Volunteer recruitment and retention:
Growing supportive volunteer communities
Get started
Introduction
Foundations of volunteering
Building a volunteer programme
Volunteer recruitment and management
Real-world application
Next
Introduction
Next
What a volunteer policy should include:
ANIMACIÓN
Recruitment
Why it matters
Ensures volunteers are welcomed fairly and inclusively. For example, making roles accessible to SEND volunteers or offering information in multiple languages.
Induction and training
Expenses
Supervision and support
Data protection
Problem-solving
Section
Helps volunteers feel safe, prepared and ready to contribute.
Clarifies which costs (e.g., travel, mileage, refreshments) can be reimbursed and how, helping remove financial barriers to participation.
Sets expectations for check-ins, mentoring or line management.
Explains how personal information will be stored and used, ensuring GDPR compliance.
Provides a clear, transparent process for raising and resolving issues.
Next
Volunteer recruitment and managment
Recruiting the right volunteers starts with purpose, not posters. It’s about inspiring people to join your club’s journey and showing them how they can make a difference. 👇 Tap each card to explore practical ways to attract and inspire new volunteers.
Be clear and flexible
Use your network
Start with purpose
Make it personal
Next
Real world application
Evidencing impact
To sustain and grow your volunteer base, it’s vital to understand, measure, and share the difference volunteers make. Capturing and communicating this value strengthens your foundations, supports funding bids, and shows the real community impact volunteers create.
Collect stories
Track volunteer time
Survey volunteers
Include in reports and applications
Create visuals to share
Next
FAQ's
What responsibilities does the club have towards volunteers?
Can volunteers be paid?
Are volunteers classed as employees?
Do volunteers need DBS checks?
Do volunteers need an agreement?
Next
Audio
Ready to put your knowledge into action?
We’ve put together a set of practical resources to help you take the next steps with confidence:
Click ‘Save and exit’ at the top right, and we’ll send your action pack straight to your email inbox!
Start with purpose
- People are inspired by why your club exists not just what needs doing
- Share your mission - how your club changes lives, builds confidence, and supports your community
- When people see the difference your club makes, they want to be part of it
Tip: Use stories or social posts that celebrate impact not job adverts.
Make it personal
- The most effective recruitment tool is a conversation
- When someone feels personally invited, they’re far more likely to say yes
- Ask people directly, share why you think they’d be great, and show them how their help matters
Tip: End sessions with “we’re looking for people to help with…”, plant the seed often.
Survey volunteers
Ask your volunteers about their experiences, motivations, and outcomes. Things like wellbeing, confidence, and skills developed. This helps identify what’s working well and where support could improve. Tool: Use the sport and recreation alliances' GIVERS Framework to shape questions around growth, Impact, voice, experience, recognition, and social connection.
Be clear and flexible
- Set out what the role involves, the time commitment, and any skills needed, but keep it open
- Some people can give an hour a month, others a day a week, every bit helps
- Clear expectations avoid confusion and boost confidence for new volunteers
Tip: Create “bite-sized” roles like event helper, kit coordinator, or social media assistant.
Create visuals to share
Turn your data into visuals that people can see and celebrate. Infographics, social posts, or short videos make your achievements easy to understand and share. Example: “This year, our 45 volunteers gave 1,100 hours, that’s worth over £12,500 and countless smiles.”
Use your network
- Look close to home parents, students, retired members, or local partners
- Reach out to schools, colleges, and businesses offering volunteering hours or placements
Example: Team up with a local college’s sport or childcare course for volunteer placements.
Are volunteers classed as employees?
Answer: No. Volunteers give their time freely and aren’t employed by the club, so employment laws like wages or contracts don’t apply. However, volunteers should still be treated with the same respect and professionalism as staff. That means clear communication, safe working conditions, and fair treatment.
Where to go for support: Use the Volunteer agreement template in your action pack to set expectations clearly and fairly.
Track volunteer time
Keep a simple record of volunteer hours each week or month.
Multiply these by an hourly rate (such as the National Living Wage) to show the in-kind financial value of their contribution. Tip: Share totals at your AGM or in newsletters, it’s a powerful way to show the true value of community effort.
Do volunteers need DBS checks?
Where to go for support:
- Contact your NGB safeguarding team or club welfare officer for DBS eligibility advice
- Review your Volunteer onboarding checklist to make sure DBS steps are included at the right stage
Answer: Anyone who works directly with children, young people, or vulnerable adults should have an up to date DBS check. For other roles, it depends on the level and type of contact they have. Always follow your sport’s National Governing Body (NGB) guidance.
Include in report and applications
Highlight volunteer impact in your annual report, funding bids, or club updates. Combine stats (hours given, roles filled) with stories that show the human difference behind the numbers. Tip: Add a “volunteer impact” section to your next committee or funding presentation, funders love to see tangible, people-centred results.
Collect stories
Capture short stories or quotes from both volunteers and participants. Personal experiences help bring data to life, showing how volunteering builds confidence, creates friendships, or changes lives. Tip: Gather stories through informal chats, end-of-session feedback, or “volunteer spotlights” on social media.
Can volunteers be paid?
Where to go for support: Use your Volunteer agreement template to explain which expenses can be reimbursed and how.
Answer: Volunteers shouldn’t be paid for their time, this could legally change their status to “employee.” However, clubs can and should reimburse genuine out-of-pocket expenses, such as travel or refreshments, to make volunteering accessible to everyone.
Do volunteers need an agreement?
Where to go for support: Download the Volunteer agreement template to create one that fits your club’s culture and structure.
Answer: Yes, a simple volunteer agreement helps both sides understand what to expect. It outlines the volunteer’s role, what support the club will offer, and how issues or questions can be raised. It’s not a legal contract, it’s about clarity and mutual respect.
What responsibilities does the club have towards volunteers?
Answer: Clubs have a duty of care to provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment. That includes:
- Clear safeguarding, equality, and health & safety policies
- Appropriate insurance cover
- Access to supervision, feedback, and training opportunities
Where to go for support: Check your Volunteer onboarding checklist for the key steps to welcome and protect volunteers from day one.
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Transcript
Volunteer recruitment and retention:
Growing supportive volunteer communities
Get started
Introduction
Foundations of volunteering
Building a volunteer programme
Volunteer recruitment and management
Real-world application
Next
Introduction
Next
What a volunteer policy should include:
ANIMACIÓN
Recruitment
Why it matters
Ensures volunteers are welcomed fairly and inclusively. For example, making roles accessible to SEND volunteers or offering information in multiple languages.
Induction and training
Expenses
Supervision and support
Data protection
Problem-solving
Section
Helps volunteers feel safe, prepared and ready to contribute.
Clarifies which costs (e.g., travel, mileage, refreshments) can be reimbursed and how, helping remove financial barriers to participation.
Sets expectations for check-ins, mentoring or line management.
Explains how personal information will be stored and used, ensuring GDPR compliance.
Provides a clear, transparent process for raising and resolving issues.
Next
Volunteer recruitment and managment
Recruiting the right volunteers starts with purpose, not posters. It’s about inspiring people to join your club’s journey and showing them how they can make a difference. 👇 Tap each card to explore practical ways to attract and inspire new volunteers.
Be clear and flexible
Use your network
Start with purpose
Make it personal
Next
Real world application
Evidencing impact
To sustain and grow your volunteer base, it’s vital to understand, measure, and share the difference volunteers make. Capturing and communicating this value strengthens your foundations, supports funding bids, and shows the real community impact volunteers create.
Collect stories
Track volunteer time
Survey volunteers
Include in reports and applications
Create visuals to share
Next
FAQ's
What responsibilities does the club have towards volunteers?
Can volunteers be paid?
Are volunteers classed as employees?
Do volunteers need DBS checks?
Do volunteers need an agreement?
Next
Audio
Ready to put your knowledge into action?
We’ve put together a set of practical resources to help you take the next steps with confidence:
Click ‘Save and exit’ at the top right, and we’ll send your action pack straight to your email inbox!
Start with purpose
- People are inspired by why your club exists not just what needs doing
- Share your mission - how your club changes lives, builds confidence, and supports your community
- When people see the difference your club makes, they want to be part of it
Tip: Use stories or social posts that celebrate impact not job adverts.Make it personal
- The most effective recruitment tool is a conversation
- When someone feels personally invited, they’re far more likely to say yes
- Ask people directly, share why you think they’d be great, and show them how their help matters
Tip: End sessions with “we’re looking for people to help with…”, plant the seed often.Survey volunteers
Ask your volunteers about their experiences, motivations, and outcomes. Things like wellbeing, confidence, and skills developed. This helps identify what’s working well and where support could improve. Tool: Use the sport and recreation alliances' GIVERS Framework to shape questions around growth, Impact, voice, experience, recognition, and social connection.
Be clear and flexible
- Set out what the role involves, the time commitment, and any skills needed, but keep it open
- Some people can give an hour a month, others a day a week, every bit helps
- Clear expectations avoid confusion and boost confidence for new volunteers
Tip: Create “bite-sized” roles like event helper, kit coordinator, or social media assistant.Create visuals to share
Turn your data into visuals that people can see and celebrate. Infographics, social posts, or short videos make your achievements easy to understand and share. Example: “This year, our 45 volunteers gave 1,100 hours, that’s worth over £12,500 and countless smiles.”
Use your network
- Look close to home parents, students, retired members, or local partners
- Reach out to schools, colleges, and businesses offering volunteering hours or placements
Example: Team up with a local college’s sport or childcare course for volunteer placements.Are volunteers classed as employees?
Answer: No. Volunteers give their time freely and aren’t employed by the club, so employment laws like wages or contracts don’t apply. However, volunteers should still be treated with the same respect and professionalism as staff. That means clear communication, safe working conditions, and fair treatment.
Where to go for support: Use the Volunteer agreement template in your action pack to set expectations clearly and fairly.
Track volunteer time
Keep a simple record of volunteer hours each week or month. Multiply these by an hourly rate (such as the National Living Wage) to show the in-kind financial value of their contribution. Tip: Share totals at your AGM or in newsletters, it’s a powerful way to show the true value of community effort.
Do volunteers need DBS checks?
Where to go for support:
Answer: Anyone who works directly with children, young people, or vulnerable adults should have an up to date DBS check. For other roles, it depends on the level and type of contact they have. Always follow your sport’s National Governing Body (NGB) guidance.
Include in report and applications
Highlight volunteer impact in your annual report, funding bids, or club updates. Combine stats (hours given, roles filled) with stories that show the human difference behind the numbers. Tip: Add a “volunteer impact” section to your next committee or funding presentation, funders love to see tangible, people-centred results.
Collect stories
Capture short stories or quotes from both volunteers and participants. Personal experiences help bring data to life, showing how volunteering builds confidence, creates friendships, or changes lives. Tip: Gather stories through informal chats, end-of-session feedback, or “volunteer spotlights” on social media.
Can volunteers be paid?
Where to go for support: Use your Volunteer agreement template to explain which expenses can be reimbursed and how.
Answer: Volunteers shouldn’t be paid for their time, this could legally change their status to “employee.” However, clubs can and should reimburse genuine out-of-pocket expenses, such as travel or refreshments, to make volunteering accessible to everyone.
Do volunteers need an agreement?
Where to go for support: Download the Volunteer agreement template to create one that fits your club’s culture and structure.
Answer: Yes, a simple volunteer agreement helps both sides understand what to expect. It outlines the volunteer’s role, what support the club will offer, and how issues or questions can be raised. It’s not a legal contract, it’s about clarity and mutual respect.
What responsibilities does the club have towards volunteers?
Answer: Clubs have a duty of care to provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment. That includes:
Where to go for support: Check your Volunteer onboarding checklist for the key steps to welcome and protect volunteers from day one.