"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> GoldStar - Conference Full Report - Promoting good practice in managing volunteers from socially excluded groups
GoldStar - Promoting good practice in managing volunteers from socially excluded groups
Full Report
Date Event
22.06.2006 Goldstar Regional Conference
(West Midlands)
Number of Delegates Location
46 (click to view list) Custard Factory
Birmingham

Format
1. Interviews with GoldStar Exemplar project managers
2. Workshops relating to recruitment and selection and progression pathways


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GoldStar Interviews

Two GoldStar project managers provided a number of insights into how volunteers are recruited and supported:

What did they talk about?

Two key themes were addressed as part of the event, these being recruitment and selection and progression pathways.

Rob highlighted the ethnically diverse localities in which they operate and how this is reflected in the volunteer base. The local area has an established Asian community but also a more transient population with a high proportion of refugees and asylum seekers.

In relation to recruitment and selection he highlighted the extensive recruitment and selection procedures in place to recruit volunteers that are similar to those for recruiting paid staff. These procedures are linked to a structured training programme. Rob emphasised the success of the project in recruiting volunteers, indicating over 100 enquiries result every time a volunteer post is advertised. He also stressed the importance of:

Soo contrasted the profile of the volunteer base within Multiple Choice indicating that it is predominantly White British but diverse in background, from highly educated to those with no qualifications. She also pointed out that the service user profile has changed from about 90% male to about 30% women.

In relation to recruitment of volunteers Soo stressed the importance of encouraging ex service users to progress into volunteering (About 75% of volunteers are ex service users). She indicated that Multiple Choice does not go through an advertising process unless it is for specialist volunteering positions and would be inundated with responses if it did. Every person that applies as a volunteer is invited to attend a training session, with interviews held after this has taken place. Soo stressed the importance of potential volunteers understanding the boundaries that have to be maintained as a volunteer, this being a key aspect of the training. She also indicated that help is provided for those not able to fill the application form in. Given the high proportion of ex service users taken on as volunteers, she also stressed the importance of being able to manage people in and out of service.

In response to a question about the main recruitment avenues utilised Rob highlighted the success of using the Manchester City Council Jobs Update publication, together with posters in community centres, but also stressed the importance of word of mouth. Soo pointed out the potential use of CVS monthly newsletters and mail outs through local Volunteer Centres. Rob also pointed out that it is not just important where you place adverts but that you need to be clear about who you are trying to reach and what volunteers can get out of volunteering (A qualification for example).

A number of other issues were raised by delegates in relation to recruitment and selection including:

In relation to progression pathways:

In relation to ways of improving current arrangements for accessing information on volunteering good practice, (particularly with respect to those at risk from social exclusion) a number of suggestions or issues were highlighted by delegates:

2. Workshops. Issues raised and discussed

Delegates were asked to consider with colleagues sitting on their particular table, how they currently recruited volunteers, identify key barriers to recruitment and some lessons learnt in terms of recruitment and selection of volunteers, particularly those at risk from social exclusion. Delegates were also asked to identify key considerations in relation to supporting volunteers’ progress

A summary of issues raised during these round table workshops is set out below:

Recruitment methods

A wide range of recruitment methods were identified, including:

Barriers to recruitment

Specific barriers to volunteer recruitment identified included:

Key recruitment lessons/considerations

A number of key recruitment lessons and considerations were identified including:

Volunteer development/ progression

A number of key issues and lessons were identified in relation to supporting volunteer development and/or progression, including:

Information on current GoldStar Exemplar groups and good practices relating to volunteers from socially excluded groups are continually being uploaded onto this website throughout the GoldStar Dissemination programme.


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