Recruitment Insights

General Volunteer Recruitment Suggestions

Why Volunteer? A Royal National Institute of the Blind Recording
The audio recording linked below is taken from a CD that was produced by volunteers Salli Belsham and Sophie Doig for the Royal National Institute of the Blind, headquartered in London, England, in time for International Volunteer Day, 5 December 2003.  You'll hear the voices of a dozen real volunteers, explaining what they do at RNIB, why they participate (what they get from it), what they especially like, and what they'd like to tell others considering the step to apply to volunteer at RNIB.

The CD was created for several reasons:

  • To reflect on the long history of volunteers at RNIB and recognize how they have filled many diverse roles.
  • To celebrate current volunteers through the voices of representative individuals.
  • To be a tool in recruiting new volunteers.
  • To educate RNIB paid staff about the scope of volunteering and volunteers within the organisation.

Rob Jackson, RNIB Volunteering Development Manager, is sharing this innovative tool with his volunteerism colleagues in the hope of sparking their creative juices. CDs are relatively inexpensive to produce and appeal to new audiences. During 2004, RNIB will be testing the CD in various ways, including mailing physical copies to current and prospective volunteers, using the recording in staff training sessions, and playing it at recruitment events.

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First minute of audio (1 mb)
Entire Audio, 8 minutes (9 mb)

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Entire Audio, 8 minutes (9 mb)

This is a copyrighted work posted here for listening only.  It may not be copied, redistributed, or excerpted without permission of RNIB. 

For physical copies of the CD, copyright information, and/or to provide feedback on the recording, please contact: rob.jackson@rnib.org.uk.

Submitted anonymously
As you think about how to get and keep good volunteers, try to see doors not walls. This month's national day of service, Make a Difference Day, is your next annual chance to harness goodwill and connect the dutiful with an outlet for their compassion. Yet locally the volunteer bureau has nothing up and nothing planned, which seems lazy. The reason why your organizations don't have more competent samaritans is that our news is being delivered after the fact. Instead of reading the news, we hear it commuting or during lunch and dinner. PSAs are one thought, but posters, interviews, event coverage, human interest features and editorials are also good ways of announcing upcoming social occasions.

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