How London Youth Games is growing a strong volunteer force with Rosterfy

Recently, we hosted a webinar with London Youth Games (LYG) exploring how smarter scheduling techniques can help organisations grow a strong volunteer force.

Hosted by Rosterfy’s Sam Bennett and Ellie Reid, Head of Workforce Development at LYG, we explored the importance of understanding the needs of volunteers and how to leverage technology to scale volunteer programmes. The discussion highlighted practical strategies for creating a positive supporter experience and creating inclusive volunteer opportunities.

LYG is a charity that uses the power of sport and physical activity to provide life-changing opportunities to over 180,000 young people in London annually. GamesForce, LYG's volunteering programme, enables these events to happen every year.

This article covers key takeaways from the webinar. Keep reading for insights and strategies designed to help you scale your volunteer programme with ease.

The Volunteering Landscape: Meeting Modern Needs

One of the webinar’s core themes was the importance of understanding today’s volunteers. Rising living costs and global economic pressures have driven up the demand for non-profit services, and the feasibility of volunteering has declined, with many individuals needing to prioritise paid work over volunteering.

• thinking it involved more time than they could commit (21%)
• it wasn’t flexible (14%)
• the opportunities didn’t matching their skills, interests or experience (14%)

It’s more important than ever for organisations to be thoughtful and strategic in their volunteer recruitment and retention efforts.

Supporting Volunteer Diversity and Inclusion

London Youth Games is a standout example of an organisation building a strong, inclusive volunteer force. With a packed calendar of events, LYG depends on their volunteers or 'GamesForcers' to deliver exceptional experiences for young athletes.

LYG has made diversity and inclusion a cornerstone of their volunteer strategy. By actively recruiting from underrepresented groups and providing tailored support for volunteers with disabilities, they’ve fostered a community where everyone can contribute meaningfully. This inclusive approach enhances both the volunteer experience and the overall success of events.

Read our blog article on 10 ways to promote volunteer diversity and inclusion

Streamlining Large-Scale Events with Rosterfy

One of the biggest challenges organisations face is coordinating volunteers for large-scale events, particularly when the skills, availability, and preferences of each volunteer need to be considered. The LYG Finals Festival, which involves thousands of young athletes across multiple venues, is a prime example as mentioned by Ellie Reid, Head of Workforce Development at LYG during the webinar:

“It’s a big event and is spread across a lot of different areas. Operationally and logistically it is quite difficult and it requires a lot of volunteers. With Rosterfy it’s a much easier process and I don’t think we’d be able to do it manually. It saves us a lot of time this way.””

To streamline operations, LYG utilises Rosterfy’s volunteer management software to recruit and deploy over 150 volunteering opportunities for the three-day event.

Rosterfy simplifies the process by:

• Centralising volunteer data, including availability and accessibility needs.
• Streamlining the onboarding process with step-by-step application and training modules.
• Creating flexible, role-specific schedules that cater to individual preferences and skills.
• Communicating real-time updates to ensure volunteers stay informed and engaged.

By minimising the administrative burden, Rosterfy enables LYG to focus on delivering a seamless, impactful event experience for both participants and volunteers.

Scale Your Volunteer Programme with Ease

As volunteer programmes grow, managing recruitment, scheduling, and communication becomes increasingly complex. Rosterfy offers a comprehensive solution to address these challenges, making it easy to scale without comprising quality.

Key features include:

• Improved Recruitment: Customisable applications that ensure all individuals, regardless of background or ability, can apply with ease.
• Data Management: Centralised volunteer profiles that track experience, preferences, and accessibility needs.
• Dynamic Scheduling: Tools to create adaptable rosters that accommodate changing demands and individual availability.
• Engaging Communication: Automated emails, SMS, and app notifications keep volunteers connected and informed.

These capabilities allow organisations and charities, like London Youth Games, to grow their programmes confidently while maintaining a focus on engagement and inclusivity. 

Future-Proof Your Programme with the Rosterfy Volunteer App

The modern volunteer expects the highest quality from the organisations they support. That means giving them a seamless experience from the moment they discover your volunteer opportunities to the day they complete their first shift. 

Rosterfy’s new fully featured mobile app empowers volunteers to take control of their volunteer experience any place, any time, from the palm of their hands. The app mirrors the desktop portal, so volunteers can now access their schedules, shift updates, and training materials from their smartphones. This focus on user-friendly technology prepares organisations to adapt to the changing landscape of volunteer management. 

Explore Smarter Volunteer Management

To learn more about these insights and strategies, check out the webinar recording. Whether you’re coordinating a small initiative or a large-scale event, smarter scheduling techniques and inclusive practices are key to success.

By understanding the needs of modern volunteers and harnessing tools like Rosterfy, organisations can build scalable, inclusive, and impactful programmes that stand the test of time.

Speak to us today if you’d like to explore how Rosterfy can enhance your volunteer programme.