Key insights from Rosterfy's webinar with The Literacy Pirates. Learn how meaningful recognition drives volunteer satisfaction and improves retention.
Recognition goes beyond a simple ‘thank you’ - it’s a powerful tool for building lasting relationships with volunteers and inspiring their long-term commitment to your cause.
In our recent webinar, Rosterfy’s Sam Bennett and Angele Tilly, Volunteer Manager at The Literacy Pirates discussed the impact of meaningful recognition on volunteer satisfaction and retention. Angele shared actionable strategies from The Literacy Pirates’ programme, from streamlining the onboarding process to celebrating volunteer milestones.
The Literacy Pirates, a London-based charity, is on a mission to boost literacy confidence and perseverance of children who are falling behind in class and have fewer opportunities in their personal lives. Their programmes - run by dedicated volunteers or ‘Crewmates’ - create opportunities for after-school and online learning. This impactful work is made possible by the special volunteer programme that prioritises meaningful engagement and recognition.
This article captures the key insights from the webinar, offering valuable tips to help you elevate your volunteer programme.
The webinar emphasised the importance of recognising the valuable contributions of volunteers. According to NCVO Time Well Spent Report, 83% of satisfied volunteers are likely to continue their involvement. Further to this, research shows that volunteers who receive tailored recognition are 67% more likely to remain engaged with your organisation compared to those who receive generic acknowledgements.
Recognition can take many forms, from celebrating hours logged, specific contributions, or impact metrics. At The Literacy Pirates, volunteer achievements are linked directly to their Rosterfy profiles. Volunteers earn physical and digital badges for milestones reached - such as sessions completed - and those achieving 100 sessions receive a certificate signed by the CEO (or ‘Caption’). Small gestures like this go a long way, as shared by Angele during the webinar:
“It’s a special shout-out for our volunteers to say we’re really grateful for all the work you are doing with us and all the time you’re spending supporting the Young Pirates. Volunteers really appreciate that. It’s a little something that really means a lot to the volunteers.”
Beyond recognition, references can serve as a powerful incentive for volunteers, particularly for university students seeking employment. However, The Literacy Pirates found that volunteers across all demographics value references. By offering these at six and 12 month intervals (or after completing six or 12 sessions), the organisation successfully motivates their crew of volunteers and encourages long-term commitment.
From onboarding and screening to reward and recognition, The Literacy Pirates have analysed every interaction a volunteer has with the programme. In the webinar Volunteer Manager, Angele, discussed how they have used Rosterfy to optimise their processes, resulting in:
This streamlined experience has led to higher volunteer satisfaction and more impactful learning opportunities for children in their programmes.
Recognition programmes vary across organisations, but creativity and authenticity are key. From public recognition and social media shout outs, to certificates and gift cards, there are many ways to recognise the valuable contributions of your volunteers.
For teams with limited resources, volunteer engagement can feel overwhelming. As Angele mentioned in the webinar, it’s important to structure your recognition programme with realistic expectations that suit the capacity of your team. Consider what works for you and your volunteers.
Rosterfy’s automation features have helped The Literacy Pirates reduce administrative tasks and ensure timely recognition. For example, the digital badges are automatically awarded through Rosterfy based on the number of sessions a volunteer completes, saving valuable time.
Watch the full webinar recording to learn more about creating an impactful volunteer programme and driving long-term engagement.
Ready for more? Explore all of our previous and upcoming webinars for additional tips and strategies to optimise your volunteer management efforts.
Rosterfy is used by nonprofits, charities, sporting federations, local governments, and more to better manage their volunteer programmes by improving how they can recruit, screen, train, and retain volunteers.
Our market leading technology helps you create an engaging experience throughout the whole lifecycle of your volunteer journey.
Book a call today.
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