Volunteer Co-ordinators Forum (VCF)

Recruiting & supporting volunteers in the dark

Housekeeping

• Fire• Toilets• Smoking• Phones• Confidential• Breaks

Agenda

To encourage volunteer managers to consider

cost effective ways of recruiting, training & supporting volunteers in times

of austerity

• Traditional and 21st century volunteers• What volunteers want, what organisations

offer and what we can do to bridge the gap• How to make the best use of our dwindling

resources

Looking at

Group work

Team A

Draw up an image to

sum up traditional

volunteers

Team B

Draw up an image to

sum up 21st century

volunteers

15 minutes

No words allowed!

Group work

Traditional volunteers

• Reliable

• Committed

• Duty and service driven

• Loyal

• Don't like change

• Ageing in place

Group work

21st Century volunteers

• Flexible• Lead complex and busy lives• Have multiple interests and roles• Expect empowerment• Accept change• Technology savvy• Want to make a difference, not a contribution!

Choice

Choice

Choice

Even asking for a cup of coffee can be a bit daunting at times….

How do you make your organisation, opportunities & experience stand out from the crowd?

Open discussion

• How do we currently recruit & place volunteers?

• Does this work?• Is the selection & matching process, at

times, process-heavy?• What challenges do you currently face?

Why do people stop volunteering?

• 20% of people had volunteered but weren't now.

Why?

• Lack of time due to home orwork circumstances changing

• The activity was no longerrelevant

• Health problems or old age• Moving away from the area

Source: Helping Out (2007)

More reasons why people stop volunteering

• No flexibility in opportunities or scheduling

• Too much time wasted in useless or unproductive meetings

• Lack of communication• Lack of professionalism• Not really making a difference• No feedback from leadership

Think about the different life stages that affect volunteering

Leaving schoolGoing to college/university

Starting workRedundancy

Marriage, family, divorce etcMoving home

RetirementDeath of a partner

Ill health

Lessons from #riotcleanup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZF0Y9gdxRg

Back in 10 minutes please

So, how can we make the best use out of our dwindling resources?

Discussion

15 minutes

It’s not about size

It’s about change

Sharing ideas

Some examples from external colleagues.

• One overseas• One national• One regional• One local

Sharing ideas

Offline ideas can work too

• Volunteering Works – basic training, ideal for new volunteers and as a refresher for active volunteers.

• Consider recruiting lead volunteers to support you.

• Can you think of any?

http://ivo.org/

I can…

• Log and find volunteering opportunities• Get support from other volunteer managers• Blog about my volunteering experiences – as a

manager and/or volunteer • Set up and join open and private groups – topic

based

I can also..

• Upload photo and film• Stay in touch and keep informed on operational

& strategic stuff• Do all of this for free

#ttvolmgrs

Updates

Open floor for updates

Thanks

Next VCF

Wednesday 19 March 10.00 – 12.30

  simon.hancox@communityactionderby.org.uk www.communityactionderby.org.uk