Magnets Attract

How does a volunteer programme attract?

In this session…

• We’ll look at– The old and new breed of volunteer– What these people want from volunteering in– How you might respond– What this means for attracting new volunteers

Exercise #1 – old and new volunteers

• In small groups– Take a sheet of flipchart paper– Group A’s draw image to sum up traditional

volunteers– Group B’s draw image to sum up 21st century

volunteers– Do not use any words, just images

– Share your results with the group

Volunteers – old and new breed

• Old breed– Reliable– Committed– Duty/service driven– Loyal– Don’t like change

• New breed– Flexible– Lead complex and busy

lives– Want two-way relationships– Multiple interests and roles– Accept change and a

variety of choice– Tech savvy

Bridging the gap

• What people are looking for in volunteering

• How organisations are engaging volunteers

• Actions to ‘bridge the gap’

Source: Bridging The Gap (2011)

Gaps

• People want group activities but there are few on offer

• People come with skills but don’t always want to use them

• We have clearly defined roles but volunteers want to shape their own roles

• We want long-term volunteers but people want shorter term, flexible ways to engage

• We focus on our needs but volunteers have their own goals

Source: Bridging The Gap (2011)

Why these gaps?

• Motivations, availabilities and interests change during our lives

• Volunteering is a two-way relationship• Skills transfer and development is

important

• Time is our most valuable resource

Source: Bridging The Gap (2011)

How can we respond?

• Optimal formula to build organisational capacity and strategically engage volunteers– Design specific, set roles and be open to volunteers

determining the scope of what they can offer.– Match skills to the needs of the organisation but don’t

assume that everyone wants to use the skills related to their profession, trade, or education.

– Be well organised but not too bureaucratic.

Source: Bridging The Gap (2011)

What does this mean for us?

• Re-think how we involve people to achieve our mission

• Focus more on what needs doing than on how and when it is done

• Be flexible and provide greater choice• Provide opportunities for online engagement• Build meaningful relationships with volunteers

• Invest in support for volunteering

Source: Bridging The Gap (2011)

Exercise #2 – how can you respond?

• On your own– What one thing can you change tomorrow to

make your organisation more magnetic?

– What is the biggest challenge you face in becoming more magnetic? Why?

• In small groups– Discuss the answers to these questions and

share ideas.

What does this mean for attracting new volunteers?

• We need to understand our audience much better

• We need to reach out to them more effectively

• We might need a different management/leadership balance

• We need to avoid doing the things that repel people from our programmes…