growing your volunteer programme

Summer Reading Challenge 2014

Growing your volunteer programme

Today’s aims

1. Outline of SAF funded SRC volunteering in 20142. Why grow your volunteering3. Developing a growth plan:

• Internal advocacy • Recruiting young people: key channels • Supporting young people• Sustaining involvement

4. Reading Activists Challenge

Support to increase numbers Support to deepen volunteer involvement

Why grow your volunteering?

Group discussion: What would a bigger better SRC volunteering offer look like for you?

Policy landscape

• Young people are now almost twice as likely to volunteer as they were a decade ago

• 21% of young people are unemployed and 32% have been out of work for 12 months

• National shortage in the skills the UK needs to remain competitive and grow

• England ranked 22nd for literacy and 21st for numeracy out of 24 countries

2014: a step-change year

• Cabinet Office Social Action Fund grant• Government recognition of libraries’ social activism• 40% increase in youth volunteers, 80% of authorities • SRCv recognised in local authority corporate plans• Funding to support authorities deliver the growth• Brokering national partnerships• Independent research

Resources and support

• Training and distance support• Advocacy and recruitment resources

• Post card• Advocacy cards• Schools pack• Volunteer handbook, case studies and best practice guides• Promotional films

• Volunteer pack• T-shirt, badge, volunteer booklet and log, Certificate

• Digital platform

Support to increase numbers Support to deepen volunteer involvement

Achieving the growth

Developing your SRC volunteering growth plan:

Internal advocacy

Recruiting young people

Supporting young people

Sustaining youth volunteering

SRC volunteering growth plan:Internal advocacy

Discussion:• How will you achieve support for growth

internally?

Internal advocacy

Win the hearts of staff

Roll out training locally

Share best practice

SRC volunteering growth plan:Recruiting young people

Discussion:• How will you increase the effectiveness of

your youth recruitment?• Schools• Local partners• In your library• Any others?

Recruitment: Schools and colleges

• Use careers advisors • Schools extranet • Review previous participation levels • Visit school assemblies • Run a staffed promotional stall• Write to head teachers • Work with school volunteer leads • Focus on a year group (e.g. Year 9)

Recruitment: Local partnersChildren in care Duke of Edinburgh Award

Guides and Scouts, possibly tying in with their badge schemes.

Home educated networks

Young People’s Well-being Action Group

Community student action groups at universities

Young mums in partnership with Sure Start

Sixth Form Colleges Local Voluntary Development Agency

Traveller communities by working with local youth centres

The Challenge Network (National Citizen Service)

Youth Offending Team

Council apprenticeships MyPlace Urban Futures

The Princes Trust

InTo University programmes

Youth Service

Education departments of universities (for education undergraduates to build a portfolio of practical experience.)

Recruitment: libraries• Contact previous volunteers • Encourage all staff to engage• Encourage work experience students• Tailor the message appropriately • Work with younger volunteers • Run appealing recruitment events• Develop volunteer networking events• Use short films

Sell the message to young people

• Make it meaningful• Show how it adds to CVs• Use peer quotes/ case

studies • Use films, audio, posters• Sell the benefits to parents

SRC volunteering growth plan: Supporting young people

Discussion:• How will you improve the quality of your

offer to young people?• Developing roles and opportunities• Training• Recognition, rewards, incentives

Developing roles and opportunities

Workshops/skills sessions

Focus groups

Leadership roles

Clear roles

Training for young people

•Empower them to be confident advocates •Agree minimum and

maximum number•Organise small sessions

in largest libraries• Add value for returning

volunteers

RecognitionLetter for their school/ college

‘Thank you’ certificates

Secure an author visitCelebration events to recognise achievement

Rewards and Incentives

Offer small expenses

Prize draw for volunteers

Local partner providers

Group prizes

Accreditation

• Guides (10-14): Baden Powell Challenge, badges• Senior Section (14-25): badges and activities• Queen's Guide Award (16-24) – “Community Action”

element of 12 month Award. • Girls use the 'Go' achievement record • Contact local Commissioners/ Unit Leaders or County

Queen's Guide Coordinator. www.girlguiding.org.ukOther: Scouts (Explorer/ Network/ Queens Scouts) DofE (‘Volunteering’ element)

SRC volunteering growth plan: Sustaining youth volunteering

Discussion:• How will you sustain youth involvement in

your library after the summer?

Sustaining beyond the summer

• Recruit volunteer champions for outreach• Involve staff in after-Challenge planning • Support volunteers to set up an Ambassador

group • Involve volunteers in service planning• Build relationships with school careers/work

experience adviser

Reading Activists Challenge

• £1m Paul Hamlyn gift• Aimed at 13-24s• Reading and volunteering

with a focus on skills• National website, local

ownership linked to existing activity

Next steps

• After this training• Evaluation

Contact details

claire.styles@readingagency.org.uksue.jones@readingagency.org.uk

lynne.taylor@readingagency.org.uksarah.marsh@readingagency.org.uk