Volunteer Recruitment

Provincial CHB Conference 2011

presented by

Karrie-Ann Wilkie

Framing the Session

• Understanding the Volunteer Development Cycle

• Defining Recruitment• Before you Recruit• Recruitment Strategies• Sharing Successes and Challenges• Available Resources • Potential Next Steps

The Volunteer Development Cycle

Defining Recruitment

• Volunteer Recruitment is the process of matching an organizations needs with a volunteers interests and skills.

• Identifying practical and successful recruitment strategies for getting the right people for the right positions is critical. (Volunteer Canada)

Defining Recruitment

• Recruitment is NOT something you do when you need new members

• Recruitment is an on-going process and should be a standing item on your CHB agenda

Before You Recruit

• Research Volunteer Trends and Demographics

– In order for your recruitment efforts to succeed you want to ensure that your plan is congruent with the changes that have occurred – or are occurring – in society as a whole in terms of volunteerism.

Before You Recruit

• Once you’ve looked at these trends, you need to ask yourself:

– “What do these trends mean for my CHB and its volunteers?”

– “If I am not getting the right volunteer, have trends changed in such a way that I may be recruiting for positions that no longer fit people’s motivation, time or lifestyle?”

Before You Recruit

• Assess your Needs • Is there support from my CHB? Consider a

Volunteer Development Cmte.• Be Clear about what you want from volunteers.

What skills/knowledge/time commitment is req’d.• Be Clear about what you have to offer

volunteers. • Do I have the required recruitment materials in

place?

Examples of Recruitment Materials

• Position Description– CHB R&R but also sub cmte roles once in place.

• Orientation Document• Confidentiality Agreement/Policy• Media Agreement• Conflict of Interest Policy• Criminal Records Check • Overall Promotional Materials• Do any additional resources exist within the

organization or immediate community?– ie: Volunteer Resource Manager in the District? Volunteer Centre in your community?

Recruitment Strategy

• Volunteer Recruitment Plan

- All of your recruitment strategies can be synthesized into one recruitment plan.

- A recruitment plan is essential for any volunteer based group or organization. A general “call for help” will not ensure that you are matching skills to needs.

- A recruitment plan is a WORKING DOCUMENT – always changing and evolving to your CHB’s needs.

- Addressing a formalized plan can be daunting, but even informal recruitment does not have to be “unplanned”.

Volunteer Recruitment Plan

• Who should develop the Plan?– Volunteer Development Cmte & Coordinator?

• Who should implement the Plan?– Entire Board? Cmte? Coordinator?

• Who is responsible for the Plan?– Executive ensure it’s standing item on

Agenda?

Volunteer Recruitment Plan

What should a plan include?• Strategies/Actions• Detailed Tasks• Timeline• Person(s) responsible• Indicators of Success

Volunteer Recruitment Plan

See Handout for Sample

Key Volunteer Resourceswww.volunteer.caVolunteer Canada’s website. Volunteer Canada is the leading voice of volunteerism in the country and has numerous reliable resources from discussion papers and demographic studies to tool kits and networks of Volunteer Centres across Canada. www.library.imaginecanada.caImagine Canada is one of the largest on line resource centres for people who work in Canada’s charities and nonprofits.

www.nsvolunteerforum.caThe Nova Scotia Volunteer Forum is a sit for individuals, organizations, companies, academia, or government agencies with an interest in supporting volunteerism. The Forum connects volunteers throughout the province and provides an opportunity to share information.

www.gov.ns.ca/lae/volunteerismInformation on the collaborative agreement between the govt of NS and Non profit voluntary sector. Also includes some NS statistics, various resources and potential Volunteer Award opportunities.

www.givingandvolunteering.caThe Canada Survey of Giving Volunteering and Participating (CSGVP) provides the most comprehensive overview of the contributions of time and money Canadians make to non profit organizations.

www.cic.ca/50plusEngaging 50+ volunteers – a resource guide.

www.canadawhocares.ca/pdfs/transcriptsWho Cares? Shifting Patterns of Community Participation

Sharing Successes & Challenges

• What Recruitment Strategies have worked for your CHB?

Sharing Successes & Challenges

• What challenges have your CHB faced with recruitment?

Potential Next Steps

• Take this information back to your CHB and share the key highlights at your next meeting

• Consider forming a Volunteer Development Committee & make their reports a standing item on your agenda

• Begin developing a Volunteer Recruitment Plan

Thank you

Recruitment Cycle

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