Top Tips for Recruiting Volunteers

We know that many people are coming together to volunteer in response to COVID-19. It’s an amazing response, and we’ve created guidelines that will help people organising community volunteering efforts while staying safe, and ensuring others are safe too.

As of 23 March 2020, volunteering should only be done to provide essential services such as providing shopping (as infrequently as possible) for someone unable to access food and medicine. You may also need to provide care to help a vulnerable person.

For these essential types of support make sure you are following the most recent government advice and NHS advice at gov.uk/coronavirus and nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/.

If you have to do volunteering face to face with someone use social distancing measures and please avoid travel as much as possible to prevent COVID-19 from spreading or infecting others.

Get prepared – you need to have a structure and plan in place to give your volunteers a great experience. Contact your local volunteer and community action hub. For details visit navca.org.uk/find-a-member-1

Stay safe – when planning the types of activity and volunteer roles, make sure they are in line with the latest government and NHS guidance at gov.uk and nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ 

Word of mouth is still top of the list as one of the most successful ways to attract volunteers so make sure you’re asking your volunteers to spread the word.

Dedicate a volunteer role to recruiting others – Involve volunteers in as many ways as possible. Volunteers could help write your recruitment messages and promote the opportunities.

Give great customer service! – People now expect things to happen a lot quicker so make sure and get back to potential volunteers quickly even if it is just to give clear timescales for the next steps. You are more likely to attract volunteer by providing an efficient, friendly experience.

Provide a clear ask – create clear task/role descriptions so volunteers understand clearly what you are asking of them.

Allow volunteers to try it out – Promoting taster sessions for volunteering roles can be more appealing for people who like to ‘try before they buy’.  This can alleviate any fears people have about the role.

Open up to offers!  – You may be surprised what talents and experience people may bring and offer to do for you that don’t fit into a role but would be useful for your organisation.

Be as flexible as possible – Some people like to suggest what they could do but others like to see clearly what is on offer and what you are asking from them. For example promoting specific tasks.

Providing a wide range of ways to volunteer – A choice of tasks can increase your chances of attracting a wide range of volunteers.

Make sure your volunteering roles are interesting enough. Would you do them? If they are not motivating to you then they are unlikely to motivate others.

Promote the difference volunteers make – People are more likely to be motivated if they can see the impact they could make through volunteering, example reducing loneliness for older people or improving people’s quality of life.

Promote the benefits of volunteering for volunteers! Share the great benefits

• • as making friends,
  • increased confidence and learn new skills (what can volunteers expect from you?)
  • if you offer training or other opportunities.