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Recruiting Volunteers

Getting the right people (and enough of them!) is one of the basic challenges of working with volunteers. Recruiting volunteers is a chance to refresh and reinvigorate your organisation. A positive approach, combined with clear thinking and creativity, can make all the difference to your volunteer involvement.

Before you Recruit

Three women talking around a desk

Though it is tempting to jump straight into a recruitment campaign, 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 what procedures you will have for selection. A starting point is to decide why you want volunteers and what roles are appropriate for them to do. If you have paid staff you should consult with them to ensure a good understanding of volunteering throughout your organisation. Make sure you involve people at board and senior management level in these discussions too; their understanding of and strategic support for volunteering is vital.

Recruitment

Recruiting volunteers can be seen as a similar process to advertising (you are trying to sell the benefits of volunteering with your organisation), and as with any advertising it is critical that you have a clear message.

The nature of this message will depend on your organisation and the roles you are wanting volunteers to do. Remember the "5 W's of volunteer recruitment":

  1. What is the role?
  2. Who do you want to do this?
  3. Where will you find the person/people to do it?
  4. How will you get them to volunteer with your organisation?
  5. Why will they volunteer for you? (ie, what will motivate them to come on board with you?)

Most methods of recruitment elaborate on these five elements of the basic message. They are about ensuring that recruits are informed, motivated and know how to get involved!

It is useful to think about the possible motivations that people might have for becoming volunteers. This can help you to design volunteering opportunities and influence your recruitment message.

  • Sell it, Sell it, Sell it - through the local media. Utilise your local radio station - Tameside Radio are offering free training to community groups that will give you an insight into radio and some very useful skills in developing your volunteering opportunities. Utilise local newspapers, bulletins, newsletters and other free advertising.
  • Sell it, sell it, sell it - Distribution of printed advertising. Develop and distribute eye-catching flyers, pamphlets or brochures describing the organisation and the benefits people would receive from volunteering with it. "What's in it for me?"
  • Sell it, Sell it, Sell it - through referral services. Volunteer Centre Tameside - is an excellent channel to access a pool of eager volunteers. We have the expertise to match volunteers to appropriate opportunities. Also, there is the DO-IT web sites that advertise volunteer positions.
  • Sell it, Sell it, Sell it - through Networking with other community groups. Come along to one of our Volunteer Coordinators Forums and meet representatives from other organisations. By doing so, representatives may be willing to share information and to promote each other's volunteer opportunities.
  • Sell it, Sell it, Sell it - through Word of Mouth This is still the most effective ways to promote your organisation. Make sure you use every opportunity to tell others about why they should volunteer with your organisation, the important services your organisation provides and the volunteer positions available.

Toolkit