Whether it’s daily, weekly or monthly, we all have people that give their time, share our vision and work alongside us in our youth projects. They host games, play football, prep talks or spend winter nights out on detached work. They have a life and give their time. Our volunteers – the unsung heroes.
Here’s a few tips I’ve picked up to ensure your volunteers are well looked after and encouraged to flourish in our youth work, or even, dare we say, released from our youth work.
Remember they are volunteers
They’re not trained youth workers. We may (or may not) get paid for our work, but they give their time freely. Be mindful of this when planning sessions with them, giving them responsibility and filling their timetables with activities.
Invest in your volunteers
Set money aside in your budget for training. Not only does this give the volunteers the feeling that you’re serious about their development, but it also allows them to share vision and feel like they are not just being drained, but also topped up. Your youth work will thank you in the long run.
Sending them to do qualifications and accredited courses is great. But if you’re budget’s tight (and who’s isn’t?), how about a nice meal together, with an outside speaker (or a youth-work mate from down the road)?
I once got a good mate of mine to come to London and lead an evening of training with my youth-work volunteers. They loved having an outside speaker come and share new insights and stories, and get excited about the youth work that is going on in our area of town.
Check they still want to be there!
I will always remember something a friend once said to me. He spoke of a volunteer in his youth group that had served faithfully until finally mustering up the courage to tell his leader he didn’t want to be on the youth team any more. He wanted to serve in other areas, but had stayed serving because he’d been asked and didn’t want to leave. Looking back, the youth worker said he always felt bad he hadn’t listened and released him into other areas of ministry.
Check in each year that they’re still keen to carry on. Sometimes, releasing your volunteers is the best way for them to grow. It’s not always about what the volunteers can do for you, but what you can do for them.
Listen to them
Your volunteers are people too! Chat to them, find out their gifts and use them well. Are they keen to serve, but a bit scared of teenagers? Don’t throw them in the deep end and send them running out the door! Have them sign in kids on the front desk, where they can have something to do, while talking to the kids in a natural way.
If they’re sporty and competitive, encourage them to lead some games. Are they amazing at design? Hand over flyer and publicity to them. And if they hate doing craft activities don’t make them sit making bracelets every week. They will leave in a few weeks. Listen to them and place them where they are best used, and that also best feeds them.
Thank them
A text after a challenging youth club, an email after a mega event, a gift after a cracking term, a week off after a long term. Find out what makes them tick and do it! It doesn’t cost a lot or take a long time. But makes a difference.
Apologise
This is often the most powerful thing a leader can do for a volunteer. Last week, I had to apologise to one of my volunteers in the youth team. Something hadn’t gone well and I had been snappy when they hadn’t deserved it. I had been stressed and said something unkind. Over the evening, I reflected and realised that hadn’t been the right thing to do. The next day I apologised.
We’re all human and show our sharp edges in stressful situations. As leaders, we must learn to handle it well when we do. Apologise and do it quickly.
We’re called to love (1 Peter) and no one wants bitterness. This very quickly causes division and can often be the undoing of a team.
Let them go
Do not hold on tightly to your volunteers. Working in London I find such a transience in my volunteers. People move away, decide to go to another church or become preoccupied with relationships or hobbies. Let them go. Thank them lots, encourage them in their abilities and let them go. But before they do; use them to recruit new volunteers. They’ll be your best adverts and they’ll have a good understanding of who might fit.
Try these out tips out. Your volunteers are your most valuable assets – look after them, and they may exceed your expectations.
Becca Willett is Youth and Community Worker at St Alban’s Fulham, and was named 2016’s youth worker of the year at the Christian Youth Work Awards.