It is important to consider how to create an environment which is welcoming of everyone from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, ages, gender, socio economic backgrounds or physical or neuro diverse abilities. This facilitates learning and celebrates differences, builds leadership and role models, while recognising everyone contributes something to the youth club in their own unique way.

It is important to ensure that your youth club is an inclusive and diverse environment which reflects the community in which it operates. This is important for participants (young people) and also for youth leaders (volunteers).

When recruiting volunteers it is important to consider the following:

  • Actively approach groups in the community, establish relationships with community leaders, and get to know communities you have not interacted with before
  • Look for opportunities to showcase your youth club/project/service to new people
  • Consider how you present your youth club, for example, are photos or images representative of a cross section of communities, is your premises accessible, etc.
  • Take time to get to know people and answer their questions or invite them to attend events
  • Make it easy to volunteer, provide assistance (such as language translation) with recruitment administration procedures
  • Consider what barriers may be causing people not to volunteer for example transport costs, shift work, caring commitments etc.

Useful Resource:
Involving volunteers from new communities from Volunteer Ireland