Volunteer Connect Lithgow Region will be hosting a series of workshops for Volunteer Involving Organisations kicking off with
Recruit, Recognise and Retain: Building Stronger Volunteer Teams
Saturday 17th October
Lithgow Library
9:30am to 11:00am
Volunteers are at the heart of our communities. For Volunteer Involving Organisations (VIOs), having the right volunteers — and creating an environment where they feel valued, supported and connected — is essential to delivering meaningful community outcomes.
Recruit – Finding the right volunteers starts with understanding your organisation’s needs and clearly communicating how people can make a difference. Effective recruitment is about more than filling a role; it is about connecting people with opportunities that match their interests, skills, values and availability.
Recognise – Volunteers give their time, skills and energy because they care. Recognising their contribution is an important part of creating a positive volunteer experience. A simple thank you, celebrating achievements, providing feedback or acknowledging milestones can make volunteers feel valued and appreciated.
Retain – When volunteers feel welcomed, supported, respected and connected to the organisation, they are more likely to remain involved. Providing appropriate training, communication, meaningful roles, flexibility and opportunities to contribute helps create an environment where volunteers want to stay.
For VIOs, Recruit, Recognise and Retain isn’t just a volunteer management strategy — it is about building strong relationships with the people who help make your organisation and your community stronger.
When volunteers feel valued, they feel connected — and when they feel connected, they are more likely to stay.

