How can you appreciate volunteers?

December is the month of thanking and appreciating. Around December 7th, National Volunteers’ Day, many organizations thank their volunteers. How do they do that? Why is thanking so important? What can you do during the time of corona or if you have no budget?It may sound strange, but appreciation is one of the basic human needs. In addition to food and a safe place to live, appreciation ensures that you feel like you belong, that you are seen, and that you are meaningful in the group. This can be within your family, at your (volunteer) work, or in society as a whole.

Social reward

Appreciation is a form of social reward that leads to positive emotions such as pride, joy, satisfaction, or solidarity. In the brain, the area that processes rewards is activated, the ventral striatum, and this leads to the production of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex. This gives us a pleasant feeling about ourselves.

As a result, we can think more clearly, be more creative, and gain more diverse insights. We generate more new ideas and have a broader perspective.

For example, a test with doctors showed that when they receive a gift before making a diagnosis, they make a much better diagnosis and rely less on their first impression of the patient. Therefore, appreciation also helps us perform better!

What do we want appreciation for?

We want appreciation for the things we dedicate ourselves to. So if we have done our best to teach people how to ride a bike, we want that to be acknowledged. Regardless of whether it was successful. Of course, we also want appreciation for the results of our efforts: After the bike lessons, all participants can ride from home to the shopping center. And appreciation for the effect of this: Now that the participants can ride a bike, they go to places in the neighborhood where they didn’t go before and experience more freedom.

Appreciation gives people self-confidence and self-respect, thereby increasing the happiness of volunteering.

And what if we don’t receive any appreciation?

If people do not receive appreciation, it has various negative effects on them. You can be disappointed if you do not get recognition or you may become unsure if you are doing well. People can also become indifferent: apparently, it does not matter how I do my work. In extreme cases, a lack of appreciation can even lead to frustration, a negative work atmosphere, and protest.

Where can you appreciate a volunteer?

• For what someone has done, the effort
• For the results that someone has achieved
• For the impact of the deployment
• For the time someone has put into it
• For the enthusiasm of the volunteer
• For the knowledge that someone has transferred
• For empathy
• For collegiality
• For the flexibility
• For everything you are happy with!

The more personal the appreciation is, the more it is felt. A personal Sinterklaas poem does more than a chocolate letter that everyone receives.

How can you appreciate volunteers?

Volunteers like to be appreciated, but everyone has their preferences. One person may prefer parties, while another would rather receive a book voucher. Some volunteers may also feel that you shouldn’t spend too much money on appreciation. You will need to assess which form of appreciation best suits your volunteers.

• With a thank you, a pat on the back
• A heartfelt compliment
• A gift or gift voucher
• A party, a drink, an outing
• A word of thanks in a newsletter, email, letter, video, or speech
• A workshop or course
• Give more responsibility

How do you appreciate in times of corona?

Now that more COVID-19 measures are in place, many gatherings are being canceled. What can you still do?

• A card by mail or by email, e.g. via Amsterdam bedankt:send a free cardThis is a text translation task. Please provide the text you need to be translated into English.
• A personal email or WhatsApp
• Flower by mail (letterbox flower)
• Phone call
• Make a video and send it via WhatsApp or email
• Organize an online meeting and, for example, share stories about what you are proud of.
• Online Pub Quiz
• Pick up gift

How do you appreciate low budget?

If there is no money for gifts or parties, you can still consider these forms of appreciation:

• Make video, email, WhatsApp, call
• Meeting via Google Meet (free)
• Ask local businesses to fill the goody bag.
• Collaborating with a larger sponsor
• Upamsterdambedankt.nlYou will find some thank you actions from VCA and you can get free cards that you can send by mail or email.

Good luck with appreciating your volunteers! Well done 🙂