Key points to remember

• A volunteer will be motivated if you recognise them as an individual.
  
  
• Individual volunteers will have different motivations. To really offer the most you can to your volunteers and to get the most from them, find out what motivates them and do your best to provide it.
  
  
• Showing an interest in your volunteers and their lives outside of volunteering is very important.
  
  
• To find out what motivates volunteers, ask them!
  
  
• Create motivating role descriptions that include specific targets for achievements and specify how progress will be measured.
  
  
• Formal recognition systems may be useful but it depends on the culture of your organisation. Some volunteers may be put off by the idea of competing against each other or being formally assessed.
  
  
• Giving volunteers responsibility can be a great motivator. Think about role enrichment (a more satisfying role) rather than role enlargement (more tasks to do).
  
  
• When thanking or praising volunteers, be realistic and honest. Don't just do it for the sake of it.
  
  
• Team work is also a great motivating factor. Organising team work so that each volunteer's ability to fulfil their role depends on other volunteers fulfilling their roles requires a change in mindset from organising volunteers' roles according to separate tasks, but will be worth it.
  
  
• Social events away from the organisation are good at building team spirit.

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