How to Recruit Volunteers

Volunteers are the backbone of the charity sector. But since the pandemic, the percentage of people volunteering in the UK has decreased. The rising cost of living has likely exacerbated this, with people having less time and money to spare than they used to. This has made recruiting for this crucial group of people more of a challenge.

So, what can you do to attract volunteers in the current climate? Here are some key things to keep in mind.

Keep volunteering and paid roles separate

More than a quarter of volunteers think that voluntary roles have become too much like paid roles. It would be great if all charity work could be completed by volunteers, but in reality, this just isn’t possible. There are only so many hours in the day, and most working age adults need to be paid for the work they do in order to keep themselves afloat.

Check that volunteers can manage the time commitment around other responsibilities. Some projects will be ongoing, but if possible, avoid advertising roles with too long of a commitment. This can be off-putting for people who don’t know if they’ll still be able to manage the same hours in the future.

Break projects into smaller chunks

Since volunteers are not paid for their work, they’ll need to feel a strong affiliation with your cause in order to commit to a long-term project. Small ‘taster’ projects are much more inviting to new volunteers. This will allow them to get a feel for what it’s like to volunteer in your organisation. If they’re enjoying it, they’ll be more willing to commit to a longer-term project further down the line.

Include key details in the job description

It will always be important to highlight the benefits of volunteering with your organisation. But it’s particularly important right now. The cost of living crisis means that many volunteers are worried about the costs that might be involved in volunteering.

If expenses will be paid, make sure this is clear. The same goes for any flexibility in location (remote working, or hybrid), and in time commitment each week. Other benefits such as training should also be clearly shown.

Volunteers cite wanting to make a difference as their main reason for volunteering. This is something you can really use to your advantage. Promote the role by outlining the impact volunteers have on service users, the local community, or the environment. What will their efforts achieve?

You could also highlight the benefits that volunteering with you will have on the volunteer. These include learning new skills, meeting people from diverse backgrounds, and making new friends.

Remove barriers in volunteer recruitment

The same rules apply here as for paid roles: fair recruitment should always be a commitment. Not only will it help to diversify your volunteers, but you’ll also receive more applications. Neath Port Talbot CVS offer a toolkit for creating a diversity plan and putting it into action when thinking about volunteer recruitment.

Make sure you advertise your roles in a variety of different formats and media. Older people are less likely to look for volunteering opportunities online. They could be unfamiliar with filling out online application forms.

Choose your words and images carefully to ensure that they don’t unconsciously discriminate against or discourage anyone from applying. Use phrases such as ‘we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds’ to show applicants that you actively encourage diversity.

Detail how you’ll support any accessibility requirements applicants might have. Also encourage applicants to disclose disabilities to you so that you can make necessary adjustments.

Make the recruitment process smooth

Check that the volunteer recruitment process is clear and easy to follow for applicants. Keep in touch at every stage, and let them know they can contact you at any time if they have any questions or problems.

Applicants should receive the same amount of information as they would for a paid role, but the application process shouldn’t be as formal. Instead of an interview, why not conduct an informal chat to get to know them better. This will be less intimidating for the applicant.

If you understand each volunteer, you can tailor tasks to them based on their strengths and what they’d most enjoy. You can also use this time to ask if they have any reservations about volunteering with you, such as a lack of confidence or a fear that there won’t be anyone like them.

Volunteer recruitment in the current market can be a challenge, but it certainly isn’t impossible. Being flexible and tailoring your opportunities to new volunteers can go a long way in bringing numbers back to what they were pre-pandemic.

Got voluntary roles to fill? Post them for free today.