When I saw that the local branch of a national charity was looking for volunteers, I applied. I had several years of experience working in PR and media, had some time to spare and was keen to use my communications skills to help a charity whose cause I felt passionately about.
After meeting with the volunteer manager and explaining my professional background, I didn’t hear anything back for weeks. Having been used to working in an environment where new jobs and contracts were agreed quickly and often on-the-spot, I was surprised at the lack of response. I was offering them my time, for free, for as long as they needed it – surely they would jump at the chance of help?
I had to chase them up a few times, and when they finally got back to me, rather than ask for help with PR and marketing, they gave me some routine admin to do.
I hated to admit it, but I was sorely disappointed. The task I was doing wasn’t particularly pressing, and I knew I’d be better placed helping with communications – but I didn’t want to seem pushy or demanding by insisting that they put me in a particular role. After all, I wanted to help them with whatever they needed most, so I felt that if they really just needed someone to do data entry, I ought to be happy to do it.
I resigned myself to my role and helped out at the odd fundraising event where I could, but it was enormously frustrating. The charity’s lack of strategy with their communications led to so much effort being wasted, yet they weren’t willing or able to allow me to help them in any significant way.
Eventually I left, the experience having put me off volunteering for a long time. I had gone from being full of enthusiasm and excited to help a charity I cared about, to frustrated and disillusioned with the whole process.
Sadly, my experience seems to be a common one. Several close friends have since told me that they have been put off volunteering because a charity hasn’t got back to them, or because when they did finally secure a volunteering role they were neglected or given tasks that didn’t suit their skills.
I realise that with charities so often being over-stretched and under-staffed, recruiting and managing volunteers can be a challenge. In my own case, perhaps I should have been clearer about what I wanted to do to help – after all, people give up their time for many reasons, whether that’s to use existing skills, to learn new ones, or just to become part of a community.
But whatever the motivation, it’s a charity’s job to ensure that both potential and existing volunteers feel valued, recognised and useful. In a climate where charities need all the help they can get, finding and keeping enthusiastic, dedicated volunteers should be a priority.
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