Summer Reading Challenge 2014 Growing your volunteer programme
May 12, 2015
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