Join today

Pack 1: Recruiting Volunteers

The ideal pack to deliver to volunteer co-ordinators and managers, with new ideas for recruiting volunteers and developing an approach to effective training
Author

Kay Curtis

Resources

Handouts, Activity Sheets & Case Studies

Experience Level Needed

Beginner

Access

Download and Online Access

Duration

3 hours

Price

£
50

What's included?

  • Session Timetable
  • Timed Activities
  • Trainer notes
  • Training material in PPT files 
  • Pre Course questionnaire
  • Training Evaluation form
  • Session extension ideas
  • Activity sheets
  • Case Studies
  • Facilitator Deck
  • Self Study Deck

Overview

The ideal pack to deliver to volunteer co-ordinators and managers, with new ideas for recruiting volunteers. 

A three-hour session for Volunteer Centres and CVS to deliver to project workers or co-ordinators from a wide range of voluntary organisations. Ideal for organisations to deliver to their volunteer co-ordinators or managers.

This pack covers looking at different methods of recruiting and practical activities, including targeting for specific volunteer roles and marketing; plus new ideas for recruiting volunteers. There is an additional exercise on writing press releases.

Objective

By the end of this session participants will:
  • have evaluated their own methods of recruitment
  • have analysed their approaches to recruiting volunteers
  • have identified difficulties with recruitment
  • have explored avenues of recruitment opportunity
  • have practised new ways to present their organisation
  • have information on marketing strategies
  • have discussed the importance of selection and training
WHY IT MATTERS

Why volunteer recruitment training matters for UK charities in 2026.

📅 Pack content last reviewed: April 2026
✍️ Authored by Kay Curtis · 30+ years' UK voluntary-sector specialism

Pack 1: Recruiting Volunteers is a complete full-day trainer-led session for UK volunteer coordinators — covering the full recruitment cycle from role design through advertising, values-based selection, and the legal frameworks that apply to every recruitment decision.

Volunteer recruitment is one of the most challenging areas of voluntary sector management today. NCVO's Time Well Spent research shows formal volunteering has fallen across most age groups since the pandemic, with under-35s the most affected. Organisations that filled volunteer roles easily five years ago are now competing for a smaller pool of available time.

Recruitment in 2026 also carries clearer legal expectations than it did a decade ago. The Equality Act 2010 applies to volunteer recruitment. The UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 shape how you handle applications. The Worker Protection Act 2023, in force from October 2024, places a proactive duty to prevent harassment in volunteer settings. And safer-recruitment principles from the Charity Commission and DBS guidance apply to volunteer roles involving children or adults at risk.

This training pack equips your volunteer coordinator with current, defensible recruitment practice — covering legal requirements, modern sourcing methods, values-based selection, and the activities that turn applicants into committed long-term volunteers.
14.2m
UK adults volunteering in 2021/22
At least once through a group, club or organisation. The pool is large — reaching them needs current methods.
DECLINING
Formal volunteering down across most age groups
Trend since 2020. Under-35s most affected. Old methods don't reach them.
OCT '24
Worker Protection Act 2023 in force
New proactive duty to prevent harassment in volunteer settings — not just employment.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Quick answers from buyers like you.

QIs this pack suitable for small charities?
Yes. The pack scales from informal sessions with two or three participants up to structured workshops of 25. Small charities often use the self-study materials to upskill a single coordinator rather than delivering a group session.
QDoes it cover DBS requirements?
Yes — when DBS checks apply to volunteer roles and how to incorporate them into your recruitment process. For full safeguarding training, pair with Pack 16 (Adult Protection) and the Managing Volunteers Toolkit.
QCan I deliver this session online?
Yes. All materials are designed to work in face-to-face, hybrid, and fully remote formats. The slide deck is editable for screen-share delivery, and activities adapt for breakout rooms in Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet.
QHow current is the legal content?
The pack content reflects current UK law including the Equality Act 2010, UK GDPR, the Worker Protection Act 2023, and current Charity Commission and DBS guidance — reviewed annually and updated within your licence year when material changes occur.
QIs it better to buy this pack or the full library?
If recruitment is your only training need, the single pack works. If you also need induction, supervision, safeguarding, or any other volunteer management topic, the £295 full library licence pays for itself after six packs and includes all 54+ resources for a year.
Created with