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Recruiting volunteers

Getting enough of the right people in the right roles is one of the biggest challenges for voluntary groups.

Step 1: Think through what you want the volunteers to do

Though it is tempting to jump straight into recruiting volunteers, you should first ensure that you are well prepared. It is no good recruiting volunteers if you do not know what they will do, how you will support them, or how you will go about recruiting them.

Here are a few questions you might want to think about before you start:

  • What do you want your volunteers to do?
  • How many volunteers do you need?
  • Who will supervise your volunteers?
  • What training will you provide to help your volunteers to do their work well?
  • How will you recognise the contribution that your volunteers make?

Depending on the activity you want volunteers to undertake, there may be other things to consider before recruiting volunteers include the payment of expenses, insurance, health and safety and the status of volunteers receiving welfare benefits. These things sound scary and can be off-putting, but if you are serious about making a difference we would encourage you not to be put off – in fact be encouraged there are people who can help:

Action together

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations

Do-it trust

Step 2: Advertise the opportunities

There are a number of ways of getting the message out to the general public when looking for volunteers. However, you should also consider targeting those places where your potential volunteers might be found.

For example:

If you want volunteers for a clean-up in your street you need to target your neighbours, put adverts in local shops or community centres. Maybe see if local schools would like to get involved as part of a community project.

If you want volunteers to provide gardening / growing skills for a greening project you might consider putting an advert in the local garden centre, contact local clubs and allotments – even check out your neighbour’s gardens and pop an advert through the door of those with blooming gardens!

Whichever method you opt for you need to ensure a clear and concise message:

  • Explain what the role is in clear language that is easy to understand.
  • Explain how the volunteer role contributes to the overall aim of the project. How will the volunteer help make a difference?
  • Consider the motivations of volunteers and turn these into the benefits of volunteering e.g. gaining new skills, meeting people, improving the local area.

Don’t forget the important stuff: when and where will it take place, who to contact for more information, and whether training will be provided.

Step 3: Getting the right people for the job

If you would like to recruit new volunteers or trustees for your group or organisation, there are plenty of ideas to try. But don’t forget to spend some time planning before you start your recruitment. If you want to have happy volunteers, it’s also important to ensure their time with you feels productive and rewarding. Here are a few points to think about when recruiting volunteers:

  • Designing a simple application form will help attract potential volunteers – nobody enjoys filling in lengthy complex forms.
  • Keep your interview process informal, leaving plenty of time for the potential volunteer to talk about themselves. Give time for the applicant to raise any questions or concerns.
  • Once you have decided that the applicant you just need to agree a start date. Congratulations, you have recruited your first volunteer!