Volunteering remains alive and well, with people still eager to get involved, according to the Luxembourg Red Cross.
Traditional recruitment methods, however, are no longer as effective as they once were. Volunteering has taken on new forms, prompting the Red Cross to launch a new online portal designed to reflect changing expectations.
In the past, prospective volunteers would often submit unsolicited applications. This did not always make it easy to determine where they wanted, or were able, to help, or how much time they could commit.
Stéphanie Lamberty, Volunteer Services Coordinator at the Luxembourg Red Cross, said today's volunteers are looking for greater flexibility.
"We have noticed the emergence of new forms of volunteering, such as one-off assignments, remote volunteering, where people help from home, and corporate volunteering", she explained.
The new platform is intended to accommodate these different forms of involvement. Opportunities will be described more clearly and made easier to find, including short-term assignments that do not require a long-term commitment.
"One example of a one-off assignment would be a party at a children's home where we need volunteers to paint the children's faces", Lamberty said.
Long-term volunteering still exists, she added, but organisations also need to adapt to newer forms of participation.
Volunteers come from all sections of society, according to Lamberty. She explained that people can begin volunteering from the age of 15 through the Red Cross youth organisation, including at its holiday camps, where they can receive training to become activity leaders.
Most volunteers are at least 18 and do not necessarily help in the same field in which they work professionally, she said, adding that some deliberately look for something different from their day job. The organisation also has many retired volunteers who contribute their skills and experience, according to Lamberty.
Nearly 1,600 volunteers currently support around 40 different Red Cross services.
The new portal also includes a filter function, allowing prospective volunteers to search for opportunities that match their interests.
