Join us in welcoming Lavinia 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?

The volunteer recruitment project is here to address a real need for volunteers across Scotland. When asked in our volunteer recruitment needs survey earlier this year, almost half of unit leaders said that they urgently needed new volunteers.

As 1 of 4 new volunteer recruitment officers, I’ll be offering help to districts and divisions to recruit more volunteers and to make those new volunteers feel welcomed and appreciated. Together, we’ll agree on a recruitment plan and, depending on the area’s goals, we can then run all sort of recruitment activities and campaigns. This could be anything from creating social media content to hosting recruitment events. It could also look like connecting areas directly with local organisations (for example community groups) that can help them tap into things that are already happening near them.

What made you apply for the volunteer recruitment officer role?

I applied because Girlguiding as an organisation and the volunteer recruitment officer role seemed like a perfect fit for me. The values of empowering girls, combined with working with volunteers across the country almost sounded too good to be true! In my previous role I worked at a Third Sector Interface (TSI) and helped youth volunteers across many organisations and got to see their amazing achievements. I am excited to use this experience to support many of our Girlguiding Scotland volunteers.

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

None at all! I grew up in Germany and guiding wasn’t taken up much in my peer groups. Having worked in the Scottish charity sector for some years now, I have heard so many good things about Girlguiding and I now wish I would have had the opportunity to join as a child!

What have you been getting up to since you started? 

As a team we’ve been getting together with the lead volunteers for the project, Susan and Stacey, and coming up with lots of ideas! We want to make sure all commissioners know about the project and the resources available to support recruitment. So, we’ve been looking at what we can change and add to our website, making social media plans and looking for opportunities to connect with local volunteers. And of course – I’ve been learning heaps about Girlguiding along the way every day!

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

The connections I am making. The staff and volunteers I have met so far are wonderful people and I am just in awe of their dedication to the organisation.

What are you most excited about getting to do?

So many things! In the short term, I am super excited to meet and work together with local areas, especially being able to use some of my knowledge around volunteering in rural and island communities. I also have quite a bit of experience with rewarding and recognising volunteers with national awards (eg. Saltire Awards) so I can’t wait to share my passion for this with others. In the long term, I can’t wait to see the real difference the project will make.

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

Scotland and its (volunteering) landscape is really diverse so I don’t think a ‘one size fits all’ approach is the way to go. I want to listen to the needs of our volunteers and work together to make a plan that works for them.

If you’re interested in the project, get in touch with us through the email below and we can shape our suggestions and tips to you and your area!

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

Find out more about the Volunteer Recruitment Project  here.

Stay up to date by following us on Instagram @GGSrecruitmentproject and you can email myself and the rest of the project team on  growth@girlguiding-scot.org.uk.