Transcript Summer Reading Challenge 2013

Summer Reading Challenge 2015
Involving Young Volunteers
Training Presentation
Section 1: why involve young people as
volunteers?
Section 2: resources and roles to support SRC
young volunteers
Section 3: paperwork!
Section 4: accreditation, recognition and
evaluation
Section 5: After the summer – Reading Hack
Why involve young people as
volunteers? The benefits, and the
results to date
SECTION 1
Benefits for libraries
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Support with administering the Challenge
A more youthful image – and fresh perspectives
Skills young people bring – such as digital/creative
Increased library usage by young people
A link with local communities
Help to deliver activities
Staff confidence in working positively with young
people
• A fresh look at working practices
Benefits for children
• More one-to-one attention from volunteers
and staff
• A chance to talk in more detail about their
reading experiences
• Reading role models to raise their aspirations
• Help with digital technology
• Help them to access themed creative activities
• Encouragement to complete the Challenge
Benefits to young people
• Valuable work experience; especially good for
those thinking of a career working with children
• Counts towards accreditation (UCAS, DofE etc).
• A reference for employment and CV evidence
• Develops confidence, social skills and literacy skills
• Making a positive contribution to their community
• A chance to make new friends
• Encouragement to read more
In the words of a young volunteer…
Benefits to partner organisations
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Safe places – and in all areas
Supportive staff
Good practices
Work with children
In the holidays!
Opportunity for progression
"I loved helping as a volunteer for the Summer
Reading Challenge. Interaction with members of
the public, other volunteers and library staff
built up my confidence of speaking to others. I
really hope that the other volunteers enjoyed
this as much as I did and I am definitely going to
be helping in next
year's reading
challenge."
- Jade, Bournemouth.
Results 2014: overview
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8,126 aged 12-24 years recruited in the UK
1,740 libraries in 138 English authorities
43% increase in volunteers recruited
123,578 volunteering hours given
2014: libraries and reading
• 49% of volunteers felt that they were more
interested in books and reading as a result of being
involved with the Summer Reading Challenge.
• 56% of volunteers intend to use the library more
now, after completing the volunteering
“The experience was fantastic. I achieved my first
award on vInspired and had some brilliant
opportunities. I've been able to write articles, I’ve had
the prospects of continuing a reading group at the
library and my writing skills progressed - which means a
great deal to me.” Jess, Harrogate
2014: Supporting younger children
“When you see volunteers
talking to younger readers
and they’re taking books
off the shelf, I think there’s
a sense of real
communication going on. I
think it can only help
people to finish it”
Branch Manager, Lancashire
“There was
definitely some
increase in
completion in
those libraries that
had volunteers”.
Rachel Levy, Sutton
Comments from libraries
“Children and parents
very much appreciated
the volunteers and the
time that they were able
to spend with children,
and male volunteers
certainly encouraged
boys taking part.”
Carol Hales,
Surrey Libraries
“Families report that
having volunteers for
their children to
discuss their reading
with was really
beneficial and adds
value to the scheme”
Russell Allen, West Sussex
Libraries
2014: skills and confidence
85% learnt new things
and gained skills and
experience through
SRCv
"Doing the challenge
has really built my
confidence as a person
and has also given me
plenty of new
opportunities.“
Rob, young volunteer,
North Yorkshire
I would like to say that volunteering for the
summer reading challenge has helped me
develop many skills and has greatly boosted my
confidence. I hope I can continue to help the
community further by volunteering in future
library events.”
Muhammad, Redbridge volunteer
2014: Accreditation and employment
• 776 volunteers achieved an accredited
outcome (460 for DofE)
• 10 library authorities offered job
opportunities to 33 volunteers
• 783 skills badges and recommendation letters
downloaded
2014: Continuing to volunteer
• 71% of volunteers said they would like to keep
volunteering in a library
• 53% of library authorities have offered 1,488
young people opportunities to continue
volunteering after the summer
Further volunteering
• Supporting younger readers: family fun days;
rhyme-times, Chatterbooks, homework clubs
• Supporting older readers: housebound visits, help
with adult listening group, silver surfer sessions
• Developing teen activity: manga groups, film
nights
• Helping libraries develop: promoting self service,
meet-and-greet, stock selection, advisory panels,
mystery shopping.
Resources and roles to support young
volunteers helping with the Summer
Reading Challenge in 2015
SECTION 2
Record Breakers - 2015
• Recruitment and advocacy: Postcard, Schools
advocacy leaflet and letter
Volunteer materials:
• T-shirt, badge, pen, booklet, certificate
Recognition and reward:
• Activity sheets
• Reading Hackers web page & online skills
• Reading book list and competitions
Schools Advocacy Card
• Poster design
Recruitment Postcard
Volunteer
Certificate
Volunteer roles
1. Reading Hacker volunteers
• Helping children take part in the Challenge
2. Reporters
• Blogging and recording
3. Leaders
• Planning and supporting
4. School ambassadors
Role 1: Reading Hacker volunteers
• Sign children up
• Help children to use the SRC website – add titles to
the Book Sorter
• Use activity sheets to help children share reading
choices with peers
• Help children find/ choose books
• Listen to them talk about books
• Help with events
• Collect data for evaluation
Role 2: Reporters
The role might include:
• Taking photos and video footage (signed
forms required for any children featured)
• Writing reviews of activities and events
• Promote the Challenge via blogging, photos
and news items.
• Talking to the press
• Doing interviews for radio/TV
Role 3: Leaders
• Running training sessions for other
volunteers
• Timetabling volunteer schedules
• Mentoring volunteers throughout the
Challenge
• Planning volunteer team building events
and activities
• Planning volunteer celebration events
Volunteer recruitment: case study
Role 4: schools ambassador
The role might include:
• Going into other schools with
presentations about the Challenge
• Creating displays in schools
• Running activities and events during the
Summer term to encourage children to
take part in the Challenge
• Volunteering in libraries over the summer
Paperwork: volunteer policy, risk
assessment, volunteer agreement,
etc.
SECTION 3
Volunteer Policy
• is a clear statement that you care about
volunteers
• ensures everyone understands the rationale
• makes it easier to recruit and retain volunteers
• ensures good quality
• enables you to evidence good practice
• supports you in complying with legal
requirements
• sets out expectations for all
• helps with evaluation
Resources and support
• Training and distance support
• Advocacy and recruitment resources
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Post card
Advocacy cards
Schools pack
Volunteer handbook, case studies and best practice guides
Promotional films
• Volunteer pack
• T-shirt, badge, volunteer booklet and log, Certificate
• Digital platform
What’s in a volunteer policy?
• written statement of service values and the role that
volunteers play in delivering them
• health and safety requirements
• an explanation of expectations
• roles that volunteers play and the protection and
benefits they are entitled to
• guidelines for recruitment and selection
• information about induction, training and supervision
• guidelines for recognition and reward
• a code of practice
Recruitment
Where are you going to
advertise?
• In library
• At schools
• Website/social media
• Vinspired website
• Do-it website
• Talk to young people
you are working with
Which recruitment
partners will you work
with?
• Schools
• Colleges
• Universities
• Local volunteering
organisations
Selecting young volunteers
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Do you need to use application forms?
How will you interview young people?
Will you need parental permission?
What if applicants aren’t suitable?
Importance of equal opportunities
Keeping everyone safe
Follow your local authority guidelines:
• Health and Safety policy
• Risk assessment
• Training and induction
• Child protection
• DBS checking
Induction
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Do it quickly!
Make it fun
Train young people together
Prepare a volunteer agreement
Support for young volunteers
Think about:
• Group/ peer support for volunteers (mobile
numbers?)
• Staff support for volunteers
• Service support for volunteers (including
when local relationships break down)
Accreditation, recognition and
evaluation
SECTION 4
Accreditation Awards
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Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
ASDAN Activities Award
Youth Achievement Award
Arts Award
Children’s University
Local Awards
Vinspired
Welsh Bacc/International Bacc
Saltire Award
Celebrating Achievement
• Certificate
• Awards ceremony – ask
councillors / mayor/ local
dignitaries
• Young volunteers can
present medals to children
and vice versa!
Evaluation
For young people:
• Numbers of young people volunteering
• How many hours
• Evidence of young people’s skills/experience gained
• Accreditation gained
• Further volunteering/job opportunities
For children:
• Impact on take up and completion rate by children
• Impact on the children taking part
For libraries:
• Impact on libraries and LA policy influencing
Evaluation methods
• YP registration form and survey
• Ethnicity, gender and age
• Confidence/attitudes to libraries/expectations
before volunteering
• Post-volunteering survey
• Confidence/attitudes to libraries/skills gained
after volunteering
For libraries:
• Evaluation form – by authority
• Comments/interviews with children
Reading Hack combines 3 things:
• Local activities
• Volunteering
• Youth advocacy
Features
• Flexible and local with UK infrastructure
• National brand developed with young people
• Youth-facing website and social media
• Rewards, recognition, accreditation
• Training and support for staff
• Case studies, best practice
• Tracking progress
(skills, hours volunteered)
Get involved
• SRC volunteers can create hack activities over
the summer
• Email us to register interest
• Adopt Reading Hack branding for groups and
activities
In the words of a young volunteer…
“It teaches you so much, not just about
libraries and work but about you as well.
I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed
every minute of volunteering because it
helped me develop as a person by
making me more confident
and sociable”.
Katy, young volunteer
North Yorkshire Libraries
Good luck!
For more advice and resources
please visit:
http://readingagency.org.uk/Readin
gHack