Inspiring young volunteers to engage

with your causeCharity Comms Seminar

Lorna Forbes19 March 2014

vInspiredHelping young people improve their skills, confidence and employability by giving them the opportunity to

do good things through volunteering

•Quality experience•Young people at the heart of everything we do

vInspired• Since 2006, we have engaged over 1.25m

young people in volunteering opportunities

• Our work is about changing the face of volunteering by transforming the ways that young people can do good things

• We inspire young people to discover the value of volunteering both for themselves and others

What we’ve learned• Choice and

customisation are key characteristics of their world

• They expect to be involved in decisions that affect them

• They are internet, mobile and social media savvy

What we’ve learned cont.• They want to

contribute to the world around them

• They care about what their mates think, fashion, socialising

• Some young people need a little extra support to shine

What their world looks like• Currently almost 1

million 16-24 year olds are unemployed & graduate recruitment rates are falling rapidly

• Trust is not a given – political scandals, phone hacking, sports cheats, corrupt police, banking scandals, terrorism, and it goes on…..

Beta Gen

• Education not guaranteed – failing schools and for many, unachievable tuition fees (£9k)

• The results of this has played a part in creating the BETA GENERATION…..

Who are the Beta Gen?

• The Beta Generation are self-motivated

• They are aware that they need to take control of their own destiny and not wait for good things to happen to them

• This positive attitude extends to making mistakes

Happy to test

• Young people feel that making mistakes is a part of life and should be viewed as an opportunity for learning rather than a problem

• This attitude extends to the way they view and seek employment

Different Experience• They have grown up in

uncertain economic times• First major career decisions

during a time of economic slowdown and recession

• Interested in careers that differ to the traditional, valuing their impact on others and choosing their own working styles over values such as salary and benefits.

What does this mean for us?

Our Challenge• Matching offering to the

lifestyles and motivations of young people

• We need to better understand their needs not vice-versa

• Taking our offering to them, where they are, focusing on the things that they want to do

How does this affect charities?• Opportunity to engage• Meet the need of satisfaction

over salary• Flexible opportunities outside

of the 9 - 5 • As employers, contribute to

the development of young talent

• Foster long-term relationships that establish potential supporters for the future

What we do at vInspired• We make it our business

to develop and understand the changing needs of young people

• We create innovative programmes to address the needs of young people

• We work to match our offering to young people’s lifestyles

Practicalities• Time • Place • Commitment • Relevance• Packaging • Fringe benefits • Who else is

volunteering

How do vInspired programmes address

this?

Do Something

• Brought to UK from US• Digitally led campaigning

programme• Light touch actions - big

impact• Never require any

money, an adult or a car

Team v• Leadership

programme• Year-long

commitment• Leading 3

campaigns over the year

• Recruitment of their own volunteer team

vInspired Talent

• 16-25 year olds• Not in work education

or training• 24 weeks 24 hours per

week• Volunteering local

authorities and FE colleges

• Social action project

vInspired Schools• 11 – 18 year olds• Curriculum linked

resources• Support for schools• Getting in there

early

vInspired Cashpoint• For 14-25 year

olds• Funding for

community projects

• Grants of up to £500

Igniter• Crowd funding

platform• Appeal for public

donations• Generate support for

own projects for social good

• Connect with other volunteers

Task Squad

• Flexible Micro work platform

• Using volunteering experience

• Companies recruit to cover spikes in staffing needs

Recognition

• Ongoing as part of programmes

• vInspired awards scheme

• vInspired national Awards

Questions

To find out more visit