The traditional approach to recruiting volunteers is no longer as effective, with voluntary engagement now taking on new shapes to reflect changing lifestyles. Recognising this shift, the Luxembourg Red Cross has launched a revamped online portal aimed at meeting the needs of today's volunteers.
Previously, potential volunteers would simply send in a spontaneous application, but this process often made it difficult to match people with suitable opportunities in terms of location, type of activity, or time commitment.
Stéphanie Lamberty, Volunteer Coordinator at the Red Cross, notes that volunteers today are seeking more flexibility, by, for instance, looking for short-term or one-off assignments, remote volunteering from home, and opportunities through companies.
The new digital platform is designed to respond to these trends, making offers more visible and concrete, particularly those that do not require a long-term commitment. For example, the platform might advertise a single event, such as a children's party in a Red Cross foyer where volunteers are needed for face-painting.
While traditional, long-term volunteering still exists, organisations increasingly need to adapt to these new preferences. Volunteer engagement now draws people from all walks of life, starting at age 15 in youth programmes and summer camps, where training to become an activity leader is available. Lamberty adds that most of their volunteers are aged 18 or older, and many choose to help in areas unrelated to their professional life. Retired people, who offer their valuable experience and skills, are also often among the volunteers.
Currently, almost 1,600 volunteers are active within the Luxembourg Red Cross, supporting 40 different services across the organisation.
The new portal also features a search and filter function, allowing volunteers to quickly find the specific opportunities that match their interests.
