Volunteers' Week 2007

Put a smile on your volunteers' faces this
Volunteers' Week

Volunteers' Week Newsletter

Volunteers' Week is a national celebration of volunteers and volunteering which takes place from 1 – 7 June of each year

Click here to view the online version of the newsletter

Photography competition

There is still time to enter our Volunteers’ Week photography competition and win £200 of Dixons vouchers!

The picture should reflect and celebrate the contribution of volunteers in your local communities.  We are looking for dynamic shots of volunteers in a variety of different roles and settings. In particular, we are keen to see volunteers ‘in action’ to really capture the essence of what they are doing.

If you are a keen photographer, this is your chance to win £200 to spend on anything from new camera equipment to an iPod, courtesy of Dixons.co.uk

1st Prize - win £200 of dixons.co.uk vouchers
2nd Prize - win £100 of dixons.co.uk vouchers
3rd Prize – win £50 of dixons.co.uk vouchers

Enter the competition by completing the Entry Form and submit by email with your photo.  Any photos submitted without this form will not be accepted.  When attaching photos to your email, please ensure that files are in JPEG format are no larger than 1MB. 

All entries submitted with the entry form will be displayed on the website at the beginning of Volunteers’ Week and the winners of all three prizes will be showcased both on the website and in the June issue of Volunteering Magazine.

Entry forms and photos should be submitted to events@volunteeringengland.org
The deadline for entries is Friday 25th May 2007 – any photos submitted after this date will not be accepted, so make sure you get your entries in quickly.

For competition rules see the Volunteers’ Week website.

Recruiting volunteers

80% of people who responded to our survey last year said they had recruited volunteers as a result of their Volunteers’ Week activities in 2006.

Whether you are looking for a whole hoard of volunteers or just one to complement the rest of your team, there are many ways to let people know what you have to offer.

Volunteer stalls or fairs are a good way to connect with members of the public who may have time to spare. Volunteers’ Week events in the past have included funfairs, stalls in supermarkets or libraries. Why not set up your own?

Don’t forget that your existing volunteers are the best ambassadors for your organisation. Maybe they have friends who would like to get involved, but have never had the opportunity. Encourage your volunteers to ask their friends or family to join you, to see how satisfying your activities can be. 

If you would like more detailed information about how to go about recruiting volunteers' including how you can ensure that diversity features in your recruitment strategy, go to the registered users' area of our dedicated site. 

Have you set a VIP challenge?

The VIP challenge is for MPs and celebrities to raise the profile of volunteering in their area and help build links between opinion formers and the community.

If you are a Volunteer Centre and have not already heard from your MP, why not get in touch and let them know how they can get involved? For contact details of your local MP, as well as information on their interests, visit www.theyworkforyou.com. 

Alternatively, if you have already confirmed a visit from your local MP during Volunteers’ Week, make sure you let us know about your event on the What’s on area of the site.

Are you in need of some $upport?

If you need some additional funding for your Volunteers' Week activities it may be worth looking outside your organisation for support.

Before you contact an organisation which may be unlikely to respond to your request, spend time doing research before approaching them:
Things to consider are:
• What type or organisation should I contact?
• Who is the right person to contact?
• Is there a personal link (does somebody know somebody)?
• What are the criteria against which fundraising applications are assessed?
• Is there an application form? 

People are more likely to respond to a request if they know that your organisation is genuine and they are interested in your cause. Why not tell them about your organisation and what it achieves? Ask them to come along to the event, so that they can see how their assistance has made a difference.   

Don’t be put off by a “no” -  if a business cannot provide funds they may be able to provide gifts in kind, such as free use of their facilities for your activity or donations of surplus equipment or old stock.

For more tips on how to fundraise for your event, log into the registered users’ area.

Online message board

Swapping ideas and exchanging resources isn't always easy, but our online message board takes the hard work out of contacting other people who are celebrating Volunteers' Week. 

If you would like to put on joint celebrations with a local Volunteer Centre or have a room that you would like to offer to a group who needs premises for their party, why not send out a message?

Volunteers' Week

Volunteers’ Week is co-ordinated in England by Volunteering England. For more information on other Volunteering England projects & initiatives contact us at  www.volunteering.org.uk  or 0845 305 6979 or volunteering@volunteeringengland.org