Volunteer Centre Brighton and Hove explain some the key steps to successfully recruiting volunteers.

Steps in the process of recruiting volunteers.

Know your opportunities

• Be sure your volunteer opportunities are integral to achieving your group or organisations’ aims and objectives
• Prepare volunteer role descriptions that clearly explain what’s involved
• Acquaint yourself thoroughly with each opportunity, including its purpose, responsibilities, and what the value of the experience is for the volunteer.

Create a clear path to your door

• Put together a process for application and screening, and don't start recruiting until everything is in place
• Ensure that everyone involved in the organisation knows who to direct enquiries to
• Respond promptly; aim to answer initial enquiries within 24 hours.

Make your recruitment message ‘user-friendly’

• Produce publicity that answers the volunteer’s unspoken question, such as: “Why should I volunteer for you?” instead of “Why you should volunteer for us”
• In your publicity, answer other typical questions that new recruits may ask, such as: “What will I be doing? How often, when and where?”
• Reassure volunteers that they’ll be trained and that you’ll support them
• Avoid using words like ‘need’ and ‘desperate’, as they tend to put volunteers off.

Get your message out

• Consider all available methods, including word of mouth, leaflets and posters, talks and presentations, local newsletters, websites such as Do-it and local media coverage.