Number of volunteers and their roles

For the collection to be effective, a sufficient number of volunteers are needed to carry out the various tasks. At least two people should be on duty at the shop door or entrance at all times, as well as at the donation desk. It is also a good idea to have one or two back-up staff, as there may be occasional urgent situations. Thus, the recommended collection team consists of 4-8 people in total.

How do you get volunteers?

To facilitate the participation of volunteers, it is important to ensure that collection shifts are of a reasonable length. The recommended length is two hours per person so that participation feels light and does not become overwhelming.

If it is difficult to get enough volunteers, the collection can be shortened to morning and evening. Many clubs do two-shift collections on Saturdays between 10am and 2pm.

It’s worth asking other clubs and organisations you have supported to get involved.

It’s also important to keep participants hydrated by providing coffee breaks and drinking water, as dry mouth can be common when collecting. It’s worth asking your shopkeeper if they could provide coffee or other drinks for volunteers.

Scheduling the collection

It is a good idea to plan your collection schedule in advance. Mornings are usually quieter, while afternoons around 3pm on both sides are the busiest time for donations, when more volunteers are needed.

The minimum staffing for a collection is two people – one at the collection point to receive donations and another to hand out flyers. The recommended number of people per shift is 4.

If one of the volunteers will be outside the shop for the entire collection, it is important to make sure they have enough warm clothes.

Make the shift lists for your first collection to take into account the volunteers’ workload and breaks. Make sure there are enough people for the busiest times and that everyone gets a breather after their shift.