Recent feedback from the highly successful volunteers week at the beginning of June suggests that Voluntary Groups in Peterborough are not meeting volunteers half way.

In a hard hitting statement Sarah Fletcher, Assistant General Secretary of Peterborough Council for Voluntary Service, said,

"Volunteer Week proved hugely successful. Unfortunately, many potential volunteers are losing motivation due to the length of time local organisations are taking to respond to initial volunteer inquiries. Volunteers are approaching local groups expecting to be welcomed with open arms and getting a cool reception. This is not really good enough. Peterborough needs volunteers, and we have plenty. Unfortunately, some volunteers are independently reporting no response at all from some organisations!"

Annette Atkinson, Co-ordinator for Peterborough Volunteer Centre, agrees. She said, 'Last week we had 500 volunteer inquiries. That's 500 actual people registering an interest in being volunteers. We know that groups need volunteers but they just don't seem to be realising that people won't stick around for ever. When volunteers show an interest that interest is time-limited. Motivations change and people move on. Voluntary groups need to react quicker in contacting potential volunteers and spare a thought for the person waiting to hear from them."

Sarah Fletcher went on to say, "Voluntary Groups can make a huge difference to volunteer uptake just by responding quickly when someone shows interest in their group. A simple letter thanking the potential volunteer then following up within, say, 2-3 weeks is all that's needed to keep volunteers interested. Unfortunately few groups work to any recognised standards when working with volunteers and the differences between organisations is extreme. In the worst cases volunteers receive no contact at all from their chosen group. Sometimes volunteers get understandably very angry about this"

Human motivation is a precious and fragile thing. Most psychologists agree that If you catch people at their most motivated they will engage with an activity and stick with it. However, if motivation is not used or does not produce reward of some kind within a certain timescale then people will switch to something that does.

Volunteer recruitment and retention is a key area within the voluntary sector. However, it is also an area that is considerably neglected. In the coming decade it is likely that the voluntary sector will be called upon increasingly to plug gaps in front line services which is why the Government is promoting volunteering. Unfortunately this increasing the capacity of the sector to meet this challenge requires organisations to make a fundamental shift in their approach to volunteer recruitment and retention.

If Peterborough Groups want help in working effectively with volunteers then there is the VOICE group who meet to provide support to volunteer co-ordinators. The next meeting is on 17th September 2008.

Annette Atkinson is running two training courses for anyone recruiting volunteers. You can contact her on: 01733 311016