This workshop was led by:

• Heather Worth, Outreach Officer, Tyntesfield, The National Trust
• Carola Vorlop, Volunteering Development Consultant
• Debs McCahon, Young Roots Coordinator with HLF

The facilitators worked with the delegates in small groups to explore how heritage volunteering can be successfully developed to reflect diversity in our society.

Heather develops volunteering programmes with young people and adults who have mental health issues, physical disabilities and special learning needs at Tyntesfield.

Key points:

• There was a real determination to diversify the volunteer base
• Local groups were involved in the planning process right from the start

This planning identified barriers such as:

• Transport
• Money
• Accessibility
• Perception of why they were being involved
• Current staff/volunteer attitudes
• Identifying real roles
• Sustainability

A varied range of volunteering events/tasks:

• Outreach sessions
• Taster days
• Weekly garden volunteer group
• Easter egg hunt
• Bat survey groups (including making bat boxes
• Training opportunities

Carola introduced her discussion with a lively debate around ‘Consider how far Startrek reflects a diverse society?’ The discussion covered all aspects of diversity but concentrated largely on BME groups.

Key points:

Target publicity material and marketing

• Consider wording eg ‘we particularly welcome enquiries from BME people’
• Consider how far images reflect targeted groups
• Consider using different languages
• Promote benefits eg training opportunities, friendship, something worthwhile, mental and physical well being, expenses and so on
• Don’t use employment terminology like interview, rather informal chat or introductory meeting
• Involve volunteers to advocate volunteering

Use broad range of methods to reach wider audience

• Volunteer centres
• Places of worship
• Meeting/leisure/sport places
• Shopping centres/markets
• Job centres/disability benefit centres
• Community/health centres
• Schools/universities/student unions/freshers’ fairs/adult education colleges
• Information centres/citizen advice bureaux/libraries
• Local, community, hospital radio/newspapers/ free sheets

• Consider application process to avoid being over complicated or too bureaucratic

Consider individual needs

• Effects of medication, need for regular breaks
• Need for prayer time
• Religious festivals
• Meet parole commitment
• Buddying to support less able volunteers

• Positive internal inclusive communication

Debs shared her experience of involving young people in volunteering and explored the following areas;

• Overview of youth volunteering
• Introduction to the Russell Commission recommendations & “v”
• Outline of NYA’s work with young volunteers & heritage
• Engaged delegates in exploring common barriers to participation and how they would overcome them
• Signposting to agencies for future support and advice

Key points:

• “What young people want from volunteering” Kathy Gaskin (1998), Institute of Volunteering Research

Flexibility

Legitimacy

Ease of access

Xperience

Incentives

Variety

Opportunities

Laughs

• Consider how you let young people know about opportunities
• Think about access e.g. physical, intellectual, transport etc
• Consider attitudes and fears of existing staff and volunteers
• Identify lack of skills and confidence of staff, young people & volunteers
• Availability of young people

A useful handout from the session is downloadable here about ‘Working with young people as volunteers’.