Volunteer Recruitment

Organisations such as film festivals or community cinemas that work with volunteers will all have slightly different ways of recruiting and taking on volunteers. Some organisations will have recruitment information on their website and others will ask volunteers to fill out an application form or go for an informal interview.

However you choose to recruit for volunteers, it is worth considering that the safeguarding process starts before volunteers are involved in any activity by initially ensuring the right people are recruited in the first place, and that they receive the necessary support and guidance to carry out their work safely and effectively.

Encounters Short Film & Animation Festival (@joncraig.co.uk)

Underneath you can find some examples of recruitment forms used by organisations across the country. On the basis of examples you can find how to draft an exciting and inspiring recruitment letter.

Please be aware that we don’t claim to offer the only way to source and recruit volunteers. This practical guide is a result of research and interviews with cinema’s and art-organisations across the country.

When a potential volunteer contacts an organisation to find out more about a volunteering opportunity, an information/application pack should be given containing:

Information about the organisation giving aims and objectives
Information about the volunteering programme and opportunities
Volunteering role description and person specification
Application form requesting references

It is important that a potential volunteer receives as much information as possible about the volunteering opportunity for them to make an informed decision about whether they feel they are suitable in the first instance.

Information regarding references, police checks, out of pocket expenses, training and hours required should be provided in addition to a role description and person specification.

Besides requesting contact details, the application form should ask relevant questions such as why the person wants to volunteer on a specific programme and what volunteering experience if any, has been gained in the past.

Volunteer’s skills and interests should be carefully matched to increase the success and longevity of the volunteer placement. Once the completed application form has been received by the volunteer manager and the references checked, an interview should be scheduled so that the suitability of the potential volunteer can be assessed.

Tips:

A letter of welcome from a festival director or manager of an organisation adds a personal touch to integrating new volunteers into your organisation. This letter can be brief and highlight some of the key aspects of the organisation and the importance of volunteers in fulfilling the purpose of the organisation.

Sample Volunteer Application form

Sample Volunteer Application form 2