When a potential volunteer shows interest, we want to:
- Consider whether Safe Families is the right volunteering opportunity for them and clarify this with them.
- Encourage and inspire potential volunteers to apply to join Safe Families and lead them through the approval process.
- Enable potential volunteers to feel a sense of belonging within Safe Families as soon as possible.
Many potential volunteers make an initial enquiry, and this needs to be followed up by the CVT, and where possible, a tailored approach must be taken to enable everyone to find their way in. All incoming volunteer enquiries must be followed up with a call or email within three working days.
Follow-up examples include:
- A conversation to unpack the roles and the process.
- A face-to-face meeting to discuss our volunteer roles and answer any questions.
- An invitation to an info evening or online Q and A session.
- Connecting the potential volunteer with an existing volunteer who can describe their own experience of volunteering.
- An invitation to a volunteer training event.
Some volunteers may not respond to contact initially and may need chasing up multiple times; be prepared that some may not follow through once they have had time to think about it, but they might consider another of our Three Ways to Respond. When the potential volunteer is ready to apply, the CVT should direct them to the website to apply online or provide them with a printed application form to complete.