A Volunteer Role Advert is designed to attract attention. Think of it as your ‘shop window’ – it’s what grabs a potential volunteer’s interest and encourages them to be curious and want to learn more about your charity and the opportunity.

Most people scan rather than read, so your advert should be eye-catching, engaging, and easy to digest. Use clear, compelling headlines and short, enticing descriptions that help people imagine themselves in the role. The goal is to spark curiosity and prompt them to get in touch.

A Volunteer Role Outline, on the other hand, is a more detailed document shared after someone expresses interest in the role. This outline should give a realistic picture of what the role involves, the commitment required, and what support or training is provided. It helps manage expectations and ensures that both the volunteer and your charity are well matched.

Volunteer Role Outline Template  

How to Write a Strong Volunteer Role Advert

A strong volunteer role advert should answer three key questions:

• What will I do?
• Why does it matter?
• Is this right for me?

A role advert is your first chance to capture someone’s attention. With an average attention span of around 8 seconds, it needs to be clear, easy to read and focused on what matters most.

Start with a strong sense of purpose. Help people quickly understand why the role matters and the difference they could make. Keep the content concise and structured so it is easy to scan. Be clear about what the volunteer will do, where and when it takes place, and the level of commitment required.

Use warm, inclusive language and focus on impact. People should be able to imagine themselves in the role and see how their effort will lead to something meaningful. Avoid jargon and unnecessary detail that could make the advert feel heavy or difficult to engage with.

Be clear about accessibility and support. If you welcome supported volunteers, say so. This helps create an open and inclusive feel from the start. Also share your expenses policy, so volunteers understand what costs will be covered and feel confident they can take part.

Keep expectations realistic and highlight any flexibility where possible. Make it easy for people to see if the role fits around their time and lifestyle.

End with a clear and simple call to action so people know exactly what to do next.

If done well, the right people will recognise themselves in the advert and feel confident to apply.

Volunteer Role Advert Template 

Interviewing Potential Volunteers

When interviewing a potential volunteer, it’s important to approach the conversation with a mindset that’s welcoming, open, and informal. While structure is useful, avoid treating the interview like a formal job application. Most people volunteer to give their time, not to go through a rigorous employment-style process – and overly corporate or HR-driven language can be off-putting.

Instead, think of the interview as a guided conversation. It’s an opportunity for both you and the volunteer to learn whether the role is a good mutual fit.

One of the great joys of engaging volunteers is the element of possibility – sometimes you’ll find yourself with more fantastic candidates than expected, and this may allow you to expand or reshape the role. A volunteer may also express interest in one role but turn out to be better suited for another or even offer skills that inspire a new opportunity altogether.

At the same time, these conversations can help clarify when someone may not be the right fit for your charity or the role. It’s perfectly acceptable to acknowledge this gently and professionally, thanking them for their interest and signposting to other potential opportunities if appropriate or back to JVN.

The templates below offers a practical way to structure and record these conversations, helping you to stay consistent while still keeping the tone personal and volunteer-friendly.

Volunteer Interview Format  

Volunteer Interview Form  

How to write a strong volunteer role outline:  A short and useful guide on how to create a clearly defined role to attract the right volunteer