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How do I find people to help me?

Explore how to manage volunteers, identify the volunteer roles your initiative needs, and how to draft volunteer documents (e.g. adverts, policies etc.).

In this section you will find:

  • Finding and Keeping People: A 15-minute video clip from Nicole Barton discussing what she has learnt from both her experiences as a volunteer and working with volunteers.
  • Slides and Worksheets: Slides and worksheets to help work through this topic,
  • Further Resources: A list of further resources including articles, guides, websites, blogs or video clips help build knowledge of the topic. Note these resources are external pages not moderated or managed by Cambridge Carbon Footprint.
Back to the Net Zero Now Resource Hub

Finding and Keeping People

Slides and Worksheets

 
 
 
 

Further resources

Choosing the right organisational structure for your group
Learn more about small groups, constituted groups and incorporated organisations and which would be most suitable for you.

Five insights about the state of the voluntary sector
NCVO’s Civil Society Almanac 2022 provides that critical perspective on the voluntary sector finances, volunteers and workforce.

Involving Volunteers (NCVO)
Practical and step by step guidance from NCVO to help you manage volunteers and the process of volunteering well.

Key findings from Time Well Spent 2023
New Time Well Spent data reveals how much volunteering has transformed over recent years.

Back to the Net Zero Now Resource Hub

How do I find people to help me?

In this session we will explore:

  • how to manage volunteers;
  • how to identify the volunteer roles your initiative needs; and
  • how to draft volunteer documents (e.g. adverts, policies etc.)

Resources

Worksheets

Essential reading

Title Type Time Details
Coordinating volunteers Website 0:05:00 Very basic guidance from NCVO to coordinating volunteers.
Recruiting volunteers Website 0:10:00 A NCVO page with advice for finding, appointment and refusal of volunteers.
NCVO: Supporting and Managing Volunteers Website 0:30:00 Guidance from NCVO. Including how to support, supervise and get feedback, how to keep volunteers engaged, solving volunteer problems and dismissing a volunteer.
Choosing the right organisational structure for your group Article 0:08:00 Article from mycommunity.org.uk. Some of the links are broken but it's a useful overview on type of organisation you might want to form and how to decide.
How to keep volunteers happy and engaged Booklet 0:15:00 Booklet from Semble. Uses 6 Cs as a strategy for engagement: connection, communication, coordination, care, celebration, co-creation.
Safeguarding and volunteers Website 0:10:00
A NCVO page introducing safeguarding for volunteers and outlining some key principles. Also including links to Covid-19 guidelines.
Getting volunteer insurance Website 0:10:00
A NCVO page introducing different types of insurances that might be relevant to your organisation and how to get it.
Writing volunteer role descriptions Website 0:10:00 A NCVO page with advice for writing a volunteer role description.
 

Further reading

TitleTypeTimeDetails
McClelland's Achievement-Based Motivational Theory and ModelsArticle10:00A technical read on motivation theory for those wanting more of a deep dive into the psychology behind motivation.
Maslow's Hierarchy of NeedsArticle10:00A background and overview of Maslow's research and theory into human behaviour and motivation for those wanting more of a deep dive into the psychology behind motivation.
NCVO: Involving VolunteersWebsite00:05-1:00Practical and step by step guidance from NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) to help you manage volunteers and the process of volunteering well. NCVO is a well-respected organisation that provides training, support and advice to the voluntary sector as well as both helping to connect organisations together and representing the voluntary sector to government.
My CommunityWebsite00:05-1:00A hub with lots of resources on things relating to communities. Find resources on funding, help creating partnerships, marketing, engaging communities, business and finances, governance and organisational structure, and staff and volunteer management.
Time well spent: A national survey on the volunteer experienceReport00:10:00-01:00:00A report of a survey into the reasons why people volunteer. Study from 2019 (pre-COVID).
NCVO: Understanding VolunteeringWebsite00:05-1:00Guidance from NCVO. Including what is volunteering, why involve volunteers, writing a volunteer strategy and equity, diversity and inclusion in volunteering.
Bang the TableTool00:05-1:00An online platform for engaging community and stakeholders in decision making.
New LocalNetwork00:05-1:00An independent think tank and network of councils, with a mission to transform public services and unlock community power.
Writing a volunteer strategyWebsite0:20:00A NCVO page with advice for writing a volunteering strategy featuring some useful examples.
Writing a volunteer policyWebsite0:10:00A NCVO page with advice for writing a volunteer strategy.
NCVO: Recruiting and welcoming volunteersWebsite00:05:00-01:00:00Guidance from NCVO. Including how to recruit volunteers, writing a volunteer agreement and running a volunteer induction.
NCVO: Motivation and engagementWebsite0:10:00Article from NCVO on motivating and engaging staff. This mainly focuses on employees but there is some useful advice in here on motivating teams in general, for example finding out about people's motivations and what their needs are in a role.
From Conflict to Co-operationBooklet00:30:00-01:00:005 booklets from Co-operatives UK Limited on how to manage conflict in an organisation. Booklets are as follows:
Booklet 1: Conflict - where it comes from and how to deal with it
Booklet 2: Communication skills
Booklet 3: Meetings and decision-making
Booklet 4: Organisational growth and development
Booklet 5: Role and responsibilities of the board

Slides

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