Engaging Youth Volunteers - Toolkit and Experiences (UK)

18/09/2017

Volunteering Matters, London 2015

Full copy available here

ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE SELDOM HEARD – APPENDIX TO YOUTH SOCIAL ACTION IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TOOLKIT

Volunteering Matters, November 23, 2016

Full copy available here

These two reports outline issues and activities to consider in engaging youth volunteers and a brief outline of recommendations following experience with running volunteer programs in health and aged care, and community projects in London.

The Toolkit provides ideas and suggestions for developing a program for youth volunteering around these topics:

  • Benefits of Youth Volunteering and Developing the Business Case.
  • Creating Attractive and Successful Youth Volunteering Roles
  • Managing Your Programme and Volunteers
  • Getting Started
  • Recruiting Young Volunteers
  • Recognising Volunteer Contribution
  • Effective Fundraising
  • Measuring and Demonstrating Impact

 

While this is for the UK and aimed at health and social care, the ideas and suggestions could be applied to any youth volunteering program.

The Appendix is a two-page information sheet which outlines seven recommendations arising from youth volunteering projects in London since 2009.

  1. Go to where young people are – seek them out, don’t expect them to come to you.
  2. Look further then schools and colleges - approach youth hubs and centres
  3. Tailor your offer for young people
  4. Tap into the interests of young person e.g. music
  5. Provide opportunities to volunteer with friends
  6. Be prepared to invest in supporting a young person initially
  7. Consider supported volunteer schemes to support young people with disabilities to volunteer

The seven recommendations apply to any youth volunteering program and can be used as a checklist.