HandsOn Hong Kong is a charity founded in 2007 that mobilizes volunteers to meet social needs. It helps local NGOs access volunteers by managing an online calendar for volunteer opportunities. Common barriers to volunteering include busy schedules and uncertainty about how to get involved. Effective volunteer recruitment involves identifying roles for volunteers, segmenting roles by commitment level, and using job descriptions and online sign-ups to engage volunteers. HandsOn Hong Kong aims to reduce barriers for NGOs by taking on the burden of volunteer management and coordination.

1. Volunteer Recruitment: Overcoming the
Barriers
Caroline Sprod
18 June 2015

2. About HandsOn Hong Kong

3. 3
About HandsOn Hong Kong (HOHK)
• Charity founded in 2007
• Mission: to mobilize and empower our community to meet pressing social
needs in Hong Kong through volunteer services.
• Vision: a caring community that gives its time and talent to transform Hong
Kong.
• We are helping Hong Kongers help Hong Kong!
• We set up, run and manage volunteer programs for local grassroots NGOs
• Volunteers register and sign up via our online calendar
• We take the burden away from the NGO partners, leaving them to enjoy the
benefit of volunteer help
• Affiliate of the global HandsOn Network – a global network of local people
serving local causes
• www.handsonhongkong.org

4. HandsOn Hong Kong – Our Focus
• Direct service to benefit the local community
• Work with grass roots NGOs and community causes
• Group activities
• “Done in a Day” or less (usually much less)
• Non skills based
• Suitable for one-time volunteers
• Also organize group volunteer activities for corporates
We do not provide volunteers for fundraising activities
(unless for HOHK)

5. 5
Random Facts About Me!
• I’ve met 3 of the Queen’s 4 children
• I have 5 rescue dogs
• I wrote my university dissertation about Communist
monuments in East Berlin post cold-war

6. Barriers for NGOs and Volunteers

7. Barriers for NGOs
• NGOs tell us they:
• Don’t know how to best use volunteers
• Don’t know where to look for volunteers
• Lack time to recruit and schedule in volunteers
• Lack resources to supervise / manage volunteers
• Had previous negative experience with volunteers

8. Barriers for Volunteers
• The good news: Hong Kongers are generous and want to
give – in top 20 countries in World Giving Index
• 63% give to charity (10th worldwide), but only 15% volunteer
(82nd worldwide)
• Key barriers:
• Busy schedules
• Unable to commit regularly
• Unsure where and how to get involved
• Unsure what most pressing needs are
• Tried to offer help but got no response

9. Effective Volunteer Recruitment

10. Step 1: Identify your Volunteer Opportunities
• Start with your mission – what human resources do
you need to achieve this?
• Which of these roles can be done by volunteers?
• Which volunteer roles can be done virtually, in a
flexible or semi-flexible timeframe?

11. Step 2: Segment your Volunteer Opportunities
• Tasks that can be done by one-time volunteers, little
training needed (eg packing meal boxes, beach
cleans)
• Regular tasks requiring training and regular
commitment (eg mentorship program, regular
volunteers managing one-time volunteers)
• Specialist tasks requiring specific skills (eg
accounting, translation, graphic design)

12. Step 3: Recruit as if for a Paid Role
• Put together job descriptions
• Tell people what you are looking for – and if you are
not looking
• Maximize use of your website
• Make sure staff know how to handle enquiries
about volunteering
• Have an appropriate recruitment process
• Have an appropriate contract
• Tip: Google Forms are online, free to use and
simply processes for both sides

13. I want to volunteer

14. …but can’t find out how

15. Partnering with HandsOn Hong Kong
• Our system takes the burden away from the NGO partners,
leaving them to enjoy the benefit of volunteer help
• Calendar of activities online
• Each activity has a volunteer leader (or NGO leader)
• Volunteers sign up online
• Volunteer leader makes contact and coordinates with each
volunteer
• Flexible and accessible
• Wide range of opportunities
• No regular commitment needed

16. Other Sources of Volunteers
• Agency for Volunteer Service www.avs.org.hk
• Meet Up Volunteers
www.meetup.com/hongkongvolunteers/
• Ho Sum www.ho-sum.com/
• International Schools
• Universities
• Your existing supporter base
• Virtual volunteers: www.sparked.com

17. Being HandsOn
• If your needs don’t fit our approach:
– Consider using volunteer leaders as part of your
volunteer management
– Look at online booking systems like eventbrite.hk
– Deal with no shows – let them know they let you
down – 3 strikes and you’re out

18. Thank you for joining me tonight!
Caroline Sprod
Executive Director, HandsOn Hong Kong
+852 2815 2559
caroline@handsonhongkong.org
www.handsonhongkong.org
f: /handsonhongkong | t: @handsonhongkong