With summer upon us, our halls are becoming busier and busier with events. These events would not be possible without the help of our wonderful volunteers. Recruiting volunteers can be a challenge. To help you through this demanding task, here are some tips to entice people of all age groups. If you would like further information you can also check out Volunteer Canada for more information.

Youth

Getting youth involved in community halls can be challenging. Volunteer Canada has done many studies on how to get youth involved in communities. Youth, ages 15-24, volunteer more than any other age group in Canada. I chose some ways to get youth involved and how to reach their audience:

  1. Youth seek flexibility when volunteering- they don’t want to have to make a large time commitment due to school, family, and friends.
  2. Appeal to certain interest groups- for example: if you are planning a concert, it may be beneficial to contact a local music teacher to ensure that you are reaching out to youth with the proper interests. Youth love to help out with things that they enjoy doing!
  3. Clear job descriptions- youth are more likely to help out if they have a clear idea of what they will be doing.
  4. Reach out to schools- During the school year, informing school counselors or administration is a great way to spread the word, as they can add it to their school announcements. Students are constantly looking for volunteer hours for scholarships and programs such as the Duke of Edinburgh. Additionally, PEI has a Community Service Bursary for high school students that volunteer within their community. Just ensure that you are a registered organization for the program before offering the hours! This can easily be done here: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/workforce-and-advanced-learning/community-service-bursary-process-organizations.
  5. Buddy system- allowing youth to work in pairs, in a group, or with their families has proven to be a great solution. They feel more comfortable next to familiar faces and you get more volunteers!
  6. Promote where youth will see it- today’s youth are very tech savvy and are active on social media. Promoting your volunteer ad on different platforms is a great way to reach youth.

Older Adults

Older adults are a key part of our community halls. It is important that we continue to encourage these generations to be involved. Here are some tips:

  1. Commitment levels- much like youth, older generations don’t want a long-term commitment. They prefer to be “on call” per say.
  2. Skills and abilities- being recognized for particular abilities make volunteering more enjoyable for all. Be sure to allow your volunteers to do what they will do best, so they can show off their skills!
  3. Independence and Leadership- Studies have shown that “baby boomers” are more independent, so allowing them to work alone, where their work is showcased, will encourage them to return. They also enjoy taking a lead on projects that arise.

Benefits of Volunteering

There are many personal and social benefits for volunteers. Make sure that potential volunteers are aware of these benefits:

  • You can discover new skills or interests.
  • Volunteering can lead to future opportunities.
  • It can create a healthy community environment.
  • Volunteering strengthens communities.
  • You will have a great sense of accomplishment.

Screening

Screening volunteers is a way to ensure the safety of others and make your events run smoothly. You can find more information here: https://volunteer.ca/index.php?MenuItemID=337.

It is crucial to remember that individuals volunteer for different reasons, but both your hall and the volunteer must achieve the goal that they have set. Through life, volunteering will change due to different priorities and personal needs, but there will be people willing to help. Some people are just waiting to be asked, so reaching out to others can spark interest.

As volunteers are giving up their own time, it is important to recognize their work. It could be a simple thank you card or a certificate, but a sign of recognition is greatly appreciated. Additionally, requesting volunteer feedback is an easy way to improve your events and to find additional volunteers. Survey Monkey is a great tool for this.

I hope that this blog gave you some useful tips that you can implement in your hall! If there is a topic you would like me to cover next, you can email me at peihalls@gmail.com!

Sources: http://volunteer.ca/index.php