Developing student volunteering - Attracting the unusual suspects
Attracting the Unusual Suspects Student Volunteering Week is a great opportunity to involve the ‘unusual suspects’ in volunteering. This will help you to create a greater impact during the week, and who knows, you might get a few new committed volunteers along the way! This guide will give you some key things to think about when considering how to get as many students at your institution involved in your SVW activities as possible. But first… Who are the unusual suspects? Engaging the unusual suspects is all very well, but what does the term actually mean? The unusual suspects will be different at each university or college, but they broadly fit into two categories - firstly they’re those groups who don’t traditionally engage with volunteering opportunities, and secondly they’re those that your volunteering activities are not reaching out to. So, how best can you plan your celebrations to cater for all students at your institutions? 1.
Engaging with the concept of volunteering If someone is an unusual suspect, then it probably means that they don’t identify with the word volunteering. Volunteering is often marketed in a very specific way that only appeals to a certain group of people. Can you think of any alternative names for your volunteering opportunities to shake things up a bit? Can it be described as ‘doing something good’, ‘helping out’, ‘giving back’, or something else entirely? The more ways you can describe an opportunity, the more people you’re likely to attract. Let your imagination go wild! 2. Tailored volunteering opportunities Again, volunteering activities can be perceived to be quite limited, and don’t often require a particular skillset. As well as running more traditional community volunteering activities, can you create more tailored activities that might appeal to people who wouldn’t relate to your usual range? If you’ve got tech-minded people, why not help them to volunteer for a local organisation that needs a new website, and if you’ve got sports students, maybe they can run a sports-themed day for young carers in the local area. Providing specific and skilled opportunities will help you attract students who might not have previously considered volunteering. 3. Help people to identify the benefits of volunteering Motivation falls in to two categories: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation is driven by the personal rewards gained from volunteering, i.e. the feeling of doing good, knowing it will be fun. Extrinsic motivations are driven by the rewards that volunteering might bring, and might be to gain accreditation, or gain CV points. It’s important to help people to identify both the intrinsic and extrinsic benefits of volunteering when advertising opportunities. Bare in mind though, that focusing too heavily on the extrinsic benefits that volunteering brings (the CV points!) can put off those motivated by the good cause. 4. How can I attract more students who we’re not currently reaching? Finally, something to consider when trying to attract the unusual suspects is your advertising strategy. If you’re going to reach the unusual suspects, you’re going to need to try something new – don’t just reply on your website and facebook page! Consider all of the different communication channels to students, including stalls, posters, flyers and stunts and use them to start engaging with those that might not have come across your opportunities before.
Engaging with the concept of volunteering If someone is an unusual suspect, then it probably means that they don’t identify with the word volunteering. Volunteering is often marketed in a very specific way that only appeals to a certain group of people. Can you think of any alternative names for your volunteering opportunities to shake things up a bit? Can it be described as ‘doing something good’, ‘helping out’, ‘giving back’, or something else entirely? The more ways you can describe an opportunity, the more people you’re likely to attract. Let your imagination go wild! 2. Tailored volunteering opportunities Again, volunteering activities can be perceived to be quite limited, and don’t often require a particular skillset. As well as running more traditional community volunteering activities, can you create more tailored activities that might appeal to people who wouldn’t relate to your usual range? If you’ve got tech-minded people, why not help them to volunteer for a local organisation that needs a new website, and if you’ve got sports students, maybe they can run a sports-themed day for young carers in the local area. Providing specific and skilled opportunities will help you attract students who might not have previously considered volunteering. 3. Help people to identify the benefits of volunteering Motivation falls in to two categories: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation is driven by the personal rewards gained from volunteering, i.e. the feeling of doing good, knowing it will be fun. Extrinsic motivations are driven by the rewards that volunteering might bring, and might be to gain accreditation, or gain CV points. It’s important to help people to identify both the intrinsic and extrinsic benefits of volunteering when advertising opportunities. Bare in mind though, that focusing too heavily on the extrinsic benefits that volunteering brings (the CV points!) can put off those motivated by the good cause. 4. How can I attract more students who we’re not currently reaching? Finally, something to consider when trying to attract the unusual suspects is your advertising strategy. If you’re going to reach the unusual suspects, you’re going to need to try something new – don’t just reply on your website and facebook page! Consider all of the different communication channels to students, including stalls, posters, flyers and stunts and use them to start engaging with those that might not have come across your opportunities before.
