The background
BucksVision had been using the Buckinghamshire Volunteer Matching Service to find volunteers since 2022 with some success, so they were keen to have a presence on the Volunteer Bucks platform which replaced it.
The challenge
As with other charities, BucksVision was finding it increasingly more difficulat to recruit volunteers. Volunteer Bucks helped them to get their roles out to a wider audience who were actively looking to take on a volunteer role.
The solution
BucksVision started using Volunteer Bucks after attending a webinar on how to use it and how to get started as an organisation.
They have found the platform to be user friendly and easy to navigate: “It takes about 30 minutes to add a role to the platform – mainly due to getting the knack of uploading the images but it gets easier when you have completed a few.”
Volunteer Bucks has a number of useful functions which has helped the charity to communicate with people who are interested in their roles including the chat function to make initial contact with the volunteer, and the email facility to send application forms and to respond to any queries.
The result
In just three months, BucksVision successfully recruited seven volunteers through the platform: three administrators, three drivers, and one befriender. They have also noted that interest in some of their roles has been higher than usual – for example, they received seven applications for one admin role.
The main challenge the charity has faced is the time it takes to follow up with the numerous applications. Some people who have said they are interested in a role do not respond, but this is something that they have also experienced through their other recruitment methods.
“We are looking at starting a new recruitment campaign soon to attract volunteers between the ages of 18 and 25. We will be using Volunteer Bucks as part of this as we feel it will help us reach new potential volunteers from across Buckinghamshire.”
Further information
- If your organisation needs volunteers, share your volunteer roles on the Volunteer Bucks platform for free. For more information and to register, visit the Volunteer Bucks website
- If your organisation needs tailored advice on recruiting and managing volunteers, book a free one-to-one session via the Request Support form.
- To access guidance on managing volunteers, go to the Recruiting and managing volunteers webpage.
