Winning the fight for volunteers
Volunteers are a charity’s most valuable resource.
In the pandemic we saw epic numbers of people step up to volunteer, but it didn’t last. The cost-of-living crisis has hit volunteer numbers, with many people needing to take on more paid work instead.
Now that you’re trying to attract volunteers from a smaller pool of candidates, your advert really needs to stand out and be effective. What do potential volunteers want to know?
What’s your charity about?
Include a short summary of 2 or 3 sentences about your organisation and what you are trying to achieve. Avoid any jargon that might put people off.
What is the role?
Describe what the volunteer will actually be doing – they need to imagine themselves in the role. Include details about any skills or experience needed.
What’s in it for me?
Most people get into volunteering to make friends, to get work experience, and to feel like they’re giving something back. So make sure those benefits are highlighted in your ad. If there are any other perks, like social events or freebies, mention those too.
Do I have time for this?
Include the practical details so that potential volunteers can quickly see whether they can fit this volunteer job into their lives, without having to call you for more information. If it’s not immediately clear, they’re likely to pass over your advert.
Location - is it remote/hybrid/office based?
Hours - is it flexible or do they need to be free at certain hours of the day/evening/weekends?
Frequency - is it a weekly/monthly or ad hoc opportunity?
Timeframe - how soon could a new volunteer start?
Any special equipment or clothing they’d need to wear/bring.
Is there an age limit?
Do they need a current DBS check or any other paperwork?
Will you train me?
People often worry that they’re not qualified for the role. If you provide training, mention that to reassure them. A short ad might just need to say: “All training will be provided over two afternoon sessions”.
Make sure you have more details ready to send to people who enquire, including:
Pre-onboarding: do you provide any training before they start the role? Are they required to complete any GDPR or safeguarding training? Is it online or in person?
Induction: what is involved in the induction process and how long does it take?
Ongoing: are there opportunities for development or moving between different volunteer roles?
Who will their main point of contact or supervisor be?
How do I apply?
Don’t forget this crucial bit of information so that volunteers know what to do next! Make sure there’s an immediate action they can take if they’re interested (email address, QR code to a signup form, number to text, etc).
Give them the real story from a current volunteer
If you’re struggling to recruit, consider creating a short video showcasing the benefits of volunteering with your charity. This can be particularly effective if you want to reach new audiences and younger people.
The best person to sell your volunteering opportunity is someone who’s already doing it. Give one of your volunteers 30 seconds to explain why they volunteer and what they get out of it. Use your phone and make it into a Reel / Story to share on your socials with a call to action – this can really boost your visibility.
Even better, make a few of these videos with volunteers from a range of backgrounds. Word of mouth is very powerful, so try to recreate that effect for people who don’t know a volunteer in real life.
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If you would like another pair of hands to help create that video or craft a great advert, please feel free to get in touch!
