Different Ways to Volunteer with Your Local Youth Club

 

There are lots of ways to get involved, for example:

  • You could follow and support the youth club, project or service on social media. By spreading the word about the club, it helps to amplify their message. Promoting stories of young people’s successes and the value of youth work can be very effective.
  • Get involved in fundraising activities by hosting an event or through sponsorship. Resources are vital for local clubs to operate.
  • You might decide to help out at a one-off event in the community and this might encourage you to want to become a regular volunteer leader.
  • Join or start a campaign and advocate for young people and youth work, for example Get Involved – National Youth Council of Ireland
  • Join the local board of management/committee for your local youth club, project or service. See Below.

 

Role and Responsibilities of Committee Members

 

Youth Clubs often have an overarching governing structure, such as a committee or board. These committees perform a crucial role in ensuring compliance, governance and strategic direction of the organisation/service/project.

Volunteers who sit take on these governing structures often take on roles of responsibility in these committees, which include chairperson, secretary, communications officer, treasurer etc.

 

Chairperson responsibilities often include:

  • Calling the committee/board meeting
  • Deciding on the agenda
  • Chairing (manages/facilitates) the meeting
  • Keeping order throughout the meeting
  • Making sure that everyone gets their say
  • Making sure that speakers are not interrupted
  • Asking people to vote in order to reach a decision if necessary
  • Making sure that all topics on the agenda are covered within the time
  • Organising action to follow decisions
  • Closing the

 

Secretary responsibilities often include:

  • Drawing up the agenda together with the Chairperson
  • Notifying the members of the next meeting
  • Keeping a record of the members present
  • Reading out any apologies from those absent
  • Reading out the minutes from the last meeting
  • Reading out any correspondence received
  • Keeping a written record of the main points of the meeting (minutes)
  • Dealing with all correspondence

 

Treasurer responsibilities often include:

  • Keeping the accounts (income and expenditure)
  • Making sure receipts are obtained for all monies spent
  • Making sure that two signatories (treasurer and one other as agreed) are on every cheque and the accounts
  • Paying the bills when they are passed by the group
  • Presenting the accounts to the group

 

Communications Officer responsibilities often include:

  • Organising publicity and public relation for the group events
  • Updating website, social media platforms etc.
  • Writing press releases for the media (newspaper, radio, TV, newsletters, )
  • Arranging photographs for publicity
  • Keeping a record of publicity (media file)
  • Informing and meeting guest speakers at events
  • After an activity, advising the group to thank those who have helped
  • Presenting communications report to the group

 

Tips to Ensure Effective Meetings 

 

  • Setting dates well in advance to maximise the number of members available to attend (and sending a reminder notice)
  • Clarifying the purpose or focus of each meeting
  • Ensuring that reports are concise and comprehensible
  • Ensuring that minutes and agreed actions from the previous meetings are circulated
  • Ensuring that all papers are circulated well in advance
  • Identifying which agenda items require a decision and which are for information or discussion. A well planned agenda should clearly communicate the purpose and objectives of the meeting.

For more information on governance responsibilities of committees/boards please see Advice & Guidance: Best Practice for nonprofits | The Wheel