A volunteer role description should be finalised before recruitment begins. It sets out what the role involves, the skills needed, and what is expected, helping to attract suitable volunteers and ensure clear expectations from the start. 

It usually includes the main tasks, required skills or qualities, who they will be working with, and how much time is involved. It may also outline the support and training provided.

It also acts as your first line of defence in recruitment, clearly setting expectations and required skills to help attract suitable candidates.

It helps ensure the right people find the right volunteer opportunities, with expectations clear from the start.

• what tasks do you have that you need volunteers to do?
• how might these tasks be combined to create a volunteer role?
• how much training, support and supervision could you give?
• is there scope for any volunteer role to develop?
• what skills would volunteers need to have already?

"Best Practice Resource Writing a Volunteer Role Description" resource