Community Crime Prevention Guide
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Develop a Community Crime Prevention Action Plan
Recruit Volunteers
Recruitment, management and retention of volunteers are critical to the development of a crime prevention action plan.
A crime prevention action plan is more likely to be successful if it has wide community support and participation. Research strongly suggests that successful crime prevention action plans should include as many groups and individuals as possible.
There are numerous benefits to involving a range of groups and individuals as volunteer participants in the action plan:
- Volunteers bring different ideas, perspectives and resources to planning.
- They give voice to a range of interests.
- They can also promote flexible approaches and problem solving – both essential components of an effective action plan.
- Their involvement shows potential financial contributors that the community supports the project.
- When financial resources are limited, volunteers can be instrumental in getting a project off the ground.
- Additional benefits are that satisfied volunteers do a good job, have only good things to say about the project, recruit others by word and example, and are committed and enthusiastic.
Volunteer Management: There is a lot of work involved in the successful integration of volunteers into programs and projects. Effective volunteer management takes thought, planning, effort and a basic understanding of the needs and interests that drive an individual to volunteer.
Volunteer Recruitment: Resources about volunteer recruitment typically include the following basic steps:
- define why you need volunteers;
- design valuable volunteer opportunities;
- recruit carefully;
- screen, interview and place with care;
- train;
- recognize; and
- conduct follow-up and evaluation.
A comprehensive collection of information on volunteer recruitment, relations and management can be found at: www.charityvillage.com
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Resources
Volunteer B.C. is a provincial association of volunteer centres, provincial voluntary organizations and individuals. Its website provides information on events and conferences and up-to-date information on the voluntary sector. One of their resources, The Screening Handbook, addresses the legal obligations associated with volunteer screening, particularly the need to take reasonable measures to care for and protect participants in an organization’s activities and programs.
Community Volunteer Connections supports organizations in B.C. by promoting best practices in volunteer management throughout communities. Organizations can use this website to list volunteer opportunities.
The Volunteer Resource Centre is a virtual resource centre, with extensive links to information on volunteering and volunteer management.
