Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers

Some things to keep in mind and/or put together before reaching out to the community for volunteers:

• Know how many volunteers you need so you don’t end up with too few or too many volunteers.
• Have an outline of what your volunteers will be asked to do. 
• Have an idea of what the time commitment will actually be for each volunteer role. 
• Keep in mind the level of physical activity the volunteer roles require and who you’ll be extending those volunteer opportunities too. Older adults may have more limited mobility than younger adults and youth.
• Just because someone says no to one volunteer opportunity, doesn’t mean they’ll say no to all of them. 
• Try to make sure you have a small team around you and everyone knows their roles so you’re not getting pulled in several different directions trying to do everything yourself.

Play to youth’s strengths.  Check Volunteer Canada Building Blocks for Youth Volunteer Engagement for a short questionnaire you can use to determine what strengths your youth volunteers have and what types of volunteer jobs might suit them best: Engaging Volunteers – Youth from Volunteer Canada

Here are some things to keep in mind when recruiting youth to volunteer:

• Be flexible. Youth often don’t have a lot of time to volunteer between school, family, and friends, and can’t make a long-term commitment.
• They’re just kids. They’re not going to have the same amount of work or volunteer experience as your older volunteers. If it’s their first time doing a certain job or being placed in a certain role, making sure to offer them guidance, encouragement and support can make their volunteer experience better.  
• Buddy system & volunteering as a family. Some kids are shy in new environments, especially when they’re surrounded by adults. Having kids sign up to volunteer in pairs or with family members can make it feel less scary.
• Appeal to their interests. If you’re planning an event centered around music, contact local music teachers to see if any band kids want to volunteer. If you’re planning an event centered around sports, contact local sports organizations to see if they have any athletes who want to volunteer. Like older adults, youth are more likely to volunteer if the event or organization aligns with their interests and skills.
• They’re just kids. Make sure you include the minimum age in posts asking for youth volunteers. Keep in mind that certain volunteer opportunities for youth may require parental consent.

Play to seniors’ strengths. Check volunteer Canada Transitions, Milestones, and Legacies: Volunteering and Retirement Planning for more on how to figure out what strengths your older volunteers have and what types of volunteer positions might suit them best: Engaging Volunteers – Older Adults from Volunteer Canada
Keep in mind that a lot of older adults aren’t new to volunteering and have plenty of past experience even if it’s not with your organization.

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:

• Commitment levels. Much like youth, older generations don’t necessarily want a long-term commitment, and may prefer to be “on call”.
• Skills and abilities. Being recognized for their skills make volunteering more enjoyable for all. Be sure to allow your volunteers to do what they do best, so they can show off their skills!
• 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.