Optimising an organisations capacity and services through volunteer programmes is taking the cultural sector by storm. Jay Barron asks arts organisations to grab these opportunities with both hands.
While its true that some movers and shakers in the cultural sector have been cashing in on volunteer support, fortunately plenty of others have committed themselves to the continuing professional development opportunities that offering placements can provide. However, there are still a few who still dont understand volunteering and cannot comprehend why they should ever allocate time to it.
Personally, I would not be without volunteers and true to say, wherever I have worked there has always been a following of volunteers behind me (I ought to say at interview stage, if you take me on I have the power of ten men and women behind me!). Volunteers do add strength to a team and its projects; they can prove to be invaluable advocates, arrive at your office with a wealth of worldly cultural experience behind them, bring un- institutionalised bubbliness to your day and more often than not possess the greatest enthusiasm and drive a drive that is ignited during their college/university days and is so often stamped out when they start to apply and apply again for cultural sector experience required jobs. Some organisations and individuals may take the view that they are protecting themselves, their jobs or their time by not offering more placements, but in opening our doors to the next generation of cultural sector professionals, we can make their journey into the cultural bubble a little smoother.
Here at Artswork we have developed what I would call a makes sense and all encompassing Volunteering Programme. Not only is Artswork a national youth arts organisation, committed to young people in the arts, but it has also shone light on a structurally radical concept: building the very core of the organisations structure upon the young people which it aims to support. This does not necessarily mean recruiting a 12 year-old Chief Executive, but does include interviewing, inducting and recruiting young volunteers (usually 14+) to support in all departments from marketing to direct project work. Volunteers (18+) take on Trustee roles, not only giving that youthful voice to Committee discussion, but also providing opportunity for younger adults to develop the skills to enable leadership earlier on.
The big hurdle for most to get over is that we all (with due concern) worry about time. Most, even those who operate a placement scheme already, worry about balancing the allocation of time against the rewards. The identification of exactly who will be there to support your volunteers is the key to success and once you have made this initial commitment and provided training for that individual, your programme should take shape. If we all dream of volunteers queuing up outside our offices to get in, then we must learn to give as much as we take. A keen investment in a CPD training plan for each volunteer is a must. Fortunately for our volunteers, Artswork has always invested in the CPD of the youth arts sector at large and so access to the Artsplan youth arts training and publications work well for our Interns.
Ongoing support for volunteers once they have flown the nest can largely be achieved by developing a good exit toolkit. Conduct an exit interview, provide support with CVs and job applications and encourage them to keep you in the loop with their progress. Artsworks ENYAN (English National Youth Arts Network) Ambassador Scheme is an example of how to further your support to volunteers, enabling them to continue to support the organisation from afar.
At Artswork, the Volunteer Programme is now so embedded in our ethos and organisational structure that we are keen to spread the word and support other organisations to do the same. Artsplans guest speaker service and project consultancy services are always on hand should you wish to invite us to talk on optimising your volunteer programmes. Open more doors for volunteers and you will never turn back.
Jay Barron is Artsplan Development Manager/ Operations Co-ordinator at Artswork.
w: http://www.artswork.org.uk