Toolkit for a warm welcome
Resources and films to help new volunteers settle in
Getting your new recruits off to a great start
There’s a lot to think about and prepare when welcoming a new volunteer to Girlguiding, but our toolkit of induction resources, based on what we’ve learned through our Improving Access to Guiding project, can help make the process simpler.
Some countries and regions already have their own versions of some of these documents – so you could use some of the resources below to add to your volunteers’ warm welcome.
You can order all of these resources (apart from the induction booklet) from our online shop.
Resources you can use with new starters
Induction booklet
This booklet will be coming soon from your country or region – you can work with them to add in key information about your county. It will include pages on volunteering roles, support structures and Girlguiding media. It also has a checklist for new volunteers to work through to make sure they’re ready to get started.
Learning and development guide
There are lots of learning and development opportunities for volunteers – and whilst many are optional it’s great to showcase how volunteers can develop throughout their Girlguiding journey. Commissioners can use it to discuss the opportunities available.
Action plan
From recruitment checks to taster visits to training, commissioners can work with new volunteers to agree next steps and plan their induction using this template.
Volunteer roles posters and handouts
These show the wide range of volunteering roles available, so you can use them to promote Girlguiding and encourage more people to get involved. The poster's in A3 size and the handouts are A5.
Volunteer journey poster
Why not send your new volunteers a link to this poster to show them the different steps they’ll take on their joining journey?
Getting started as a volunteer webpage
You could also direct new volunteers to our ‘getting started’ webpage, to give them an overview of the support and information available for them as they join.
Resources for people supporting new volunteers
New enquiry templates
If it’s your responsibility to get back to new enquiries you can use these email templates and phone prompts to help you get back to new volunteers quickly. Adapt theses as you need to, to include local information.
Commissioners’ checklist
Commissioners can use this checklist for each new volunteer – it gives an easy summary of the information you’ll need to share and the steps the volunteer needs to take.
Welcome guidelines
Anyone who’s involved in welcoming new volunteers can use this booklet, which is full of handy tips on how to give new volunteers the warmest of welcomes.
Welcome events guide
This guide contains tips and ideas on organising welcome events for potential and new volunteers – from drop-in events to more structured meetings.
Induction session plan
You can use this session plan and presentation to organise an induction meeting in your area. It covers the basics of Girlguiding, and key topics such as the guiding journey for girls, the Promise and the Five Essentials.
Skills Pool guide
As a county, why not try organising a local skills pool to better involve occasional volunteers? It can provide more flexible opportunities for those not yet in guiding – as well as increasing opportunities for existing volunteers who might be willing to share their skills more widely. Use this guidance pack and template to get you started.
Fun films for a warm welcome
It’s great to be able to show new volunteers what guiding’s all about – and what better way to hear from people who are already volunteering for us! This video showcases the huge variety of roles available and the many ways volunteers can get involved – even if they don’t have much time. If you’d like a copy of this video to show at an event, get in touch with your country or region.
Our ‘Welcome to Girlguiding’ video, presented by girls, gives new volunteers the essential information they need to get started in Girlguiding. Get in touch with your country or region if you need a downloadable file to show at an event.
Thanking our volunteers from day one is so important if we want them to feel valued and to stay with us. You can use this video with all volunteers, new and old, to show how much we appreciate all their efforts.
