The first day I volunteered at my local animal shelter, I didn't enjoy it.
I happened to arrive at a busy time, there was no one to show me around, and if you've ever heard the sound of 80+ dogs barking, you'll know it can feel intense!
I went to help. I wanted to be useful, but as I stood there with people and dogs milling around me, I didn't know how.
A more confident person might have grabbed a lead and got stuck in. I'm quite shy in new situations, so I went and hid in the cat house. Much more civilised 😂
Luckily, a lovely and experienced volunteer found me and asked if I wanted a tour.
He introduced me to every dog, told me about the rules and routines, and went on my first walk with me.
After that, all was well (I now go 4-5 times a week to help out and walk dogs like the gorgeous Glenda pictured above).
The shelter is a tiny, under-resourced charity, they need volunteers to function. It's completely understandable that they don't have time for a formal induction. But... how how could they make sure everyone who walks through the gate with the intention to help feels able to?
That's something I'm helping them with at the moment:
- what to expect when you arrive
- setting up a buddy system with a more experienced volunteer
- having rules and routines clearly displayed
- adding a few words under each animals' name to describe them
Volunteers Week is coming up (3-9 June), and if you're planning to recruit new volunteers, you might want to think about how you'll set expectations and welcome people before you design your advert.
So, here's a link (in comments) to a useful Better Story blog about just that👇
#Volunteering #VolunteersWeek #CharityComms #AnimalLovers
[Image description: Glenda the dog. A medium sized, black, brown and white ex-hunting dog stands happily in long grass looking at the camera. Backdrop of mountains and blue sky.]
Executive Leadership | Marketing & Brand Strategy | Creative Direction
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