Magnets hold fast

How does it manifest for us?

In this session…

• We’ll look at– They’re attracted – now what? – Now you’ve got ‘em, how do you keep them? – Making volunteering good practice a part of

your organisation – Building employee capacity

They’re attracted – now what?

• Recruitment = attraction but that isn’t the same as securing their support

• Selection and matching are a two way street– You checking out the volunteer and their

potential to contribute– The volunteer checking out you and whether

they’ll be a good fit

“Good volunteer selection and matchingis a key trait for successful volunteer programmes. It is the point at which acorrect decision will either support orundermine the nature of thevolunteer/organisation relationship”.

Steve McCurley & Rick Lynch

They’re attracted – now what?

• Getting off to a good start– Orientation: where am I working, how will I

work, who will I work with?– Training: what do I need to know to do my

work?– Peer support– Names, dates, meetings etc– Regular reviews of each other, including

motivations, interests and availability

Exercise #1 -

• In pairs– Person A briefly share details of a current

volunteer role in their organisation– Person B share thoughts on what you would

want to know to be able to comfortably do that role?

– Person A reflect back what came up that they don’t already cover in induction etc.

– Swap roles

Now you’ve got ‘em, how do you keep them?

• Volunteer retention is – The outcome

of a well managed programme

– Changing

• Give them a purpose

• Make it fun• Let them go!

Making volunteering good practice a part of your organisation

Volunteer manager

Volunteers

Volunteer manager

VolunteersStaff

Chief Executive/Board etc.

Building employee capacity

• Give them a reason to want to work with volunteers– Make sure you walk the talk

• Ask for their ideas for the volunteer programme

• Support them– Resources– Appraisals & development opportunities

• Thank them for doing it

Exercise # 2 - Give staff a reason to want to work with volunteers

• Take a blank sheet of paper and individually answer these questions– What are the parts of your job that you really like to

do?– What are the parts of your job that you dislike doing?– What other activities or projects have you always

wanted to do but never had the time for?– What are the things you would like to see done that

nobody has the skills or time for?

• How to use this to develop a volunteer role

Quick review

• We’ve look at– They’re attracted – now what? – Now you’ve got ‘em, how do you keep them? – Making volunteering good practice a part of

your organisation – Building employee capacity

• Next, Martin on electric volunteer programmes…