Summer Reading Challenge 2013

Involving Young Volunteers

Training Presentation

Section 1: why involve young people as volunteers? The benefits, and the results to dateSection 2: resources and roles to support young volunteers helping with the Summer Reading Challenge in 2013Section 3: paperwork!Section 4: accreditation, recognition and evaluation

SECTION 1

Why involve young people as volunteers? The benefits, and the results to date

How has volunteering with the Summer Reading Challenge

developed?• Library services have involved young people as

volunteers helping with Summer Reading Challenge for many years, e.g. West Sussex, Essex ,Tameside, London Borough of Lewisham

• In 2010 The Reading Agency had funding from volunteer charity v and the John Laing Charitable Trust to develop the volunteering programme for the Summer Reading Challenge

How has volunteering with the Summer Reading Challenge

developed?• 2010 – 20 pilot authorities

trained/supported• 2011 – 50 authorities

trained/supported• 2012 – all authorities

offered training/support• From 2011 to 2013, funded

by John Laing Charitable Trust

Benefits of involving young volunteers – for libraries

• Support with administering the Summer Reading Challenge• A more youthful image• The enthusiasm and fresh perspective of young people• The skills young people can bring – such as digital/creative

skills• Increased library usage by young people• A link with local communities• Help to deliver activities• Staff confidence in working positively with young people• A fresh look at working practices

Benefits of involving young volunteers – for young people

• Valuable work experience; especially good for those thinking of a career working with children

• Counts towards accreditation for CVs, UCAS applications etc., E.g. Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

• A reference for employment• The opportunity to develop confidence, social skills,

employment opportunities and literacy skills • The opportunity to make a positive contribution to their

communities – they want to help children succeed• A chance to make new friends• Encouragement to read more

Benefits of involving young volunteers – for children

• More one-to-one attention from volunteers and staff• A chance to talk in more detail about their reading

experiences• Reading role models to raise their aspirations• Help with digital technology• New, creative activities linked to the Challenge• Encouragement to complete the Challenge

Library service offer to partner organisations

For local volunteer organisations, youth services, universities, colleges and schools:• Safe places – and in all areas• Supportive staff• Good practices• Work with children• In the holidays!• Opportunity for progression

In the words of a young volunteer…"I never used to be a confident reader but volunteering made me see how confident I could be. If you'd asked me 4 years ago if you thought I'd be at Downing Street now I'd have said 'no'. I've loved every single minute of volunteering and it's improved my confidence miles.” Tom Hotston, 15, Reading Activist, Warrington

Reading Activists at Downing Street, Jan 2013

Volunteers speak about their experiences

You can listen to more volunteers speaking about their experiences at: www.readingagency.org.uk/young-people/003-skills/resources

Results 2012

• 4382 young volunteers aged 11-24 years recruited (5761 volunteers in total across all ages)

• 49% increase in the number of volunteers recruited compared with 2011

• 97% of volunteers said they learnt new things and gained skills and experience through volunteering for the Summer Reading Challenge

• 85% of volunteers said they would like to keep volunteering in a library after the Summer Reading Challenge has finished.

Results 2012 – libraries and reading

• 67% of volunteers said they would use their libraries more ”There are many resources in the libraries which we take for granted and since working in a library I understand how much hard work the staff put in to maintaining the library for our benefit. Getting to know the staff has been a privilege and is much appreciated.”

Hareeka, 17, Hounslow

• 53% felt that they were more interested in books and reading

as a result of volunteering ”I have witnessed first hand the positive impact that reading has on young children which has inspired me greatly to pursue my own reading.”

Georgia, 17, Gloucestershire

Results 2012

“Proved very successful, enjoyed by the volunteers and extremely helpful and useful to the library staff. They were very enthusiastic and got fully involved in registering children, helping with craft activities, talking to children and parents about the challenge and reading and encouraging children to keep going and finish.”Mark Heaton, Rotherham

• 84% of library authorities said in their opinion the volunteers helped more children to complete the Challenge.

• Anecdotal evidence that male volunteers are proving to be good role models for boys

Comments from library staff

“Children and parents very much appreciated the volunteers and the time that they were able to spend with children, and male volunteers certainly encouraged boys taking part.”Carol Hales, Surrey Libraries

“Families report that having volunteers for their children to discuss their reading with was really beneficial and adds value to the scheme”Russell Allen, West Sussex Libraries

Results 2012

• 85% of volunteers said they would like to keep volunteering in a library after the Summer Reading Challenge has finished.

• 65% of library authorities have offered volunteers opportunities to continue volunteering in the library or the community after the summer, with offers made to at least 1023 volunteers.

• In addition, 15 library authorities offered job opportunities to 27 volunteers.

• More details on results can be found in the report on The Reading Agency website: www.readingagency.org.uk

Further volunteering

• Help with family fun days; manga group; craft events; Bookstart; promoting self service machines.

• Helping to run Chatterbooks groups• Helping with book groups, helping with activities, helping with the home library

service, helping with an adult listening group.• Helping at homework clubs and with children's activities• Supporting staff with half-term and weekend events• Peer Mentoring project with Home Work club, Youth consultancy projects to buy

stock• Assisting with other library events• Running a teenage reading group, visits to libraries with questionnaires for the

public.• Helping with Family Learning Festival, rhymetimes, holiday activities, Reading

Activist opportunities

Volunteer snapshot: Jodie

“I would definitely encourage other young people to volunteer for the Summer Reading Challenge, as it has been a rewarding experience for me. I have met new people, developed new skills and also had fun volunteering. The skills I have obtained have been very useful for getting a job, so I would encourage other people to volunteer to help enhance their own CVs.”Jodie Carpenter, 21, Dudley

Sharing Experiences

• Over the summer, volunteers were encouraged to blog about their experiences. Here are some of the young people and some of the ways they got involved.

• One of the young volunteers, Hannah from South Gloucestershire, even created her own children's book during her volunteering work, which she read to groups of children at storytime events.

SECTION 2

Resources and roles to support young volunteers helping with the Summer Reading Challenge in 2013

• Resources• Volunteer badges• Certificates• Activity sheets• Reading Activists’ web page• Reading/book list

Volunteer roles

• Summer Reading Challenge Activists• Helping children take part in the Challenge

• Reporters• Blogging and recording

• Ambassadors• Visiting schools to talk about Challenge

• Leaders• Planning and supporting

Summer Reading Challenge Activist

• Signing children up to the Challenge

• Helping children to find and choose books

• Listening to them talking about their books

• Helping children to use the Summer Reading Challenge website – add titles to the Book Sorter

• Helping with events• Using activity sheets and other

ideas to help children share their reading choices with their peers

• Collecting data for evaluation

Volunteer Snapshot: Activist

James did 175 hours of volunteering in two libraries in Warrington during summer 2012. He was one of the Reading Activists invited to a celebration event at No. 11 Downing Street.

Reporters

Reporters are volunteers with an interest in gaining media and journalism skills. They help promote the Challenge online and profile their library’s work. The role might include:• Taking photos and video footage• Writing reviews of activities and

events• Promoting the Challenge via

blogging, and posting photos and news items.

• Talking to the press• Doing interviews for radio/TV

• You can read work from Reporters volunteering for last year’s Challenge here:

• http://readingagency.org.uk/young-people/002-showcase/star-storylab-reporters.html

LeadersLeaders have probably volunteered for the Challenge before and are looking to develop their skills and widen their experience. The role might include:• Running training sessions for other volunteers • Timetabling volunteer schedules• Mentoring volunteers throughout the Challenge• Planning volunteer team building events and activities • Planning volunteer celebration events

Volunteer Snapshot: Leader

Alex, a volunteer from Wakefield, worked with Wakefield Library service to create a film of the Summer Reading Challenge in 2011. This year he is progressing to a leader and mentor role:

“I am in talks with Wakefield Library Service to progress into a mentor for volunteering in Wakefield and give training on video editing and creation. I hope that during this summer I would be able to visit all my districts libraries and possibly shoot some more footage in order to create a video for the 2013 reading challenge alongside the volunteers and staff of Wakefield Library Service.”

Ambassadors

Ambassadors encourage children in primary schools during the school summer term to take part in the Summer Reading Challenge. The role might include:• Going into other schools with presentations about the

Challenge• Creating displays in schools• Running activities and events during the Summer term

to encourage children to take part in the Challenge• Volunteering in libraries over the summer

SECTION 3Paperwork: volunteer policy, risk assessment, volunteer agreement, etc.

Volunteer Policy

Having a volunteer policy:• is a clear statement that you care about volunteers• ensures everyone understands the rationale• makes it easier to recruit and retain volunteers• ensures good quality• enables you to evidence good practice• supports you in complying with legal requirements• sets out expectations for all• helps with evaluation

What’s in a volunteer policy?

• written statement of service values and the role that volunteers play in delivering them

• health and safety requirements• an explanation of expectations • roles that volunteers play and the protection and

benefits they are entitled to• guidelines for recruitment and selection • information about induction, training and supervision • guidelines for recognition and reward• a code of practice

Recruitment

Where are you going to advertise? • In library• At schools• On website/social media• Vinspired website• Do-it website• Or simply ask young people

from reading groups/other

Which partners are you going to work with to recruit volunteers?• Schools• Colleges• Universities• Local volunteering

organisations• Vinvolved teams

Selecting young volunteers

• Do you need to use application forms?• How will you interview young people?• Will you need parental permission?• What if applicants aren’t suitable?• Importance of equal opportunities

Keeping everyone safe

Follow your local authority guidelines:• Health and Safety policy• Risk assessment• Training and induction• Child protection• DBS checking

Induction

• Do it quickly!• Make it fun • Train young people together• Prepare a volunteer agreement

Support for young volunteers

Think about• Group/ peer support for volunteers (mobile

numbers?)• Staff support for volunteers• Service support for volunteers (including when

local relationships break down)

SECTION 4Accreditation, recognition and evaluation

Accreditation Awards

• Duke of Edinburgh’s Award• ASDAN Activities Award• Youth Achievement Award• Arts Award• Children’s University • Local Awards• Vinspired• Welsh Bacc/International Bacc• Saltire Award

Celebrating Achievement

• Certificate• Awards ceremony – ask

councillors/mayor/local dignitaries

• Young volunteers can present medals to children and vice versa!

Evaluation

We need to evaluate:• Numbers of young people volunteering • How many hours• Evidence of young people’s experience• Accreditation gained• Further volunteering/job opportunitiesFor the Summer Reading Challenge we also want to monitor:• Any increase in take up and completion rate by children• Any differences volunteers make for the children taking part

Evaluation methods

• For volunteers:• Registration form and survey

Ethnicity, gender and age Confidence/attitudes to libraries/expectations before volunteering

• Post-volunteering survey Confidence/attitudes to libraries/skills gained after volunteering

• For libraries• Evaluation form – by authority• Comments/interviews with children

Good luck!

For more advice and resources please visit:

www.readingagency.org.uk/readingactivists