person's name, a snippet of the last message, and the time it arrived. Unread conversations stand out: bold text, a coloured background, and a small badge on the avatar showing how many new messages are waiting.

Direct messages vs. group chats

A direct message is between you and one other person. A group chat includes three or more people. Both kinds show up in the same inbox; group chats are marked with a small group icon.

Searching the inbox

There's a search box at the top. Type a name or a few words and the inbox filters down to matching conversations.

Auto-refresh

The inbox refreshes itself every ten seconds and again whenever you switch back to the tab, so new messages show up without a page reload.

Archiving an old conversation

To clear a conversation out of your list, open it and click the Delete icon in the header (or Delete conversation in the mobile menu). The thread is soft-removed for you — the other person still has it, and a new message from them will bring it back into your inbox.