Writing Top-Tips
Tips For Writing an Effective Voluntary Opportunity
Titles
Giving the opportunity an interesting, unique title will make people more interested. Avoid using the word volunteer – the word “volunteer” has connotations of unpaid work which can put a lot of people off; instead, be creative in how you title your opportunities.
Clarity
When describing the activities this opportunity will be for, try to be as clear as possible so prospective volunteers know what they’re getting into. People respond better when they know what they’re being asked to do.
Specificity
When you’re creating your opportunities, try to be as specific as possible, breaking roles down if necessary. Rather than looking for a general admin volunteer who would help with data entry and social media, consider writing separate opportunities for each task.
Benefits to Volunteer
Provide a clear, detailed list about the benefits volunteers will get from taking part in your opportunity. List what skills they might be able to develop, or what meaningful experiences they might have.
Training
Draw attention to the training you offer; people often volunteer to build employability skills, and training you offer could be a part of that. Pointing it out will make people looking for those skills more interested.
Needs
Be very specific about what your needs are; it can be demoralising for volunteers to apply for an opportunity only to find out they don’t fit the required skills. Being upfront about your needs can avoid this.
Availability
Be very clear about when this opportunity is available: a common obstacle to volunteering is fitting it around other life commitments, so making it clear when your role is available helps interested volunteers plan for it.
Location
Make it very clear from the outset where this opportunity is based, and whether the opportunity could be done remotely. Reaching opportunities is a big concern of volunteers, so making sure they know where your opportunity is before they apply will save a lot of time.
Flexibility
In terms of availability and location, it can really help to get the best volunteers if they know the opportunity is flexible and can fit within their existing schedule.
Age Requirements
If your role has any restrictions on age, these should be made visible so a younger volunteer can tell immediately if they’re suitable. Conversely, if your role is suitable for younger people (potentially with a responsible adult) make this obvious too; lots of younger people are eager to volunteer alongside schooling but are unable to find suitable opportunities.
Organisation Details
Provide some information about your organisation, including your objectives and wider activities, as this will help to attract volunteers who are particularly drawn to your cause
Language
Ensure that the language used in your opportunity is correct, including spelling, grammar, and syntax. Also, use exciting words that focus on the volunteer. When you’re finished, read what you’ve written and check if it’s an ad you’d be interested in.