There is not only a shortage of bus drivers in public transport, but also transport organizations that run on volunteers are struggling with a shortage. During the corona crisis, many drivers who were involved in voluntary transport organizations left and that gap has hardly been filled. In order to attract new people, the Knowledge Center for Volunteer Transport organized a meeting to exchange ideas.
“You used to place an advertisement somewhere and new registrations came almost immediately, but that has changed,” says Femke Nannes of the Knowledge Center for Volunteer Transport. “The people who are there can often only work one day, so you also need more people,” she explains. “So more creativity for recruiting people can’t hurt, and that’s exactly what we’re going to discuss today.”
Organizations find it difficult to find volunteers – NH Nieuws
Klaas Vos of the voluntary transport association OIG-IHD is pleased that the conference has been held. His organization has been operating in the Kennemerland region for 57 years, but lately they have struggled to find drivers or people who want to help with the administration. “Since corona, we have noticed that it is difficult to find older volunteers in particular,” says Vos. “But we also think that it is due to the more individualistic society.”
People are getting older and staying healthy longer. So let them sign up as volunteers!
Transport association OIG-IHD has come up with a smart way to earn extra money: in their own thrift store they sell clothing from collection bins supplied by the municipality, which accounts for no less than 95 percent of all income of the company.
“But you don’t recruit volunteers with that,” says Vos. In the long run, however, he does see a solution to the shortage of voluntary staff: “People are getting older and staying healthy longer. So let them sign up as volunteers!”
KNRM
Another speaker today was Jacob Tas. He is director of the KNRM, an organization that runs on about 1400 volunteers. “We have been around for almost 200 years, so we have a long history of recruiting people. But our motivation is also very high, people want to help others! We also have many donors,” says Tas.
positivity
Finally, Femke has perhaps the most important tip for organizations. “Be a nice club with a good feeling! Provide enough positivity, that attracts people.”