summer reading challenge 2015 - involving young volunteers

Summer Reading Challenge 2015Involving Young Volunteers

Training Presentation

Section 1: why involve young people as volunteers?

Section 2: resources and roles to support SRC young volunteers

Section 3: paperwork!

Section 4: accreditation, recognition and evaluation

Section 5: After the summer – Reading Hack

SECTION 1

Why involve young people as volunteers? The benefits, and the results to date

Benefits for libraries• Support with administering the Challenge

• A more youthful image – and fresh perspectives

• Skills young people bring – such as digital/creative

• Increased library usage by young people

• A link with local communities

• Help to deliver activities

• Staff confidence in working positively with young people

• A fresh look at working practices

Benefits for children

• More one-to-one attention from volunteers and staff

• A chance to talk in more detail about their reading experiences

• Reading role models to raise their aspirations

• Help with digital technology

• Help them to access themed creative activities

• Encouragement to complete the Challenge

Benefits to young people

• Valuable work experience; especially good for those thinking of a career working with children

• Counts towards accreditation (UCAS, DofE etc).

• A reference for employment and CV evidence

• Develops confidence, social skills and literacy skills

• Making a positive contribution to their community

• A chance to make new friends

• Encouragement to read more

In the words of a young volunteer…

Benefits to partner organisations

• Safe places – and in all areas

• Supportive staff

• Good practices

• Work with children

• In the holidays!

• Opportunity for progression

"I loved helping as a volunteer for the Summer Reading Challenge. Interaction with members of the public, other volunteers and library staff built up my confidence of speaking to others. I really hope that the other volunteers enjoyed this as much as I did and I am definitely going to be helping in next

year's reading

challenge."

- Jade, Bournemouth.

Results 2014: overview

• 8,126 aged 12-24 years recruited in the UK

• 1,740 libraries in 138 English authorities

• 43% increase in volunteers recruited

• 123,578 volunteering hours given

2014: libraries and reading

• 49% of volunteers felt that they were more interested in books and reading as a result of being involved with the Summer Reading Challenge.

• 56% of volunteers intend to use the library more now, after completing the volunteering

“The experience was fantastic. I achieved my first award on vInspired and had some brilliant opportunities. I've been able to write articles, I’ve had the prospects of continuing a reading group at the library and my writing skills progressed - which means a great deal to me.” Jess, Harrogate

“

2014: Supporting younger children

“There was definitely some increase in completion in those libraries that had volunteers”.

Rachel Levy, Sutton

“When you see volunteers talking to younger readers and they’re taking books off the shelf, I think there’s a sense of real communication going on. I think it can only help people to finish it”

Branch Manager, Lancashire

Comments from libraries“Children and parents very much appreciated the volunteers and the time that they were able to spend with children, and male volunteers certainly encouraged boys taking part.”

Carol Hales,

Surrey Libraries

“Families report that having volunteers for their children to discuss their reading with was really beneficial and adds value to the scheme”

Russell Allen, West Sussex Libraries

2014: skills and confidence

85% learnt new things and gained skills and experience through SRCv

"Doing the challenge has really built my confidence as a person and has also given me plenty of new opportunities.“

Rob, young volunteer, North Yorkshire

I would like to say that volunteering for the summer reading challenge has helped me develop many skills and has greatly boosted my confidence. I hope I can continue to help the community further by volunteering in future library events.”

Muhammad, Redbridge volunteer

2014: Accreditation and employment

• 776 volunteers achieved an accredited outcome (460 for DofE)

• 10 library authorities offered job opportunities to 33 volunteers

• 783 skills badges and recommendation letters downloaded

2014: Continuing to volunteer

• 71% of volunteers said they would like to keep volunteering in a library

• 53% of library authorities have offered 1,488 young people opportunities to continue volunteering after the summer

Further volunteering• Supporting younger readers: family fun days;

rhyme-times, Chatterbooks, homework clubs

• Supporting older readers: housebound visits, help with adult listening group, silver surfer sessions

• Developing teen activity: manga groups, film nights

• Helping libraries develop: promoting self service, meet-and-greet, stock selection, advisory panels, mystery shopping.

SECTION 2

Resources and roles to support young volunteers helping with the Summer Reading Challenge in 2015

• Recruitment and advocacy: Postcard, Schools advocacy leaflet and letter

Volunteer materials:

• T-shirt, badge, pen, booklet, certificate

Recognition and reward:

• Activity sheets

• Reading Hackers web page & online skills

• Reading book list and competitions

Record Breakers - 2015

Schools Advocacy Card

• Poster design

Recruitment Postcard

Volunteer Certificate

Volunteer roles

1. Reading Hacker volunteers

• Helping children take part in the Challenge

2. Reporters

• Blogging and recording

3. Leaders

• Planning and supporting

4. School ambassadors

Role 1: Reading Hacker volunteers• Sign children up

• Help children to use the SRC website – add titles to the Book Sorter

• Use activity sheets to help children share reading choices with peers

• Help children find/ choose books

• Listen to them talk about books

• Help with events

• Collect data for evaluation

Role 2: Reporters

The role might include:

• Taking photos and video footage (signed forms required for any children featured)

• Writing reviews of activities and events

• Promote the Challenge via blogging, photos and news items.

• Talking to the press

• Doing interviews for radio/TV

Role 3: Leaders• Running training sessions for other

volunteers

• Timetabling volunteer schedules

• Mentoring volunteers throughout the Challenge

• Planning volunteer team building events and activities

• Planning volunteer celebration events

Volunteer recruitment: case study

Role 4: schools ambassadorThe role might include:

• Going into other schools with presentations about the Challenge

• Creating displays in schools

• Running activities and events during the Summer term to encourage children to take part in the Challenge

• Volunteering in libraries over the summer

SECTION 3

Paperwork: volunteer policy, risk assessment, volunteer agreement, etc.

Volunteer Policy• is a clear statement that you care about

volunteers

• ensures everyone understands the rationale

• makes it easier to recruit and retain volunteers

• ensures good quality

• enables you to evidence good practice

• supports you in complying with legal requirements

• sets out expectations for all

• helps with evaluation

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

What’s in a volunteer policy?• written statement of service values and the role that

volunteers play in delivering them

• health and safety requirements

• an explanation of expectations

• roles that volunteers play and the protection and benefits they are entitled to

• guidelines for recruitment and selection

• information about induction, training and supervision

• guidelines for recognition and reward

• a code of practice

RecruitmentWhere are you going to advertise?

• In library

• At schools

• Website/social media

• Vinspired website

• Do-it website

• Talk to young people you are working with

Which recruitment partners will you work with?

• Schools

• Colleges

• Universities

• Local volunteering organisations

Selecting young volunteers

• Do you need to use application forms?

• How will you interview young people?

• Will you need parental permission?

• What if applicants aren’t suitable?

• Importance of equal opportunities

Keeping everyone safe

Follow your local authority guidelines:

• Health and Safety policy

• Risk assessment

• Training and induction

• Child protection

• DBS checking

Induction

• Do it quickly!

• Make it fun

• Train young people together

• Prepare a volunteer agreement

Support for young volunteers

Think about:

• Group/ peer support for volunteers (mobile numbers?)

• Staff support for volunteers

• Service support for volunteers (including when local relationships break down)

SECTION 4

Accreditation, recognition and evaluation

Accreditation Awards

• Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

• ASDAN Activities Award

• Youth Achievement Award

• Arts Award

• Children’s University

• Local Awards

• Vinspired

• Welsh Bacc/International Bacc

• Saltire Award

Celebrating Achievement

• Certificate

• Awards ceremony – ask councillors / mayor/ local dignitaries

• Young volunteers can present medals to children and vice versa!

EvaluationFor young people:

• Numbers of young people volunteering

• How many hours

• Evidence of young people’s skills/experience gained

• Accreditation gained

• Further volunteering/job opportunities

For children:

• Impact on take up and completion rate by children

• Impact on the children taking part

For libraries:

• Impact on libraries and LA policy influencing

Evaluation methods• YP registration form and survey

• Ethnicity, gender and age

• Confidence/attitudes to libraries/expectations before volunteering

• Post-volunteering survey

• Confidence/attitudes to libraries/skills gained after volunteering

For libraries:

• Evaluation form – by authority

• Comments/interviews with children

Reading Hack combines 3 things:

• Local activities

• Volunteering

• Youth advocacy

Features

• Flexible and local with UK infrastructure

• National brand developed with young people

• Youth-facing website and social media

• Rewards, recognition, accreditation

• Training and support for staff

• Case studies, best practice

• Tracking progress

(skills, hours volunteered)

Get involved

• SRC volunteers can create hack activities over the summer

• Email us to register interest

• Adopt Reading Hack branding for groups and activities

In the words of a young volunteer…“It teaches you so much, not just about libraries and work but about you as well. I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of volunteering because it helped me develop as a person by making me more confident

and sociable”.

Katy, young volunteer

North Yorkshire Libraries

Good luck!

For more advice and resources please visit:

http://readingagency.org.uk/ReadingHack