7 ways to make your volunteers feel valued

Whether they work hard behind the scenes at events, raise awareness in the local community, or work directly with beneficiaries, volunteers play a critical role in your charity’s success.

Recognising and rewarding them is fundamental to your volunteer retention strategy. They’re giving up their precious time to help you after all.

So, what can you do to make them feel valued? Here are 7 top tips to get you started…

1. Show them they’re part of the team

Volunteers are an integral part of your organisation, not an add-on service, so make them feel that way. This can be done very simply by sending them newsletters, including them in staff emails, and inviting them to staff events.

Also, just as you would have 1:1’s/check in meetings with staff, do the same for volunteers. It can be a short check-in call to check they’re happy and getting the support they need, and it’s a key opportunity to thank them for their hard work.

2. Match tasks to volunteers’ skills

Volunteers shouldn’t be bored. They should feel engaged, useful, and excited to help you out. A way to do this is to place each volunteer in a job that makes use of their talents and potential.

Ask them where their interests and talents lie. For example, if one of your volunteers is artistic, get them involved in the design of posters and flyers to promote your events. If someone else thrives on social interaction, have them make thank you calls to donors, or attend community events that are raising money on your behalf.

3. Show them the impact of their work

Volunteers give up their time as they want to make a difference, so it’s important that they understand the value of what they do. For example, a homeless charity in Scotland puts stickers on the envelopes of letters sent out by their fundraising volunteers. This way, when funds came in, they can tell how much was raised directly through the volunteer’s efforts.

4. Organise social events

Everyone loves a good party, so why not organise them periodically to show your volunteers how important they are? They don’t have to be flashy and expensive. Prosecco and nibbles on a Friday afternoon in the office is a great way to show your gratitude.

Volunteers will appreciate the effort and enjoy the opportunity to get together, particularly if paid employees are there too.

You could also organise lunches for your volunteers to say thank you. You could order in a load of pizza or ask each person to bring in an item to share and have an office picnic.

5. Offer rewards and training

Sign-up for a rewards scheme such as Tempo, and your volunteers can earn digital time credits that can be redeemed for rewards, such as free cinema tickets or exercise classes. A handy little perk, these rewards are funded by businesses that want to give back to their local communities, so it won’t cost you a penny.

You can also help your volunteers develop their skills with training. Alongside in-house seminars, mentoring and on-the-job training, the Open University has a wide selection of useful courses, including one on working in the voluntary sector.

6. Give and receive feedback

Asking volunteers for feedback is extremely worthwhile, as they’re in a great position to see things that paid members of staff might not, such as improvements to processes. Don’t forget to ask if there’s anything they need to perform their roles better.

Volunteers are often very close to beneficiaries as well—sometimes they have used your charity’s services themselves or have a loved one or close friend who has been affected by your cause. So, if you have volunteers with long service who have the right experience, it could be valuable to ask them to join key meetings to share their opinions and feedback.

It goes without saying, if you do this, make sure they’re taken seriously, and take their ideas on board where possible.

7. Write LinkedIn endorsements

LinkedIn endorsements are the online equivalent of letters of recommendation. By writing these, you can highlight specific skills the volunteers have demonstrated, and this will be public on their profile for future employers. Encourage your staff to endorse them as well to make them really feel appreciated.

Final Word

You can recognise and reward volunteers in many ways. But make sure you have a proactive, consistent plan and don’t let it be an after-thought. Be fair in your treatment of volunteers and, above all, be sincere in your appreciation.

Volunteers are exceptionally valuable to charities, so celebrate them as much as you can.

If you want more advice on finding volunteers, or you’re looking for talented, paid fundraisers for your team, give us a call on 0203 750 3111.

Is Your Charity Taking Advantage of the Social Value Act?

Every year, the UK government spends £292 billion on goods, work and services from external suppliers, including charities.

How do you make sure your charity is one of them?

The easiest way is to understand the Social Value Act and how you can use it to your advantage.

What is the Social Value Act?

The Social Value Act was first introduced in 2012. Under this law, publicly funded organisations and companies providing services to the public have to think about the social, economic, and environmental impacts of how they spend their money, and how their spending can improve wellbeing.

The goal of the legislation was to make sure public money was spent in a smart and beneficial way.

Last year, the Procurement Policy Note came into effect (an amendment to the Social Value Act). In a nutshell, the update says that public bodies stating they have corporate and social responsibility policies and programmes will no longer cut it. The direct social impact of the policies must be evidenced.

The update also outlined specific areas that the government wants to focus on: COVID-19 recovery, tackling economical inequalities, fighting climate change, advancing equality of opportunities, and improving wellbeing.

What does this have to do with charities?

The Social Value Act was brought in to make sure that when publicly funded organisations and companies offering public services pay external groups for goods, work, or services, they’re choosing organisations which do good for the world and their communities.

This is where charities come in. Having stronger requirements for public organisations when it comes to social value means that they have a much higher incentive to work with charities.

If you are in a position to put yourself forward for contracts/opportunities, you can use the Social Value Act’s requirements to help you stand out from the competition.

For example:

• Emphasise your local links. The Social Value Act is all about benefiting communities. This is easier on a local level.

• Show evidence of your impact. Now that this is a requirement for organisations, it’ll help if this information is available and easily accessible. It shows you know what you’re doing and that you can make their job easier if you end up working together.

• Link your projects and skills to the areas the government wants to focus on.
  

Where do I start?

• Websites like whatimpact and the Gov.UK Contracts Finder can help you find the right partners to work with.

• Read the VCSEs: A guide to working with government guidance: a government guide for voluntary, community and social enterprise groups.

• If you’re likely to be working with big contracts, make sure you get comprehensive legal advice from a firm that’s up to date on rules, regulations, and best practices.
  

Even with these resources, competing for contracts can be tough. More than anything, you need the right staff. And that’s where we come in. Give us a call on 0203 750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to find out how we can help.

Busting the Myths: Job Hunting

When you’re job hunting, do you find that everywhere you turn, people are offering you advice? ‘Don’t bother looking for a job over the summer, everyone’s away’… ‘Apply for as many jobs as you can. It’ll improve your chances.’… ‘Cover letters don’t matter. Focus on your CV’.

As helpful as people are trying to be, some of the advice is just plain wrong.

Here are seven common myths about landing a job - debunked.

1. Charities stop recruiting over the summer

Many people think that hiring grinds to a halt at certain periods – such as over the summer or over the Christmas holidays.

But the truth is people leave their jobs and/or change roles all the time, and they need to be replaced.

Roles that were being recruited for in the spring may still be sourced over the summer. In other words, your dream job could pop up anytime, so keep looking!

2. Cover letters don’t matter

We hate to break it to you, but cover letters are still an integral part of the job search.

Why? Your CV gives an account of your work experience, skill sets and core competencies. But your cover letter humanises you.

It’s not a silver bullet, but, if it’s well written, a hiring manager may spend more than 6 seconds reviewing it. So, every time you apply for a position, send a customised, well-written cover letter. Make it compelling and fun to read and you may well be onto a winner.

3. Changing jobs regularly is frowned upon by employers

Today, employers appreciate that people switch jobs. Where people used to stick at one job for life, it’s common for people to change jobs between 10 to 15 times during their career, with the average tenure being 4.6 years.

Employers recognise this. They know that to “climb the ladder”, employees have to change jobs regularly – within reason! A series of 3-month stints will be hard to explain as anything but job hopping, so be careful!

4. You’ll have a tough time getting a job if you’re over a certain age

Ageism hasn’t been eradicated, but the workplace has changed drastically in the last 30 years. People over 50 are no longer seen as ‘old’ – they’re seen as seasoned and experienced. And this is what many employers are looking for.

Employees (of any age) need to have tactical skills and a strategic mind. In addition, the right attitude and temperament goes a long way. Bring these qualities to the table and your age won’t matter one bit.

5. You need to tick every single box on the job and person specification to get selected

We’ve seen many job seekers talk themselves out of applying for jobs because they didn’t meet every listed requirement.

The fact is, in the same way, you’ll never find the “perfect” job, it’s highly unlikely a charity will find the perfect candidate, in as much as they are an exact match for every qualification.

Many times, it’s the top 2 - 3 qualifications in the job description that carry much of the weight. Over and above that, proactivity, creativity, and a willingness to learn can carry you far.

6. The more jobs I apply for, the greater my chances of landing a job

Nope. Employers can spot a generic, mass application a mile off, and they do not go down well. In fact, they’re usually filed in the ‘bin’.

Employers look for applications that are tailored to their organisation and job opening, from candidates who have done their research and clearly demonstrated why they would be great for the role.

The bottom line is, sending out more applications probably won’t increase your chances of getting a job, but sending out better quality ones will.

7. If I haven’t heard back within a few days of applying, I didn’t get it

The recruitment process can be a lengthy one. Approvals for each stage of the process can drag on. This is often because several levels of management may need to approve the shortlist of resumes to call in for interviews. Or sometimes a crucial person may be off sick, or on holiday.

Also, a top candidate may drop out of the process for some reason, which can set everything back.

So, keep answering the phone in a friendly voice and checking your messages frequently. The sorting, selecting and responding can often take weeks or more.

If you’re concerned, you can always send a polite email or call to follow up. Contrary to popular belief, this won’t annoy employers. It’ll show you’re keen and interested in the role.

Caveat: It goes without saying, don’t hound them every day for an update. You want to seem keen, but play it cool at the same time!

Need some help finding your dream fundraising job? Give us a call on 0203 750 3111 to get started.

5 ways to develop professionally at work when you're pressed for time!

Professional development is important. We all want to feel like we’re making progress and learning at work. You may well set aside time to focus on it, but it’s easy to get sidetracked by fundraising deadlines, ’urgent’ emails and requests from colleagues.

However, there are ways around it. Here are a few tips to help you progress professionally in the office.

1. Sign-up to relevant industry emails and blogs

There are a host of relevant fundraising blogs, newsletters and mailing lists to help you keep up to date with the latest developments in the industry. For example, check out Fundraising UK Ltd.

There are also general charity publications such as Charity Today and the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. If you don’t have time to read them when they arrive, flag them in your inbox and read during your lunch break, in those few snatched minutes between meetings, or at the start of your day with a coffee and croissant.

2. Connect with other charity professionals

You’d be surprised how much you can learn from other people working in the charity sector. So why not join CharityConnect, the online community for UK charity professionals?

Just spending a few minutes a day reading the conversations and asking questions can be enlightening.

3. Find a mentor

Want some help and advice on growing in your current role and/or taking the next step? A mentor could be the ideal solution.

A mentor is someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person. In an organisational setting, a mentor influences the personal and professional growth of a mentee. Essentially, it’s like having your own career cheerleader!

There’s a wealth of free mentoring schemes you can sign up for. Check out the CIPD and CharityComms for starters.

4. Listen to podcasts and watch TED Talks

An easy way to increase your industry knowledge is to listen to a podcast on your commute. Charity Chat covers various topics related to the sector.

Or why not watch a TED Talk on the way home? Simon Sinek’s How great leaders inspire action is a great watch for anyone who works for, or wants to work for, a charity as it discusses focusing on ‘why’ you do what you do.

5. Catch up with your webinars on a Friday afternoon

Do you sign-up to webinars but then not have time to attend? Usually, if you sign-up, you’ll be sent a recording afterwards. So why not take the opportunity to catch up on a Friday afternoon, while doing some admin? You can have the webinar playing in the background and kill two birds with one stone. CAF have some interesting ones on a range of topics, from ‘how to build long-term relationships with your donors’ to ‘Facebook tips for small and medium-sized charities’.

It can be a struggle to find the time for learning during the working week, but the trick is to build small amounts of time into your daily routine. If you can squeeze in one or two of these quick ideas, you’ll keep your skills and knowledge on point!

If you’re looking for a job in fundraising, give us a call on 0203 750 3111.

Green fundraising: Five tips to reduce your environmental impact

The weather is heating up across the UK. It’s a stark reminder that climate change is a very real problem.

The World Health Organisation anticipates that from 2030, 250,000 people will die each year due to the effects of climate change.

And the Climate Clock shows there are just seven years before the damage becomes irreversible.

With this in mind, here are five ways you can make your fundraising more eco-friendly.

1. Include it in your mission

Your cause may not directly relate to the environment, but your environmental impact matters.

Let’s say you support children’s mental health. Knowing that by the time those children grow up, they will be at serious risk of health problems and an increasingly uninhabitable planet can’t be good for their mental well-being.

Maybe you fund research for a specific health condition.

If hospitals are overloaded with climate change-related health emergencies, there will be longer waiting times and fewer beds available for the people you help.

2. Review your purchases

Every purchase you make, from volunteer t-shirts and printer paper to laptops and light bulbs, is an opportunity to make a small but meaningful change.

Before parting with your cash, ask yourself if it’s an essential purchase.

There’s a reason the word ‘reduce’ exists in the phrase ‘reduce, reuse, recycle. It’s the easiest way to reduce our environmental impact.

If the purchase is necessary, ask your supplier if the product is sustainably made and recyclable.

If possible, buy from a local supplier, to reduce emissions from shipping.

You may not be able to tick all the boxes, but, to quote Tesco, ‘every little helps’.

3. Look at your waste

Are you creating waste by buying more than you need? Or are you throwing things away when they could be reused or recycled?

A quick audit of your bins can be very revealing.

These days, most charities recycle paper and card as standard, but plastic, organic waste, glass, batteries, printer cartridges, and coffee cups often get overlooked.

Here are four key reasons to recycle:

• Preserves precious natural resources

  Recycling items rather than using raw materials to make new things preserves the planet’s natural resources, which, in the face of population growth and growing demand, won’t last forever.

• Saves energy

  Recycling uses less energy than extracting, processing, and transporting raw materials to make new products.

• Less harm to the environment

  Think about how raw materials are extracted, and the harm these activities do to the earth. Mining, quarrying, logging, and fracking contribute to air and water pollution and destroy animal’s habitats.

• Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill

  Recycling reduces the amount of waste we send to landfill. This is important as waste rots in landfill, leaching toxins into the groundwater and soil. As it decomposes, it gives off greenhouse gases like methane, which contribute to global warming.

4. Check your energy supplier

Not all energy suppliers are created equal when it comes to sustainability.

Some still use fossil fuels, while others have committed to 100% renewable energy.

Sure, the power of a charity is in its people, but electricity helps too. So why not make it environmentally friendly?

Check out this list of 100% renewable energy providers in the UK and consider making the switch.

Want to find yourself a sustainability specialist? We can help. Give us a call on 0203 750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to find out how.