Volunteering
Advertising for volunteers
Newsletters, programmes and reports present Areas and Groups with a wealth of opportunities to encourage more volunteers. What can we do to make the most of this advertising space?
According to volunteer research, most people would consider volunteering if only they were asked. For organisations worrying about a decline in volunteers, the conclusion to draw is that rather than worrying about a decline of altruism in society, we should simply look to ourselves and ask people to get involved. The importance of asking has reached such heights that it is now acquired its own quasi-technical jargon. We are encouraged to “Make the Ask” or to examine our volunteer “Ask” carefully.
For Ramblers Areas and Groups, when it comes to finding appropriate
opportunities for making this mythical “ask”, we are lucky to have them
in abundance. For those members who take an active part in the Group,
there could be nothing better than face-to-face contact on a walk or at
a social event to invite volunteers. So successful can this method be
that we can be tempted to think that this is the only way for the
Ramblers recruit volunteers.
Yet as well as this face-to-face contact, each Group and Area is blessed with its arsenal of written publications that it regularly sends to members. These include newsletters, annual reports and walks programmes as well as letters of welcome to new members.
Encouraging volunteers in these publications can appear to be easy. Yet it does require some thought. It is too easy to fall into a number of traps that do not help our cause. Do you recognise any of these common ones?
1. Hiding the ask in a larger article/ report
A report from the Chair, a Footpath Secretary or any other officer
details the varied activities and latest progress, before mentioning, in
a final sentence, that more volunteers are needed.
2. Asking for multiple volunteers
A general plea is announced – “volunteers needed” without it being clear
what range of activity is on offer or what kind of commitment is
required.
3. Threatening or complaining
There is an implicit expectation that people ought to volunteer.
Requests tend to take the feel of “volunteer or else…” or “you ought to
get involved and help out your organisation”
4. Assuming people know what is involved
A request goes out for Walk Leaders, for Area Secretary, for a minute
Secretary or any range of roles without outlining what is involved for
each one.
5. Not giving a contact for further information
A general request for volunteers, without a clear phone number or email
address to follow up.
Volunteers are our most valuable resource and every Group and Area
communicates regularly with a pool of potential volunteers every time we
send information to our members. Is it worth looking back over your
publications and reviewing how you ”make the ask”?
Good requests attract potential volunteers because the role sounds rewarding and worthwhile. They give an idea of what is involved and the commitment required, and they shout out loudly where to go for more information.
Most importantly of all, they are clearly visible. Is there room for a regular feature listing volunteer opportunities in your Group and Area?
Perhaps when we think of “making the ask” we should think along the lines of an advert. Eye-catching, attractive, and repeated time-and-again whenever the chance comes begging.