Flexible Volunteers

Increasingly, people do not want to commit to an organization as a volunteer for an extended period. They look for something for a month and then they are done. Or they want to help out every year during a festival week. Or they want to occasionally help at different organizations for half a day. And it is no longer just young people. Older people also want to finally be free after a lifetime of obligations. Cultural organizations, nature clubs, festivals, and sports organizations are used to working with these volunteers. In care and welfare organizations, it is not always easy to deploy these flex volunteers. How can you still make use of this voluntary energy?

Advantages

The positive aspects of working with these volunteers:

• It provides more manpower during busy periods
• As an organization, you get input from a new group of people
• You stay in tune with the times

Support

On the other hand, you need to guide this group differently or more intensively. Support from paid colleagues and other volunteers is needed, so that the flex volunteer is welcomed by the team. Working methods may need to be adjusted in some cases. Moreover, a multitude of new faces can be difficult for the team or clients. Is it all worth it?

Choices

To find out, it is essential to carefully examine which roles are and are not suitable for flexible volunteers to perform. Which role requires little onboarding time? Where can you pair flexible volunteers with regular volunteers? Which specialist projects can be carried out by a volunteer? Think of writing a communication plan or installing a computer program.

It is clear that working with people who come for a short time must be embedded in the organization. Everyone needs to see the added value and work processes must be aligned accordingly.

Policy

In short, flexible volunteering is part of volunteer policy and should address these questions:

1. Which roles are suitable for flexible volunteering?
2. How do you ensure acceptance of this group by regular volunteers and/or professionals?
3. How is this group onboarded? Is participation in trainings and orientations useful and effective for this group?
4. How is safety regarding vulnerable target groups ensured?
5. How do you handle privacy rules with people who are briefly part of your organization?

Tips

• Take the online training Working with flex volunteers
• Talk with one of our advisors about an approach for your organization
• Post flex vacancies on our job board

Because the supply of volunteers is there! They would love to come help you.