1. CPF Network Outreach to Volunteers
October 2018
Janik Bastide, CPF Network Coordinator, Volunteer Support & Communications
Nicole Thibault, Executive Director, CPF National 1

2. The Volunteer Engagement Cycle

3. Help! We NEED Volunteers …
Know why you want volunteers
Clarify volunteer roles (specific job descriptions)
Consider what type of volunteers are needed
Develop quality volunteer assignments, tasks
Consider volunteer preferences, motivation, availability
Develop a recruitment strategy

4. Types of Volunteers
Long-Term Volunteers – service at regular intervals; a year or more; requires orientation and training
Short-Term Volunteers – service for a set period of time or set assignment; requires specific orientation and training
Single-Day or Episodic Volunteers – short burst of service; requires minimal training, exception for repeated service.
Serendipitous Volunteers – service according to volunteer availability; low priority tasks or non time sensitive; low training requirement.
Skills-based Volunteers – service according to high level skill.
The better you describe the roles in your job descriptions, the better you can decide who will be best-suited to the role, and the better you can give feedback which will lead to excellence in fulfilling the expectations of the role.

5. Ways to Promote your Volunteer Opportunities
Word of Mouth, Referrals – most effective
Where do your volunteers hang out? What do they read? Who influences them?
Communications Vehicles: local newspaper, social media, internet, local community bulletin boards, school or community meetings, volunteer recruitment events (kiosks)
Pool of Volunteers
Seniors, grand parents / retired professionals
Youth / Students

6. Seniors
Seniors contribute the most volunteering hours compared to any other age group
Value in seniors: knowledge, skills, experience, more time to dedicate, larger network
Benefits for seniors
E.g. remain engaged active members of their communities, positive aging, positive health changes
Overcoming barriers specific to seniors
E.g. physical limitations, health difficulties, inability to make long term commitments
Hands-on approach of recruiting
E.g. religious locations, clubs and associations, special interest groups

7. Youth Engagement
Involvement that best matches their skills, interests, and needs
Getting them passionate about volunteering
Opportunities to learn new skills and talents
Opportunities to gain community hour requirements

8. NEW: Volunteer Screening Process
CPF Application / Registration Process - Standard for ALL volunteers
Legal and insurance compliance, safe working environment, safety of volunteers
Child safety, working with vulnerable persons
Privacy and confidentiality
Orientation to General Volunteer Opportunities, Expectations (policies, processes, manuals, etc.)
Training specific to Volunteer Role
Support & Supervision, Follow-up & Feedback,
Recognition of Volunteers

9. Volunteer Recognition
Recognition is “formal and informal favourable attention given to an individual to provide a sense of appreciation”
Needs to be embedded in volunteer management practices
Allocated budget for volunteer involvement
Working with branch support and resources
How do volunteers want to be recognised?
Provides sense of belonging and accomplishment
E.g. On-going and informal, banquet or formal gathering
Youth vs senior recognition
How do YOU recognize your volunteers?

10. As CPF Volunteers, how do you want your efforts recognized?

11. Volunteer Communications – Blog
What do the volunteers need to know?
What do the volunteers already know? 
What do the volunteers want to know? 
What would be relevant, useful?
What is best timing?
What is best means to be welcoming and engaging?

12. Volunteer Communications: How can CPF National be responsive to volunteers’ needs?12

13. Contact Janik with suggestions or for support jbastide@cpf.ca
Thank you! Merci!
Contact Janik with suggestions or for support