Maximising VolunteersUnderstanding, engaging and retaining volunteers within Doorstep Sport

Workshop Outcomes:

Understanding the roles volunteers can play in your organisation;

What impact volunteers can have;The best tactics to recruit and retain volunteers; See an example from a StreetGames project.

Step 1: Why does your organisation want volunteers

Discuss what roles volunteers do or could carry out in your organisation

What skills and qualities would you like each of the volunteers in your organisation to have?

Identify where volunteers come from - recruitment vs identifiction

Step 2: The benefits of Volunteering

Activity:

• Draw an outline of a person;• Inside write the benefits to individuals of volunteering;• Outside write the benefits to your

organisation; (try and be specific)

Your personal experience of volunteers and volunteering

In groups – discuss your best and worst experience of either being or working with volunteers

List them on flipchart

Impact of Volunteers

Low Variation

Low Involvement

Easy to manage (safe)

Lower retention more likely

High Variation

High level Involvement

More Risk

Higher retention more likely

Key Points to success:

Understand why your organisation wants to involve volunteers

Understand the people who want to volunteer and their motivations

The right role is key to recruitment and retention of volunteers

It is not straightforward – there is no magic solution. It is about people – not one rule will fit allUse our own personal experiences to maximise successBe prepared to take (managed ) risks

Questions?????For more information:

Co-operative StreetGames Young Volunteers