![Page 1: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
IntroductionVancouver Community Network
Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model
Vancouver Community Network
![Page 2: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
IntroductionVancouver Community Network
Introduction• Community Learning Network
Coordinator
• Training and Volunteer Coordinator• Presentation
Mapping VCN and community assets:
Using volunteers to build capacity
![Page 3: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
IntroductionVancouver Community Network
Introduction to VCN
• Non profit Internet Service Provider• 1993 - Started providing text based email• 1996 - Obtained charitable status after court
case• Run by board of directors • Volunteer pool of over 60 people• 6 staff people, including CAP and CLN
project coordinators
![Page 4: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
IntroductionVancouver Community Network
Community Learning Network
• Internet and community development (CD)• Defining how and if possible• Over 10 active partners including 6 community
centres• Sustainable / leave a legacy• Technology demands support• Raising basic skills• How could we use volunteers?
![Page 5: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer CapacityVancouver Community Network
Building VCN’s Volunteer Capacity
• Snapshot of VCN volunteers
![Page 6: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer Capacity Snapshot of Volunteers
Vancouver Community Network
Snapshot of current volunteers
– Gender breakdown
![Page 7: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer Capacity Snapshot of Volunteers
Vancouver Community Network
Gender Breakdown
Overall:
• 25% are women
• 75% are men
![Page 8: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer Capacity Snapshot of Volunteers
Vancouver Community Network
Snapshot of current volunteers
– Gender breakdown
– Languages spoken
![Page 9: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer Capacity Snapshot of Volunteers
Vancouver Community Network
Languages Spoken
• Burmese
• Cantonese
• English
• French
• German
• Hindi
• Japanese
• Korean
• Malayam
• Mandarin
• Persian
• Polish
• Spanish
• Serbian
• Croatian
• Tagalog
• Ukrainian
• Urdu
![Page 10: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer Capacity Snapshot of Volunteers
Vancouver Community Network
Snapshot of current volunteers
– Gender breakdown– Languages spoken
– Skill level (education)
![Page 11: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer Capacity Snapshot of Volunteers
Vancouver Community Network
Skill Level
• 65% have post-secondary education:– 30% have Bachelor’s Degrees– 25% have Diploma or Certificate– 10% have Master’s Degrees
• 30% currently enrolled in technical courses or programmes
• 5% have no post-secondary education
![Page 12: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer Capacity Snapshot of Volunteers
Vancouver Community Network
Snapshot of current volunteers
– Gender breakdown– Languages spoken– Skill level (education)– Work experience
![Page 13: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer Capacity Snapshot of Volunteers
Vancouver Community Network
Work Experience
Computer-related experience:
• 70% have minimum 1 year
• 30% have none
Canadian work experience:
• 65% have none
• 35% have non-computer-related experience
![Page 14: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer Capacity Snapshot of Volunteers
Vancouver Community Network
Snapshot of current volunteers
– Gender breakdown– Languages spoken– Skill level (education)– Work experience– Motivation
![Page 15: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer Capacity Snapshot of Volunteers
Vancouver Community Network
Motivation
Volunteers want to:
• Gain Canadian work experience
• Work in a technical environment
• Meet and socialize with other people
• Keep their skills fresh
• Improve their English-language skills
![Page 16: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer CapacityVancouver Community Network
Building VCN’s Volunteer Capacity
• Volunteers at VCN
• Sources of volunteers
![Page 17: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer CapacityVancouver Community Network
Sources of VolunteersEducational
Institutions:• British Columbia
Institute of Technology
• Kwantlen University College
• Langara Community College
• Simon Fraser University
• University of British Columbia
• Vancouver Community College
Service Agencies:• Immigrant Services
Society• North Shore
Community Services• Richmond Connections
Info and Volunteer Society
Other Sources:• Vancouver Public
Library• VCN website• Volunteer Vancouver
![Page 18: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer CapacityVancouver Community Network
Building VCN’s Volunteer Capacity
• Volunteers at VCN
• Sources of volunteers
• Placement of volunteers
![Page 19: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer CapacityVancouver Community Network
Placement of Volunteers
Four core user support roles:
• Reception/administration
• Help desk
• Public access support
• Network support
![Page 20: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer CapacityVancouver Community Network
Building VCN’s Volunteer Capacity
• Volunteers at VCN
• Sources of volunteers
• Placement of volunteers• Team building
![Page 21: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer CapacityVancouver Community Network
Team Building
Six core volunteer teams:
• Technical writing
• Photography
• Web administration
• System abuse
• Mailing list administration
• Training
![Page 22: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer CapacityVancouver Community Network
Building VCN’s Volunteer Capacity
• Volunteers at VCN
• Sources of volunteers
• Placement of volunteers
• Team building
• Documentation & curricula development
![Page 23: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer CapacityVancouver Community Network
Documentation & Curricula Development
Training materials for each workshop:
• Assessment forms
• Training curricula
• Sign-up sheets
• Handouts
• Homework
• Evaluation forms
![Page 24: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer CapacityVancouver Community Network
Building VCN’s Volunteer Capacity
• Volunteers at VCN
• Sources of volunteers
• Placement of volunteers
• Team building
• Documentation & curricula development
• Building the training team
![Page 25: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Building VCN's Volunteer CapacityVancouver Community Network
Building the Training Team
VCN volunteer trainers gain skills by:• Reviewing VCN documentation• Assisting experienced trainers in workshops• Train the public with the assistance of
experienced trainers• Providing other team members with
ongoing support and feedback• Recruiting more trainers
![Page 26: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Towards a Mentoring Training Model
Vancouver Community Network
Community Learning Network
• Diversity of users– Long term process to raise basic skills
• Experimented with using a paid trainer to raise skill level at a community partner– Wasn’t leading to goals of projects – Drain on funds – then what…?
• How to incorporate the volunteers?– The process…
![Page 27: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Towards a Mentoring Training Model
Vancouver Community Network
Refocus• A CLN goal: Define how to combine internet
and CD in a sustainable manner • Community partner was open to a train the
trainer program– Would we pay for a trainer?– They had volunteers, but what happens when
they move on?
• Recognized:– need in the community through CAP/CLN– untapped assets at VCN and in community
![Page 28: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Towards a Mentoring Training Model
Vancouver Community Network
Training Need in the Community
Dozens of sites, e.g.:• Confirmed:
– Domestic Workers Association– Carnegie– West End Seniors Network
• Potential:– Community Directions– Raycam Community Centre
![Page 29: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Towards a Mentoring Training Model
Vancouver Community Network
Untapped Assets• VCN
– Currently have 7 skilled & interested volunteer trainers
– Skilled staff in train the trainer, curriculum development
– Process for intake of volunteers
• Confirmed Community Partners– Have volunteers willing to learn and staff engaged
in process of building capacity
![Page 30: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
Towards a Mentoring Training Model
Vancouver Community Network
How to use these assets to sustain training in the long term?
• Set up a mentor-based train the trainer system
• Strategically choose sites with: – interested volunteers and – staff engaged in process
![Page 31: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Towards a Mentoring Training Model
Vancouver Community Network
Community Partner
• Interested volunteers
• Volunteer skill level
• Training content (e.g. Carnegie vs DWA)
![Page 32: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Towards a Mentoring Training Model
Vancouver Community Network
VCN
• Number of community partners are limited by:– Volunteers we have– Staff time to:
• Teach volunteers how to give train the trainer workshops
• Coordinate lab space• Refine curricula for each partner• Define training schedule
![Page 33: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
Towards a Mentoring Training Model
Vancouver Community Network
The Mentoring Training Model
1. VCN volunteers:
a) Raise skill level of site volunteers
b) Train site volunteers to be trainers
c) Use site trainers as assistants for more general audience – set an example
2. Site trainers:a) Run workshops with VCN volunteers as assistants
b) Run workshops with other site trainers
c) … Train others to be trainers?
![Page 34: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
Towards a Mentoring Training Model
Vancouver Community Network
Measuring Sustainability
Degrees of success:• Site volunteers
provide training but for how long?
• Site volunteers train others to be trainers
VCN Maintenance• Will need to revisit the
site
• Purely sustainable – no maintenance
Benefit to VCN• Increased interest in volunteers
![Page 35: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
ConclusionVancouver Community Network
Conclusion: Organic Experiment
• Number of sites involved depends on degree of success
• Staff needed to coordinate
• Must make strategic decisions
• Learning as we go
![Page 36: Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model](https://reader036.vdocument.in/reader036/viewer/2022062809/568159e3550346895dc72e4f/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
ConclusionVancouver Community Network
Volunteer Strategies That Work: Towards a Sustainable Model
Vancouver Community Network