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Recruitment: a fresh approach

Gold Scout Mate

What is it?

Gold Scout Mate is an award to reward the active recruitment of new adult volunteers. It can also complement the Six-step plan to recruitment by generating names for step 3.

How is it achieved?

The Section needs to take part in three activities to encourage volunteer recruitment and be successful in recruiting someone! Sections may join together to do the activities but each Section must successfully recruit a new volunteer in order to gain the badge.

Why do people volunteer?

In a survey by Volunteer England the most common reason given for deciding to volunteer was that ‘someone asked me’ but of almost equal importance was the response ‘I offered to help’. Your activities will need to appeal to both of these groups to stand the best chance of success. This means getting the attention of people who have contact with Scouting as well as those who know little about it. People also like to volunteer because they feel they are helping the community, to gain new skills and to meet new people -so keep that in mind too!

Activity One - Hold an event

Have a party or open day, in the evening or on the weekend – choose what will work best for your Section and the people you want to attract as volunteers.  Be sure to invite people connected with Scouting, such as parents, and people who may know little or nothing about it.

Your event should include:

• A warm welcome.
• Young people telling others about Scouting – this could be by means of pictures, poems, drama, by example, or a mixture of the methods.
• Adult volunteers telling the guests why they like volunteering. You might like to include people who work with young people as well as others like your Group/District Chair or Treasurer in this. Remember it’s important to tell people what you actually do – not just your job title!
• A chance for people to ask questions – this could be a question and answer session, or a place where people can write their questions so they can be answered during the event.
• Asking people to volunteer  - whether you do this one to one, in song & dance or by means of a poster, do remember to ask!!! Decide who will be following up any expressions of interest before the event so there is no delay.
• Feedback from attendants – whether positive or negative, it is important to know why people decided to volunteer or not. This way, you can avoid the mistakes next time and concentrate on the bits they liked.

What you do is up to you – but if you think of it from the point of view of your guests and potential volunteers you are more likely to succeed in your aim to recruit someone.

Activity Two - Run a poster campaign

To promote your event and volunteering run a poster campaign for at least three weeks before the event. This will help you attract people who might not think of volunteering for Scouting. The ‘Gold Scoutmate’ support disk contains poster templates or you could create your own. Make sure you include a contact number for people wanting to know more and be prepared to talk to them about the opportunities you have.

Arrange to put posters in places such as:

supermarkets, libraries, at parents’ places of work, places of worship, doctors or dentists waiting rooms, the pool or leisure centre, in shops and cafes, in the school staff room or the local volunteer centre, in gyms and community centres – or anywhere local where people visit. Agree who is going to put a poster where and get everyone in the section to put up at least one.

Activity Three - Get an item in the local newspaper, on radio or TV.

Do an upbeat press release to promote volunteering either before or at the time of your event. Use ‘Shouting For Scouting’ an excellent resource, to guide you through the process of preparing copy and taking exciting photographs. It’s available to download from ScoutBase by following the link below. Alternatively get help from your Group or District Public Relations Advisor if you have one.

Remember to put a contact number on your press release and include a copy of your press cutting or a recording of your TV or Radio item with your application for the award. Originally Gold Scout Mate was only for 2005 but has now been extended for 2006 and beyond.

To discuss your plans, for an application form or to receive a copy of the Gold Scout Mate support CD please contact Jane Town, County Adult Development Officer, email: jane@kentscouts.org.uk

Further Information (Links):

Shouting for Scouting www.scoutbase.org.uk/hq/pr/s4s.htm