There are a variety of ways to get the word out:
- Word of mouth
- Talks and presentations
- Volunteer Bureau & Job Centers
- Volunteer websites such as Do-it.org, local authority websites, Reach, etc.
- Adverts in local papers and local/trade magazines
- Open days/recruitment events
- Local radio
- Posters
- Social media
Word of mouth relies on you knowing people who might be interested, or having contacts with groups or individuals that might pass the word on. It might be worth looking at clubs, societies, or groups in the local area who are interested in a related subject. You may have existing volunteers who have these contacts, and searching on social media might help you find more.
If you identify a group who might be interested in your subject area or who live in the locality, e.g. resident groups, contact them. If they physically meet up you can ask to give a talk or presentation about your project. This is an opportunity for you highlight you passion for the project as a whole, but to end with a request for them to get involved, perhaps for funding the project as well as volunteering their time. Of course, it is also possible to give this kind of talk or presentation online using software such as Zoom or Discord.
There may be organisations in your area that specialise in community groups and volunteers, such as Local Volunteer Bureaus. There are also national organisations such as https://volunteeringmatters.org.uk/ or https://www.ncvo.org.uk/ . Job Centres may offer a similar service for people who are out of work and would benefit from work experience. Local authorities such as county or district councils sometimes have volunteer services or supply access to national volunteer websites such as www.Do-it.org or www.vInspired.com (for youth volunteers). They may also have the ability to carry out checks such as DBS on your behalf, and spaces you can advertise your roles, either physically or online.
There are other websites that could help you advertise for a volunteer, including https://reachvolunteering.org.uk/ and https://wearencs.com/ for youth volunteer projects, as well as some job websites such as https://uk.indeed.com/ or https://www.countryside-jobs.com/ .
While these work websites also let you post volunteer roles, be careful not to say a volunteer role is an internship or work placement if that is not what you are offering.
You can also place adverts in local papers, local magazines or newsletters, or subject specific magazines. However, most of these will charge, so be sure to budget for that expense.
You could give your recruitment campaign focus by organising an open day or event. This might be a “behind the scenes” look at your venue, a day of talks from local experts, or a demonstration – perhaps having existing volunteers showing off what they do and inviting people to try for themselves.
Do consider providing refreshments, do ensure your venue is accessible and has access to toilets, do collect contact details, and do make it clear that people can get involved and volunteer with your project. Having an event tends to draw more local media interest which means you may get free articles in local press and even interview time on local radio. Posters are also useful for getting information out is a specific place.
The role of social media cannot be over-emphasised when it comes to volunteer recruitment in the modern age. Creating an event on Facebook allows people to invite their friends to your event, while a Facebook group gives you a relatively captive audience for your messages and helps to build up community links between your volunteers.
You can advertise your activities on both local or interest-based Facebook Groups. If you have beautiful photos of your venue or project then Instagram is your ideal format. Videos are great for getting attention on Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok, and these days can be shot and edited on most phones. Twitter is a good tool for broadcasting updates and announcements, particularly if you create interesting and memorable hashtags and encourage others to use them when they have related content.
Once you have a group of people who are interested in volunteering and following your project, make sure they can easily keep up-to-date by offering dedicated information sources such as a mailing list, WhatsApp group, or Discord server.
Do be aware that you need consent to share peoples’ information. This means you can’t send an email with visible email addresses, or add people to a regular WhatsApp group without their specific consent, as their contact details (email address and/or phone number) would be shared with the other recipients.