Training the National Board & Recruitment and Retention training

Our main objective here in Peru is to help the Asociacion Nacional de Guias Scouts de Peru (ANGSP) with some of the problems they face regarding recruitment and retention of volunteers. We will be delivering three types of trainings:

• Leadership trainings, run by Heather and Emma, to improve the quality of guiding and the support available for adult volunteers. 
• Sessions for trainers, run by Katherine and Hannah, to support the Peruvian association providing leadership trainings, after the GOLD project finishes, and to enable more trainings to take place in the provinces.
• Sessions on recruitment and retention techniques, run by Claire and Caroline, identifying what the needs are, overcoming barriers volunteers may face, as well as looking marketing materials and social media.

Claire and Caroline ran the two 3 hour sessions. The first was focused on recruitment, exploring the topic of flexible guiding. We discussed the reasons people volunteer in guiding and how this can be used in recruitment. Caroline facilitated a mapping exercise to help identify the association's strategic recruitment needs.

The second session focused on volunteer retention and marketing. We discussed volunteer recognition and supporting volunteers through mentoring. After that, we explored how the ANGSP is seen by the public in Peru and how they would like to be seen. We talked through the differences and used them to help develop key messages and the outline for a marketing strategy.

Both these sessions took place in the evenings, both following on from a four hour session in the afternoon. Even though they ran ´til late, all particiants were eager to attend the sessions, all leaving continuing their discussions and buzzing with enthusiasm the days trainings.