1. Recruiting and Involving Volunteers in the School

2. Definition of Volunteering ‘Volunteering is the commitment of time and energy for the benefit of society and the community, the environment, or individuals outside one’s immediate family. It is undertaken freely and without concern for financial gain.’

3. Are there any volunteers out there? 282,067 formal volunteers 29,335 volunteers in public sector 10,678 volunteer in children’s education/schools It’s All About Time. Volunteering in Northern Ireland (2007)

4. Reasons for getting involved Improve things/help people Cause was really important to me Had time to spare A need in my community Religious belief or philosophy of life to help people Chance to use my existing skills Friends/family did it Meet people/make friends Connected with the needs of my family/friends No-one else to do it Give me a chance to learn new skills Helps me get on in my career Social or political principles Chance to get recognised qualification Had received voluntary help To structure my day It’s All About Time (2007) 50% 28% 24% 23% 17% 12% 15% 12% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5%

5. Benefits Satisfaction with results74% Personal enjoyment73% Meet people63% Use skills/knowledge63% Broaden experience59% Learn new skills46% Maintains health/activity30% Improve employment prospects24% It’s All About Time (2007)

6. VOLUNTEERORGANISATIONVOLUNTEERING Worth Fun Duty Experience Satisfaction Friendship Skills Learning Recognition New services Community involvement Dedication Time Funding Expertise Flexibility Ideas Diversity Skill Enthusiasm Credibility Ideas Time Experience Contacts Welcome Clear roles Information Expertise Insurance Support Resources Management Training A different view of volunteering SCHOOL

7. What would make you volunteer? 36% if they became aware of a need in the community; 28% if new skills could be developed; 24% if they could meet new people; 24% if there was more information available; 24% if there was flexibility about timing of the involvement; 21% if the group offered training and accreditation; 18% if the group offered to reimburse expenses.  Taken from ‘Its all about Time’ (2007) 17.5% of non-volunteers (1 in 6 individuals) said they would be willing to do some unpaid work if asked. Factors that would encourage non-volunteers to volunteer include:

8. VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT PLAN Recruitment plan for volunteers SCHOOL Remember - Avoid going public until the plan is done. 1.Why does your school want to involve volunteers? 2.What does your school want volunteers to do? 3.What qualities/skills does your school want the volunteers to have? 4.How will your school find volunteers? 5.How will your school select which volunteer they want? 6.How will your school manage the volunteer after selection?

9. Recruitment plan for volunteers ETHOS VALUE BASE 1.Why does your school want to involve volunteers?

10. Benefits of involving volunteers Adds extra range of skills, experience, fresh ideas that would not exist without their involvement Volunteers enhance the effectiveness of the organisation They provide a service that complements what employees can offer. They are very committed, flexible and enthusiastic Community involvement Try out new ways of working and innovative projects Can increase service provision 100%

11. Recruitment plan for volunteers 1.Why does the school want to involve volunteers? 2.What does the school want volunteers to do? Clear roles determine : who would be interested in volunteering, who would be able/suitable to volunteer.

12. Building a volunteer role Why? What will the volunteer be doing? Where and when will the volunteer have to carry out the role? With whom? What supervision and support will be offered? What’s in it for the volunteer?

13. Recruitment plan for volunteers 1.Why does the school want to involve volunteers? 2.What does the school want volunteers to do? 3.What qualities/skills does the school want volunteers to have?

14. Ideal volunteer We want a volunteer with: Good knowledge of schools Previous relevant training Great communication skills Relevant previous work/volunteering experience Friendly, reliable, enthusiastic, fun, dynamic personality Available every afternoon from 1- 3pm WISH LIST But what about me? I’m keen to learn Have a genuine caring nature I’m only free on Tuesday 12 –2 Have not volunteered before No previous experience but happy to attend any training required Have basic skills but will develop with training/support

15. Recruitment plan for volunteers 1.Why does the school want to involve volunteers? 2.What does the school want volunteers to do? 3.What qualities/skills does the school want the volunteers to have? 4.How will the school find volunteers?

16. Recruitment of volunteers - key principles Schools must have a clear value base for involving volunteers The image of the school in the community is important A well thought through recruitment message is key A clear role with full information about what is required is important The needs of the school and the needs of the volunteer must be met Schools should make it easy for people to volunteer

17. VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT PLAN Recruitment plan for volunteers SCHOOL Remember - Avoid going public until the plan is done. 1.Why does the school want to involve volunteers? 2.What does the school want volunteers to do? 3.What qualities/skills does the school want the volunteers to have? 4.How will the school find volunteers? 5.How will the school select which volunteer they want?

18. Matching ‘offers’ and ‘needs’ Time Experience Skills Qualities Tasks done - in a particular way - to a particular standard Role satisfaction Support Motivation fulfilled Friendship Clearly defined work Opportunities Challenge Support OFFERS NEEDS VolunteerSchool

19. Selection of volunteers - key principles Having the wrong volunteers is worse than having no volunteers at all Remember equality of opportunity for all - leave your prejudices at home Inform all volunteers from the start that a selection procedure will be followed and that not all candidates will be successful Selection procedures are necessary - but should be in keeping with the type of role(s) Take all reasonable steps to ensure that unsuitable people are prevented from volunteering All volunteers must go through the same selection procedure for the same role

20. VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT PLAN Recruitment plan for volunteers SCHOOL Remember - Avoid going public until the plan is done. 1.Why does the school want to involve volunteers? 2.What does the school want volunteers to do? 3.What qualities/skills does the school want the volunteers to have? 4.How will the school find volunteers? 5.How will the school select which volunteer they want? 6.How will the school manage the volunteer after selection?

21. Why I left…… Badly organised Changing work/home circumstances Organisation made unfair demands No-one thanked me I didn’t feel involved Badly organised Was only given menial tasks Got no satisfaction Was too much work Lack of training in my role Wasn’t what I was expecting Couldn’t afford bus fare No-one spoke to me Volunteering in Northern Ireland 2001 70%

22. Why develop a Volunteer Policy? Sets out how volunteering will be promoted and managed within your school.  procedures or practices in working with volunteers  monitoring, reviewing and development of volunteering Offers framework to develop: VOLUNTEERS  Value  Role  Contribution It highlights:

23. VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT PLAN Recruitment plan for volunteers SCHOOL Remember - Avoid going public until the plan is done. 1.Why does the school want to involve volunteers? 2.What does the school want volunteers to do? 3.What qualities/skills does the school want volunteers to have? 4.How will the school find volunteers? 5.How will the school select which volunteer they want? 6.How will the school manage the volunteer after selection?