Not just roles! Using Volunteer Brum's 'one-off' option to bring in volunteers

Have you discovered Volunteer Brum's 'one-off' events feature? This is an option designed for activities that happen just once - or don’t require an ongoing commitment.

It’s a straightforward tool, but a flexible one. Organisations are using it in all sorts of ways to bring people in, raise awareness, and support their wider volunteering programmes.

For example, you might use one-off events to:

• Find volunteers for community events – from local celebrations to neighbourhood activities that need additional support
• Run volunteer taster sessions – giving people a feel for your organisation and a chance to ask questions before committing
• Offer informal training or information sessions – helping people understand what’s involved and whether it’s right for them
• Encourage corporate involvement – many businesses are keen to get their staff involved in practical community activity
• Support local festivals – events such as Birmingham Mela, community arts festivals or events where volunteers can keep things running smoothly
• Help at sports events – from fun runs to local tournaments, where short bursts of support are often needed.

Just as importantly, these opportunities work well for volunteers too.

Not everyone is ready - or able - to take on a regular role. Some people are short on time but still want to give something back. Others are trying volunteering for the first time and want to see what it’s like before committing. For some, it’s about building confidence, meeting people, or gaining a bit of experience in a new area.

One-off events give them that chance. They’re flexible, low-pressure, and often easier to fit around work, study, or family life.

Several organisations are already making good use of this approach.

Action Tutoring has been using Volunteer Brum to promote its Information Sessions for prospective volunteers. These short sessions act as a stepping stone into a more structured role. Brenda Turnbull of Action Tutoring explains:

“Although our Volunteer Tutor role is a commitment over 10 to 20 weeks, we’ve used Volunteer Brum to promote our free 30-minute information sessions with quite a bit of success. These sessions are a ‘peek in the window’ ahead of applying. Not only have people come along to find out more, but we’re also able to send a link to a recording afterwards, which often leads to applications too. Thank you Volunteer Brum!”

The Chamberlain Highbury Trust has taken a slightly different approach, using the one-off events feature to bring in corporate volunteers to help with practical tasks in their grounds. Emma Bangham, Trust Co-ordinator, commented

"We've had a great response to the volunteering opportunities listed on Volunteer Brum! It's proved to be a really easy and effective way to spread the word about the different volunteering activities available to business groups and the general public at Highbury Hall and Park." 

Meanwhile, Digital NNS has been recruiting volunteers for its pop-up digital café sessions. These are short, informal sessions where volunteers can drop in for a couple of hours to help people build confidence using smartphones and other devices. Rickie Josen, Digital NNS Community Lead, said:

"As a result of the volunteer recruitment campaign with Volunteer Brum, we have registered over 30 volunteers! At the first Digital Cafe in Northfield, we had 2 volunteers who were magnificent with our citizens from the moment they arrived. At the second event in the City Centre, four volunteers attended - and one even brought a friend! All the volunteers are very patient with visitors asking questions about their phones, and everyone leaves happy!"

Adding a one-off event on Volunteer Brum is simple. When creating a new opportunity, you can select the “one-off event” option and enter the key details - date, time, location, and details of the support you need. You can also include clear, friendly information about what volunteers can expect, which helps people decide if it’s right for them.

It doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, the simpler and clearer it is, the more likely people are to get involved.

In the end, one-off events are about opening the door a little wider. They give people a way in - whether that leads to a longer-term role or just a one-off contribution.

And for many organisations, that first small step is what makes all the difference.

If your organisation needs more volunteers and you're not currently signed up to Volunteer Brum, get registered today: https://www.volunteerbrum.org/for-organisations.