Join us in welcoming Ana and find out more about her work to help our members recruit more volunteers across Scotland.

What is the Volunteer Recruitment Project, it’s goal and what is your role within it?

Our mission is all about getting more amazing people involved in volunteering and helping our community thrive!

In my role as volunteer recruitment officer, I’ll be working alongside districts and divisions to create recruitment plans that really fit each area’s needs. Once those plans are ready, I’ll be there to help make them happen. Through in-person events, online activities, or welcoming new volunteers into the guiding community. I’m looking forward to building links between local guiding and other organisations, so we can reach even more people who’d love to join our community, bringing their unique life experience to empower young girls and themselves.

What made you apply for the volunteer recruitment officer role?

Impact! The impact of the Girlguiding community on the confidence in girls, young women – and our amazing volunteers, is huge. My enthusiasm lies in encouraging people, and their individual strengths, to recognise the value in their own life experience. As a volunteer recruitment officer, I can’t wait to meet our fantastic existing volunteers, supporting them by being there, listening and understanding what is best for them, their unit and girls.

Did you have any ties to guiding before you became a staff member?

I was never in Girlguiding, but I can connect with that sense of community. I understand the impact of being supported by women – and for me, my friends, all individually amazing women. As a group, our own community, we continue to support each other to navigate life. Just as in Girlguiding, we all have unique strengths that help empower each other. I’m happy to be a part of that here. In prep for my interview, it turned out so many people I knew had positive previous or current involvement with Girlguiding Scotland. This was a good sign!

What have you been getting up to since you started? 

Lots of introductions to our staff and volunteer team, which feels like a welcoming community. My favourite meeting so far has been focused on our ideas, current and for the future. It’s been really inspiring to hear from all the different voices and range of experience in the room.

What’s your favourite thing about your new role so far?

The team – staff and volunteers! Their openness and welcome have been incredible. Also seeing the impact from previous projects and the momentum for what’s coming up in the future.

What are you most excited about getting to do?

Meeting our fantastic volunteers across Scotland, in person! Hearing about all the amazing things they are up to and getting to support them! I’m also really looking forward to meeting my first Girlguiding unit in Edinburgh this week.

Do you have any top tips for recruitment or want to share specific ways you can help?

Being available and flexible for our amazing volunteers. Where would we be without them?

Where can people follow what you are getting up to and find updates on the project?

You can find out more about the project here.

Don’t forget to give us a follow on Instagram @GGSrecruitmentproject. You can also reach out to the me and the rest of the project team by contacting growth@girlguiding-scot.org.uk.