As we travel the country visiting projects one recurring theme is the lack of new volunteers - we invited local projects to comment on CNI Network's Facebook page ideas they have for marketing and recruiting...
Windsor Street Angels have posters on notice boards in churches across the area...
Make sure you update pictures on your social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are the most popular) - the more relevant and frequent updates means your project appears on those who follow you timelines. Facebook Live is a great way to make an instant video as you patrol.
Approach community and church magazines and ask if they will include the SafeNightOut.party poster in the Christmas edition - they may even include an article and a request for volunteers... See the website for free downloadable PDF's.
Ask local community magazines to include an article on your work with a request for volunteers - Woking Street Angels were featured in the local Round and About magazine and within a day had received 2 volunteer applications.
Make use of publicity that CNI Network and other local projects have created - radio, TV, YouTube videos, magazine articles, etc - check cninetwork.org/blog or subscribe to our newsletter to be kept up to date
Here are Street Angels York at York Ripon St John Volunteers Fair - they tweeted the picture and included the Uni twitter name which encourages re-tweets and likes! Volunteer Centres may also run volunteer fairs or speed volunteering type events.
A 'Vicars on the Streets' night where local church leaders, bishops (and Mayor, Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff, MP...) are invited to sample a night with your team - take photos, write a press release for church magazines (great way of reaching many people) and local newspaper and BBC radio and make sure you share stories that make good illustrations in sermons for weeks to come!
Daytime events get your project in front of a different audience (and maybe some potential volunteers!). Are there bonfire events, Christmas light switch-on's, Santa parades, carol singing, galas, etc that you can offer your services at...
Is your website up to date - if people are sending emails to an old email they may be signing up to volunteer and getting no response. An online sign up form may make it easier for people to get involved (Google have one you can embed in its Drive)
An award ceremony for your volunteers - invite local dignitaries and family and friends of volunteers. Pictured is the awards night as part of the AGM for Hillingdon Street Angels - the Mayor is presenting an award for 75 hours of service... Make sure you take pictures so you can share on social media (and encourage the volunteers, linked churches, other organisations to share as well). You could also look out for and enter your project for other awards events (see here for a list of local project awards received)
Offer to visit local High Schools, Colleges or University to deliver the Alcohol and Safety Education resource - you can also share stories from experiences on the streets and if the young people are old enough encourage them to volunteer.
Hold an Annual Celebration event where you invite volunteers to honour and thank them for all they have invested over the year. You could also invite key partners and local church leaders. Cake and food always goes down well (the picture is Guildford Street Angels celebrating 10 years)
Take part in national initiatives such as Volunteers Week (1st - 7th June), #UKCharityWeek (beginning of December) and CNI Network's International Day of Prayer for the Night-Time Economy (28th February with a CNI Network / local project Sunday resources for church services).
Make sure you join in any local hours or # on Twitter - Oldham Street Angels are regulars on #OldhamHour and have received support from the wider community as a result including new volunteers.
Christmas Media Campaign - Angels watch over Christmas revellers
Download the Christmas Campaign 2018 PDF file to help you get the most out of Christmas 2018 in terms of promoting the amazing work of your local project.
Media Release / SafeNightOut.party
Download the Christmas Campaign file in Word (so you can copy, paste and edit easier)
Download the Christmas Campaign 2018 PDF file to help you get the most out of Christmas 2018 in terms of promoting the amazing work of your local project.
Media Release / SafeNightOut.party
Download the Christmas Campaign file in Word (so you can copy, paste and edit easier)