Attracting Time and Talent Volunteer Engagement and Recognition 1 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Attracting Time and Talent Volunteer Engagement and Recognition 1

What is volunteering? • In 2015, Volunteering Australia developed a definition that reflects the contemporary nature of the sector and volunteering • It defines volunteering as: • “… time willingly given for the common good and without financial gain.” 2

Snapshot of Volunteering in Sport in Australia • In Australia 6.4 million volunteers support 700,000 NFPs • 2.3 million (37.5%) volunteer in sport and recreation (S&R) providing 180 million hours • 37.5% of all volunteers & 14% of the adult population • 1.2 million (55%) are male, • 1 million (45%) are female • 23% of people in couple families with children U15 are more likely to volunteer in S&R than other family types • People who volunteer in S&R have higher rates of participation • Volunteers power all aspects and levels of management and delivery • Imagine the cost if we had to pay for services volunteers deliver • Imagine sport without volunteers • Vibrant, active volunteer workforce is critical to Australian sport 3

Why is volunteering important? • Research shows that volunteering delivers important intrinsic and measurable benefits to society and the community, individuals and organisations. • Volunteering: • grows community strength, resilience and inclusiveness through active social and civic participation • generates innovative responses to community issues and challenges • harnesses the collective strengths and assets of the community and its members • enhances and extends organisational capacity through the acquisition of new skills, experiences and perspectives • provides pathways to participation, inclusion, skills development and employment • enables and drives economic growth • can generate a personal sense of purpose, meaning, achievement and wellbeing. 4

Why do people volunteer in cricket? • Love of the game • For their kids • For themselves • For experience • To help others • For social interaction • Why are you here today? • Why do you do what you do? 5

Margie’s Story 6

What are the challenges facing clubs with volunteers? • When asked clubs say “we can’t get volunteers” • Is it getting harder? • More requirements from government and regulatory bodies • Greater demand from parents in junior clubs • People consider themselves to be too busy to be involved • People think you need to know about cricket to be involved • Does the word volunteering have a negative connotation to people today? 7

Volunteer Challenges • Volunteering is personal & motivations differ • Perceived and real barriers to volunteering • Volunteering is evolving • Volunteers are different • Life-cycle and life-style changes • More life-experiences • More mobile, tech-savvy • Seeking options, opportunities to develop or use skills • Seeking reciprocal, collaborative, inclusive relationships • Diverse social, cultural, linguistic, religious backgrounds • Different generations, characteristics, motivations • Desire social networks and connectedness • For organisations and causes, in places, at times that suit them 8

What can we do? • In Cricket clubs we need to be flexible, creative, innovative to: • Balance organisations’ and volunteers’ needs • Accommodate different motivations & expectations • Remove or minimise barriers to volunteering • Support intergenerational and socially inclusive volunteering • Leverage diversity and new technologies • Engage not merely manage volunteers • Build a resilient volunteer involving organisation 9

What are our volunteers doing? • Many and varied • Recent workshop at the WACA identified nearly 90 roles or at least key tasks that people do at our clubs • Formal roles • President, Secretary, Treasurer, Coach etc • Other roles • Match day, Club Events, Website, BBQ, Bar/Canteen etc 10

What do clubs want and need from volunteers? • When you are looking for a volunteer, what does that mean at your club? • Do you know what you want? • Do you know how much time is involved? 11

Volunteers – where are they and how can we get them? • From within our club • Members • Families • From within our community • Retirees • Past members • Sponsors or local businesses • From outside our local area • Volunteering organisations • University students • Companies offering Corporate Volunteering Programs 12

Volunteers – where are they and how can we get them? • From within our club • Understand your membership • Identify roles • Ask! • From within our community • Create relationships with other community organisations and groups • Local government connections • Retirement or Lifestyle communities • From outside our local area • Volunteering Victoria • Companies offering Corporate Volunteering Programs 13

Volunteers – how do we make the most of them? • Keep our volunteers interested and engaged • Don’t overload them • Make them accountable – nobody is “just a volunteer” • Know where to go for help • Better club experiences 14

Volunteers – developing their skills and knowledge • There is help available • Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria • Sport and Recreation (State Govt) • Local government • Volunteering Australia and State subsidiaries • Private organisations with pay for service offerings • Other Volunteers – huge network of support in cricket – how can we connect it up? 15

Volunteers – developing their skills and knowledge • Workshops • Training sessions • Webinars • Resources via websites • Australian Cricket Staff 16

Volunteers – keeping them involved and interested • Make their contribution meaningful and valued • Recognise effort and outcomes • Reward effort and outcomes 17

Case Study • Quinns Rocks Junior Cricket Club • WA Junior Cricket Club of the Year • Club was not in good shape about 5 years ago • Using Volunteer Management Framework and other Club Development Resources have gone on to be a benchmark club • President said to me recently “I’ve now got too many volunteers” 18

How can we create a club culture of volunteering? • Know your clubs purpose and what your members want • Get the right people • Have a Volunteers Coordinator • Recognise and reward your people • Small roles – more people – more willingness to be involved • Lead by example and set an expectation that this is how our club grows and develops 19

What makes a good volunteer? • Passion for sport , passion for kids, passion for community, • What is your passion? Linked to earlier when we talked about why? • Know why you want to and why you actually volunteer • Skills and alignment of this to the role • Maximising available time • Contributing to club and community • Gets their job done 20

Volunteer Recognition • Not just “Volunteer of the Year Awards” • Not just recognising length of service • Small and immediate recognition means a lot • Doesn’t need to be a “prize” • Shirts, name badges, call out at meetings, presentations, events • Don’t underestimate a simple “Thank You” 21

Recap Key Points • Know what roles you need volunteer for • Identify the skills/talent required • Identify the time commitment required • Know your members and align skills/talent and time commitment/availability to the role • Ask directly with purpose • Share the load – more “bite sized volunteering” opportunities • Create a club culture of volunteering – it’s really just being a good club member • As a club, know your purpose, know your values and have a plan • Volunteers need to feel valued and empowered • Challenge yourself to think differently about volunteering and volunteers 22

Resources available • Volunteer Management Framework • Cricket Victoria website • Community.cricket.com.au • Volunteering Australia and Volunteering Victoria • Cricket Victoria Staff • Play by the Rules • Sport Australia 23