This document discusses how to make volunteering opportunities appealing to young people. It notes that young volunteers are more motivated by developing new skills and experiences than traditional reasons for volunteering. The document provides tips for writing compelling opportunity descriptions, such as using impactful, intriguing, and informal titles along with short, benefits-focused prose. It also notes that opportunity details should be targeted towards young people and highlight incentives like training, activities, and transportation assistance. Sample opportunities and feedback on how to improve them are presented.

1. 10 Years Younger
Throw out boring old opportunities
Ditch dull and traditional language
Tart up your opportunities
Tart up your opportunities
Capture young peoples imagination
Inspire and enthuse through your opportunities
Inspire and enthuse through your opportunities

2. www.do‐it.org.uk:
the UK’s first and only
National Volunteering Database
1.1million opportunities to volunteer
385,000 registered users
385 000 registered users
100,000 visitors per month
43,000 opportunities applied for each month

3. Challenging the
traditional view
of volunteering…
74% of registered volunteers are under 35
38% have never volunteered before
30% of 16‐25 year old volunteers are from Black
y
Minority Ethnic groups

4. How people search the web:
How people search the web:
Red areas show where people start looking
Start in top left corner
Start in top left corner
Eye travels vertically along left side of page
Click on first relevant link they see
Click on first relevant link they see
Scan text, don’t read anything thoroughly
Users are task orientated and fast moving
Users are task orientated and fast moving

5. Why do people volunteer? The traditional view
To help others
Do something positive with spare time
Give back to the community
Meet new people & make friends
Why do people volunteer? What young people say
Why do people volunteer? What young people say
Develop new skills
Have new experiences
Have new experiences
Help get a job

6. What makes a good opportunity title?
Inspirational
Intrigue
Visualisation
Informality
Descriptive
Champion
Activist
Militant
Saviour
Collaborator

7. How do you make your opportunity description inspiring?
Impact of volunteer
Short and snappy
Benefits of role
Key words
Good spelling

8. Creating an inspiring,
exiting and compelling
exiting and compelling
opportunity description
Remember to include:
Why should they get involved?
What is the opportunity?
Where does the opportunity take place?
When does your opportunity take place?
Who will your opportunity benefit?

9. Additional opportunity information:
Additional opportunity information:
Skills and Qualifications
Organisation description
Organisation description
Directions

10. “The opportunity has the potential to
The opportunity has the potential to
Online Proofreading
l f d capture a young person's attention
however the title as 'Young Club
“This role is youth‐friendly because
y f y Volunteers' can sound patronising”
incentives are offered such as
refreshments, a possible pick up which
would be good for young people who do
not drive and on‐the‐job training is
not dri e and on the job training is
provided. There is also an element of
variety in the tasks offered in this role,
py gp p
which will keep young people occupied p
and focused throughout the day”
“Not specifically targeted to young
Not specifically targeted to young
people and rather bland prose that
doesn't suggest any benefits to the
reader. Could be better said as: Aged
16‐25 and need to know your way
“The whole text is a little too short and around the office to land your first job?”
too vague‐ could describe a day's typical
activities
activities”

11. Fiona Jamieson
Fiona Jamieson
Senior Youth Account Manager
T: 020 7250 5725
T 020 7250 5725
E: fiona.jamieson@youthnet.org