Managing Volunteers

1
Managing Volunteers

• What is a volunteer?
• A Volunteers work is
• Ø    done of one's own free will
• Ø    provides a service to the community
• Ø    is done without monetary reward, excluding
  out of pocket expenses.

2
The Big Picture

• Ø    80 of administration in SR is carried out
  by volunteers.
• Ø    In 2005, 20 of the total number of
  Australian volunteers were in sport and
  recreation (down from 23 in 2001).
• Ø    75 of sport volunteers do volunteer work on
  a weekly basis.

3
Profile of Sport Volunteers

• Males in sport/recreation (60 ),
• females in community welfare (60 ).
• within the age range of 35-44,
• males in full time employment,
• females not in FT employment (44 unemployed, 36
  PT, 20 FT).

4
Volunteer numbers in Australian sport are
declining

• Because
• 1.    Club Administration and Compliance with
  regulations
• 2.    Fear of litigation among volunteers
• 3.    Insurance Issues- from associations either
  refusing to cover volunteers or not being able to
  insure them
• 4.    Increase in work hours, leaving less hours
  for volunteering
• 5.    Parents spending all their time driving
  children to and from sports
• 6.    People unwilling to commit to a role for
  fear that they wont be able to find a
  replacement (leaving them stuck in the role long
  term),or unwilling to take on such a large
  responsibility.
• 7.    Family commitments

5
WHY VOLUNTEER?

• 1.  to help others (78.4)
• 2.    contribute to a valuable cause (75.2)
• 3.    have fun (68.9)
• 4.    promote sport and recreation (63.3)
• 5.    family (61.9)
• 6.    contribution to the community (54.6)
• 7.    use develop skills/expertise (51.2)
• 8.    learn new skills (42.6)
• 9.    companionship friendship (34.5)
• 10.  build self confidence
• 11.   feel needed, useful and appreciated
• 12.    gain a new direction in life

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MANAGING VOLUNTEERS

• Three essential components
• Recruitment
• Training
• retention

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1.    Recruitment Strategy

• Objective - to examine and plan every aspect of
  volunteer recruitment
• Members are the best source of new recruits,
• past volunteers are also an excellent source,
• supporters/spectators may be possible volunteers,
  
• schools/unis etc. may welcome the practical
  experience and opportunity,
•     Keep up-to-date records of volunteers
  (particularly contact details),
•     Ensure you recruit the right people because
  it is difficult to let people down when they have
  offered.
•  

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1.    Training Strategy

•        Outline necessary training and sources
  of training.
•        Program training for the year.
•        Ensure regular meetings with volunteers
  to (i) offer support, (ii) check on task
  performance (iii) offer training suggestions and
  (iv) reward motivate.
• Stress the importance of leadership.
•  

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3. Retention Strategy

• 1. Induction
• Meet brief volunteers
• Identify training needs
• Develop retain their confidence
• 2. Support
•        Show appreciation
•        Offer help and support
•        Training
•        Listen
•        Strengthen links between volunteers
• 3. Recognition
•        Letters or certificates of
  appreciation
•        Acknowledgement verbally, in
  newsletter, AGM etc
•        Rewards (t-shirt, complimentary
  tickets, meal and petrol vouchers)
•        Send get well cards birthday cards
•        Reimburse for out of pocket expenses
•        Opportunities to meet sports people
•        Volunteer of the Month.