FAITHFULLY VOLUNTEERING

Transcription

1 CTMR FAITHFULLY VOLUNTEERING TRAINING PACK GROUP TRAINING EXERCISES For faith communities & faith inspired projects involved in Volunteering and for Volunteer Centres and Councils for Voluntary Service who work with them

2 I. RECRUITMENT THE ADVERTISEMENT Your local radio station s Religious Affairs programme is having a programme on volunteering and the role of faith communities. In addition to asking you questions they wish you to do a one minute sound bite encouraging people to volunteer with the project. Give people ten minutes to prepare Then get everyone to do their minute Then have a brain storming session. METHODS OF RECRUITMENT Have a brainstorming session and list all the possibilities you can think of. Then distribute the table enclosed which has grown bigger over the past ten years. Add to the table from your own experience WE NEED YOU! Spend five minutes producing an identikit of the ideal volunteer for your project. Reflect: are they the type of volunteers you either have or would be willing to recruit, what are the barriers to recruiting them if any? 2

3 WHERE TO RECRUIT - RESULTS OF PREVIOUS BRAINSTORMING PLACES VOLUNTEER CENTRES COLLEGES OF FURTHER EDUCATION STUDENT COMMUNITY ACTION GROUPS AT UNIVERSITIES, AND COLLEGES COMMUNITY & YOUTH CENTRES & TENANTS HALLS PRE RETIREMENT COURSES CLINICS AND DOCTOR S SURGERIES JOB CENTRES AND UNEMPLOYMENT RESOURCE CENTRES LIONS, ROTARY CLUB AND ROTARACT, ETC. CHURCHES, GURDWARAS, MOSQUES AND TEMPLES, ETC. UNIFORMED YOUTH ORGANISATIONS BOROUGH SERVICES - LIBRARIES, NEIGHBOURHOOD OFFICES SPECIALIST ORGANISATIONS, SELF HELP GROUPS AND PROFESSIONAL AGENCIES IN YOUR SPHERE OF WORK SPECIALIST VOLUNTEERING ORGANISATIONS LIKE COMMUNITY SERVICE VOLUNTEERS (CSV), BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY (BiTC) POST OFFICES, SUPERMARKETS AND CORNER SHOPS SPORTING AND OTHER TYPES OF CLUBS ADVICE AND INFORMATION ORGANISATIONS LIKE CAB PROFESSIONALS - SOCIAL WORKERS, YOUTH WORKERS & COMMUNITY WORKERS TEACHERS AND LECTURERS JOB CENTRE PLUS STAFF AND STAFF OF CONNEXIONS CLERGY, MINISTERS, RABBIS, IMAMS, PRIESTS, ETC. VIA PRAYERS FOR THE PROJECT DURING ACTS OF WORSHIP 3

4 PUBLICITY FOR RECRUITING PAPERS - LOCAL FREE PAPERS FOR PARTS OF THE CITY - PRESS RELEASE ARTICLES (FREE!) OR ADVERTS IN CITY/REGIONAL DAILIES VOLUNTEERING PAGES OF NEWSPAPERS COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS IN HOUSE PAPERS FOR COMPANIES & ORGANISATIONS WHO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTEERING TALKS TO SPECIALIST/RELEVANT AUDIENCES RELIGIOUS NEWSPAPERS RELIGIOUS GROUPS SCHOOLS & COLLEGES YOUTH CLUBS/ORGANISATIONS PARTICULARLY IF LOOKING FOR SHORT TERM OR 1 OFFS POSTERS - PERHAPS FOR A RECRUITMENT DRIVE OR FOR PERMANENT DISPLAY SHOPS - POSTERS OR LITTLE ADVERT - OFTEN HELPFUL EXHIBITIONS - STATIC IN A LIBRARY OR SHOP OR MOBILE FOR A CLUB/SCHOOL LEAFLETS - FOR WIDE CIRCULATION OR CUSTOMISED FOR AN AUDIENCE LOCAL RADIO - SENDING PRESS RELEASES, OFFERING TO APPEAR TV - SPECIAL INTEREST & ITV MAIL SHOTS - PARTICULARLY FOR PEOPLE WHO YOU THINK WOULD BE INTERESTED INDIVIDUAL LETTERS TO LIKELY VOLUNTEERS (EG THOSE WHO WERE WITH A SIMILAR ORGANISATION/BRANCH AND HAVE MOVED) WORD OF MOUTH IS STILL POSSIBLY THE MOST SUCCESSFUL METHOD TO USE! INFORMATION CREATE A WEBSITE OPEN DAYS AT YOUR CENTRE OR PROJECT STUNTS - FLOATS, FANCY DRESS OR FROLICS AT FETES, ETC. 4

5 II. EXPECTATIONS - VOLUNTEERS & VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS The Group will split into four groups. This exercise can be carried out with only four people if necessary. One pair of groups will be focusing on Volunteer Recruitment for an Animal Project (faith communities do not run many of these so it is a good option where we are all mutually ignorant): one group will be the staff of the Cat Sanctuary who will prepare a check list of what they will tell volunteers before they start one group will be potential volunteers who will outline what they need to know before they start One pair of groups will be focusing on Volunteers at a NHS managed project visiting patients in a large hospital: one group will be the Volunteers Co-ordinators who will prepare a check list of what they will tell volunteers before they start one group will be potential volunteers who will outline what they need to know before they decide that they would like to work in the shop The two Volunteers Groups will use flips charts to write up their need to know list. Please leave space so that the Managers/coordinators comments can be added. After about twenty minutes the four groups will gather together. The Volunteer Groups will present their findings and then the Managers/Co-coordinators Group will comment and add to the flip charts. Time should be taken to determine what information might be core for any volunteer involving organisation and what might be specific to each participant/organisation. THE IMPORTANCE OF IMAGE Draw up a picture of an average volunteer who would be involved in your organisation(s). Similar types of organisations will be grouped where possible. The Session will convene and each grouping will be asked to share their Mr or Ms Identikit Volunteer. We will see if other groups have similar stereotypes. We will then look at each Identikit as we share them in the Plenary: the image of the organisation and how this compares with the reality the organisation s image of volunteering and its volunteers (or potential volunteers) and the real picture if this is different the selection policies used the publicity that is used to recruit volunteers As a variant you could get people to share their opinions on other organisations Identikits but in some groups this may create bad feeling. This issue can be sensitive and has equal opportunities which must be developed and fed in at appropriate times during the discussion. 5

6 DIFFERENCES IN MANAGING - STAFF & VOLUNTEERS This is a good exercise, get people to work on it individually, then in pairs and then in plenary. TOPIC DIFFERENCE QUIRIES CONFIDENTIALITY DECISION MAKING DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE DRIVING EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EXPENSES GIVING BAD CLIENT ADVICE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES HEALTH AND SAFETY INDUCTION INSURANCE JOB DESCRIPTION LENGTH OF STAY PAYMENTS PERSON SPECIFICATION QUALITY OF WORK REFERENCES RESPONSIBILITY TRAINING OTHER OTHER UNIONISATION 6

7 III. WHO IS INVOLVED IN SUPPORTING OUR PROJECT? Get participants to think about who is involved in their project and begin to make a list. Vary it by saying whether the involvement is active or passive, positive or negative, large or small. Does this support role then develop into a management role as well? Faith communities and faith inspired organisations often do not see the work they do as volunteering but as a natural part of their life within that community. This can make many of the normal aspects of volunteer management (paying expenses quite awkward!) It can also lead to clashes between volunteers from the community and volunteers from elsewhere (whether of faith or no faith) who may react in a different way! However better deal with the issues early on! 7

8 WHO IS INVOLVED IN YOUR PROJECT? CATEGORY COMMENTS ACTIVE MEMBERS OF YOUR FAITH COMMUNITY CLIENTS OR USERS WHO MAY BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN DECISION MAKING, OR FORM THE CORE OF THE VOLUNTEERS OR MANAGE THE WORK YOU MAY CALL THEM SOMETHING ELSE AND THEY MAY BE TRANSIENT (IN AN ADVICE CENTRE OR A HOSPITAL CAFE), SEEN AS PASSIVE OR FULLY INVOLVED IN DECISION MAKING FUNDERS WHO MAY HAVE A SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT, BE ACTIVE AS TRUSTEES, ADVISORS OR ENTHUSERS, TAKE A FORMAL INSPECTORIAL ROLE, JUST EXPECT A REPORT OR NOTHING NEIGHBOURING FAITH COMMUNITIES THIS COULD BE BY PRAYING FOR YOUR WORK, BY SUPPLYING VOLUNTEERS, OR BY SUPPORT/FUNDRAISING PARTNERS BODIES WITH WHOM YOU WORK PROVIDING A COMPLIMENTARY SERVICE - YOU ARE A HOSTEL AND THEY A DAY CENTRE PATRONS HIGH PROFILE SUPPORTERS - LORD MAYOR, MPS, PEERS, FILM STARS, THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, THE CHIEF RABBI, ETC POLITICIANS THEY WILL BE INVOLVED IN A LOCAL AUTHORITY PROJECT, POSSIBLY ATTENDING TRUSTEES BOARDS OR EXERTING INFLUENCE. LOCAL COUNCILLORS MAY PLAY A SIGNIFICANT PART IN THE LOCAL VOLUNTARY/COMMUNITY/FAITH SECTOR. PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS OR AGENTS NORMALLY SPECIALISTS WHO UNDERTAKE SPECIFIC TASKS OR MAY ADVISE ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS OFTEN SHORT TERM BUT SOMETIMES LONG-TERM (LAWYERS) AND NORMALLY PAID PROJECT COMMITTEE AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, LOCAL SUPPORT GROUP WHO MAY DIRECT, SUPPORT OR ASSIST THE DAY TO DAY RUNNING REGIONAL FAITH BODIES OFFERING EXPERT ADVICE TO LOCAL PROJECTS THIS COULD INCLUDE DIOCESES, COUNCILS OF FAITHS, CHURCHES TOGETHER, ETC SENIOR/ EXTERNAL MANAGEMENT STAFF A SENIOR MEMBER OF THE STAFF OF YOUR CITY-WIDE REGIONAL OR NATIONAL ORGANISATION WHO HAS LINE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROJECT & MANAGER. 8

9 SPONSORING FAITH COMMUNITIES TRUSTEES STAFF PROJECTS FOR MANY FAITH COMMUNITIES COME UNDER THE SAME UMBRELLA AS THE TRUSTEES MANAGEMENT OF THE CHURCH, MOSQUE ETC THIS CAN CAUSE TENSIONS BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT PARTIES. PAID WORKERS FOR THE ORGANISATION - HOPEFULLY INCLUDING SOMEONE TO MANAGE & SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS STUDENTS WHO WILL BE ON PLACEMENT FROM A SCHOOL, COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY AND WHO THE STAFF HAVE TO SUPERVISE SHORT, MEDIUM OR LONG TERM SUBSCRIBERS WHO MAY JUST PAY MONEY TO GET YOUR MAGAZINE OR YOUR SERVICE PARTICULARLY IF IT CONTAINS VALUABLE SPECIALIST INFORMATION, ACCESS TO PREMISES OR RESOURCES - THEY COULD BE MEMBERS OF YOUR FAITH COMMUNITY WHO HAVE MOVED AWAY BUT STILL WANT TO SUPPORT THE WORK SUPPORTERS WHO MAY BE FRIENDS, FAMILY OR NEIGHBOURS OF OUR CLIENTS/USERS OR HAVE A SPECIFIC INTEREST IN THE WORK OR MAY LIVE IN YOUR LOCALITY AND SUPPORT THE CAUSE TRUSTEES WHO MAY BE CALLED THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OR EXECUTIVE (COMMITTEE), THE BOARD, THE DIRECTORS. SEE HEADINGS ABOVE ALSO! UMBRELLA BODIES YOU MAY BE AFFILIATED TO ONE OR MORE NATIONAL BODIES THAT WILL LAY DOWN STANDARDS FOR THE WAY YOU DELIVER ASPECTS OF YOUR WORK LIKE THE SCOUTS, COMMUNITY MATTERS, OR YOUTH CLUBS UK. THESE MAY OR MAY NOT BE FAITH BODIES. UNPAID WORKERS WHO HAVE TO BE THERE AS THEY ARE PARTICIPATING IN A COMPULSORY GOVERNMENT TRAINING SCHEME OR THE NEW PROJECT WORK PROGRAMME, ETC VOLUNTEERS THOSE GIVING OF THEIR TIME WITHOUT FINANCIAL GAIN AND OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL TO THE ORGANISATION. N.B. Many of the categories above overlap and some may be inappropriate for your project. You may have categories that we have overlooked so add them in. 9