Tips for member led workshops

Members are often given the leadership role of volunteer training facilitators. Give your members the tools they need to optimize their success and the success of their volunteers.

The following document was created by AmeriCorps VISTAs for their successors. It is a best practice example of tips and training agenda examples that you can redesign to fit your own program. Allow your members to add to the tip sheet from their experiences. To help members with facilitation, the Effective Facilitation Training Packet has helpful information and tips.

This volunteer orientation and training tip sheet was contributed by Chicago Public Schools Homeless Education Program (Chicago, IL) , a VISTA program that works with low income and homeless students to assure they are provided with educational opportunities that are equal to those of other students.

More tips for training community volunteers

• Consider hosting a day long training where volunteers choose from a variety of relative topics
• Ask experts to facilitate a least a portion of the training (professors/teachers, early childhood experts, environmentalists, nutritionists, and so on)
• Have a panel of experts and allow a question and answer session for volunteers (include students, clients, community organizations)
• Include training regarding the culture of your clients. For example, cultural competency on Latino, Hmong, Russian populations, or information on at-risk, gifted, impoverished youth
• Keep sessions under 90 minutes
• Offer refreshments and give plenty of breaks
• Hold training at times that the majority of volunteers can attend; offer childcare during training times.