CPF Network Outreach to Volunteers

1. CPF Network Outreach to Volunteers October 2018 Janik Bastide, CPF Network Coordinator, Volunteer Support & Communications Nicole Thibault, Executive Director, CPF National

2. The Volunteer Engagement Cycle

3. Help! We NEED Volunteers … • Know why you want volunteers • Clarify volunteer roles (specific job descriptions) • Consider what type of volunteers are needed • Develop quality volunteer assignments, tasks • Consider volunteer preferences, motivation, availability • Develop a recruitment strategy

4. Types of Volunteers • Long-Term Volunteers – service at regular intervals; a year or more; requires orientation and training • Short-Term Volunteers – service for a set period of time or set assignment; requires specific orientation and training • Single-Day or Episodic Volunteers – short burst of service; requires minimal training, exception for repeated service. • Serendipitous Volunteers – service according to volunteer availability; low priority tasks or non time sensitive; low training requirement. • Skills-based Volunteers – service according to high level skill. The better you describe the roles in your job descriptions, the better you can decide who will be best-suited to the role, and the better you can give feedback which will lead to excellence in fulfilling the expectations of the role.

5. Ways to Promote your Volunteer Opportunities • Word of Mouth, Referrals – most effective • Where do your volunteers hang out? What do they read? Who influences them? • Communications Vehicles: local newspaper, social media, internet, local community bulletin boards, school or community meetings, volunteer recruitment events (kiosks) • Pool of Volunteers • Seniors, grand parents / retired professionals • Youth / Students

6. Seniors • Seniors contribute the most volunteering hours compared to any other age group • Value in seniors: knowledge, skills, experience, more time to dedicate, larger network • Benefits for seniors • E.g. remain engaged active members of their communities, positive aging, positive health changes • Overcoming barriers specific to seniors • E.g. physical limitations, health difficulties, inability to make long term commitments • Hands-on approach of recruiting • E.g. religious locations, clubs and associations, special interest groups

7. Youth Engagement • Involvement that best matches their skills, interests, and needs • Getting them passionate about volunteering • Opportunities to learn new skills and talents • Opportunities to gain community hour requirements

8. NEW: Volunteer Screening Process • CPF Application / Registration Process - Standard for ALL volunteers • Legal and insurance compliance, safe working environment, safety of volunteers • Child safety, working with vulnerable persons • Privacy and confidentiality • Orientation to General Volunteer Opportunities, Expectations (policies, processes, manuals, etc.) • Training specific to Volunteer Role • Support & Supervision, Follow-up & Feedback, • Recognition of Volunteers

9. Volunteer Recognition • Recognition is “formal and informal favourable attention given to an individual to provide a sense of appreciation” • Needs to be embedded in volunteer management practices • Allocated budget for volunteer involvement • Working with branch support and resources • How do volunteers want to be recognised? • Provides sense of belonging and accomplishment • E.g. On-going and informal, banquet or formal gathering • Youth vs senior recognition • How do YOU recognize your volunteers?

10. As CPF Volunteers, how do you want your efforts recognized?

11. Volunteer Communications – Blog • What do the volunteers need to know? • What do the volunteers already know?  • What do the volunteers want to know?  • What would be relevant, useful? • What is best timing? • What is best means to be welcoming and engaging?

12. Volunteer Communications: How can CPF National be responsive to volunteers’ needs?

13. Thank you! Merci! Contact Janik with suggestions or for supportjbastide@cpf.ca