Valuing Volunteers

Do your swimmers actually know what work is needed to make a competition happen? Are your supporters aware of what makes the club survive?
 
Most volunteers say that they do not expect to be thanked or rewarded for their involvement because they enjoy it. However, it is likely that those same people would say something along the lines of “it makes all the difference knowing that you are appreciated and that you’re making a positive contribution”! People like to be appreciated and to be thanked for work they have done and volunteers are no exception.

Failing to recognise volunteers and making them feel appreciated and valued can often lead to people losing their motivation for volunteering.
 
How Can Volunteers Be Recognised
There are many different ways in which you can reward and recognise your volunteers, and raise the profile of volunteering at the same time. A few ideas are suggested below.

• A straight forward face to face thank you – probably the simplest method of all but often not used enough.
• Make a phone call, perhaps the day after an event such as a festival, to say thank you.
• Send them a card – make it specific to the role they play.
• Remember dates special to that volunteer – their 50th birthday etc. and send a card.
• Use ‘dinner-on-us’ vouchers, certificates, social evenings, invitations to events.
• Display photos of your volunteer team on your club notice board – make sure all your volunteers are pictured, including those who help out occasionally.
• Create a new notice board dedicated to volunteers and volunteering – remember to update it regularly to keep it interesting.
• Support development opportunities by helping with the costs of training courses.
• Have a ‘volunteer of the month’ – you could use your notice board, match programme or even start a newsletter to publicise it.
• Provide a pathway for volunteers to progress through so they can find new and challenging roles.
• Give volunteers a team identity with T-shirts, badges etc.
• Invite volunteers to club events, taking the time to introduce them to other members of the club – don’t forget to mention the role they play.
• Name volunteers in match reports, committee reports and minutes.
• If you have a club website, why not use this as a format for featuring volunteers.
• Use National Volunteer Week (usually 1st – 7th June each year) as an opportunity to thank your volunteers and to recruit new ones.
• Nominate someone for the ASA Aquaforce Volunteer Awards or other local schemes.