Volunteer Recruitment: Overcoming the BarriersCaroline Sprod

18 June 2015

About HandsOn Hong Kong

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About HandsOn Hong Kong (HOHK)

• Charity founded in 2007

• Mission: to mobilize and empower our community to meet pressing social needs in Hong Kong through volunteer services.

• Vision: a caring community that gives its time and talent to transform Hong Kong.

• We are helping Hong Kongers help Hong Kong!

• We set up, run and manage volunteer programs for local grassroots NGOs

• Volunteers register and sign up via our online calendar

• We take the burden away from the NGO partners, leaving them to enjoy the benefit of volunteer help

• Affiliate of the global HandsOn Network – a global network of local people serving local causes

• www.handsonhongkong.org

HandsOn Hong Kong – Our Focus

• Direct service to benefit the local community• Work with grass roots NGOs and community causes• Group activities• “Done in a Day” or less (usually much less)• Non skills based• Suitable for one-time volunteers• Also organize group volunteer activities for corporates

We do not provide volunteers for fundraising activities (unless for HOHK)

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Random Facts About Me!

• I’ve met 3 of the Queen’s 4 children

• I have 5 rescue dogs

• I wrote my university dissertation about Communist monuments in East Berlin post cold-war

Barriers for NGOs and Volunteers

Barriers for NGOs

• NGOs tell us they:

• Don’t know how to best use volunteers• Don’t know where to look for volunteers• Lack time to recruit and schedule in volunteers• Lack resources to supervise / manage volunteers• Had previous negative experience with volunteers

Barriers for Volunteers

• The good news: Hong Kongers are generous and want to give – in top 20 countries in World Giving Index

• 63% give to charity (10th worldwide), but only 15% volunteer (82nd worldwide)

• Key barriers:• Busy schedules• Unable to commit regularly• Unsure where and how to get involved• Unsure what most pressing needs are• Tried to offer help but got no response

Effective Volunteer Recruitment

Step 1: Identify your Volunteer Opportunities

• Start with your mission – what human resources do you need to achieve this?

• Which of these roles can be done by volunteers?• Which volunteer roles can be done virtually, in a

flexible or semi-flexible timeframe?

Step 2: Segment your Volunteer Opportunities

• Tasks that can be done by one-time volunteers, little training needed (eg packing meal boxes, beach cleans)

• Regular tasks requiring training and regular commitment (eg mentorship program, regular volunteers managing one-time volunteers)

• Specialist tasks requiring specific skills (eg accounting, translation, graphic design)

Step 3: Recruit as if for a Paid Role

• Put together job descriptions• Tell people what you are looking for – and if you are

not looking• Maximize use of your website• Make sure staff know how to handle enquiries

about volunteering• Have an appropriate recruitment process• Have an appropriate contract

• Tip: Google Forms are online, free to use and simply processes for both sides

I want to volunteer

…but can’t find out how

Partnering with HandsOn Hong Kong

• Our system takes the burden away from the NGO partners, leaving them to enjoy the benefit of volunteer help

• Calendar of activities online• Each activity has a volunteer leader (or NGO leader)• Volunteers sign up online• Volunteer leader makes contact and coordinates with each

volunteer• Flexible and accessible• Wide range of opportunities• No regular commitment needed

Other Sources of Volunteers

• Agency for Volunteer Service www.avs.org.hk• Meet Up Volunteers

www.meetup.com/hongkongvolunteers/• Ho Sum www.ho-sum.com/ • International Schools• Universities• Your existing supporter base• Virtual volunteers: www.sparked.com

Being HandsOn

• If your needs don’t fit our approach:– Consider using volunteer leaders as part of your

volunteer management– Look at online booking systems like eventbrite.hk– Deal with no shows – let them know they let you

down – 3 strikes and you’re out

Thank you for joining me tonight!

Caroline Sprod

Executive Director, HandsOn Hong Kong

+852 2815 2559

caroline@handsonhongkong.org

www.handsonhongkong.org

f: /handsonhongkong | t: @handsonhongkong