Try the four week challenge

• Show them what we do and how we do it
• Give them something to do – a task which isn't too big or complicated but which makes them feel valued and needed would be ide
• Make contact with them after the first meeting, perhaps arranging for them to stay on at the end of the meeting or setting a time for a call

• Help them join in the fun – could they run an activity or game? Oversee an activity table?
• At the end of the session, ask them to prepare an activity for next week – there are loads of great ideas on the activities page or they could use their unique skills to prepare something 
• Remember: this may feel a little scary, so be supportive – you'll probably need to help with the activity risk assessment

By now, your new volunteer should be feeling like they’re part of the team. Get them involved in everything. 

By now, your budding volunteer will know if Scouts is for them or not:

• Set time aside during or after the meeting to find out how they’ve found the challenge and whether they have any feedback
• Ask them if they would be interested in helping again and how
• Ask them if they know anyone else who would enjoy trying the challenge?
• Most importantly, thank them for their time and effort

Don’t lose a volunteer after all the hard work that has gone into finding them. They’ll need lots of support and guidance, so keep going. 

• Introduce them to a mentor or buddy
• Don’t leave them stranded
• Get the whole team to welcome them to Scouts
• Have a one-to-one chat to answer any questions they have
• Offer support and signpost them to the help available on the website
• Give them a welcome pack
• Give them a uniform – this’ll really help them feel a part of the team

Then, to get them started:

• Follow the appointments process
• Register them on Compass
• Request a disclosure check
• They should already have one, but remind them of the yellow card
• Explain training and get a TA to start the training process

Don’t write this off as a no. Find out more and support them in making their decision. The most important thing is to make it a positive experience. Even if they don’t volunteer straight away, they may come back in the future.  

• Find out what they’re unsure about  
• Is there anything you can do to help?  
• If you’re meeting online, it may be that they’re not confident using an online platform and could feel differently face to face
• They might need more time – or some help – before deciding whether volunteering fits in with their current situation 
• Share the term programme – could they support you on few nights which interest them without fully committing? 
• Would they like to try a different role/task/section? 
• Keep in touch and remember to share the fun stuff you’re doing
• Say a massive thank you to them for giving the Four Week Challenge a try, and don’t push them into making a quick decision

If a new volunteer doesn’t want to join after completing the Four Week Challenge, it’s important to find out why. Can you do anything to help?  

• Discuss the different roles and tasks that are available – if they don’t want to volunteer with young people directly, perhaps they’d like to help on the Exec Committee or share a skill with the group, like helping with your group’s social media pages or running a particular activity? 
• Did they have any worries or concerns we could help with?  
• Do they have any useful feedback? Was the team friendly? Did we take the time to explain next steps? Anything we could’ve done differently?
• If they’ve not enjoyed taking part in Scouts online, would they consider giving it another go face to face?

Make sure you keep the door open if they ever want to come back and volunteer in the future. Keep it positive and thank them for all the time they’ve given. You never know who they might talk to – they could just spread the word for others to try the Four Week Challenge.