Customer Story: Abbotsford House
Streamlining volunteer recruitment and engagement
Abbotsford House, the home of Sir Walter Scott, has seen significant improvements in volunteer recruitment and engagement thanks to Access Assemble. The software has streamlined administrative tasks, boosted communication efficiency, and helped maintain a dedicated volunteer workforce to support their award-winning visitor experience.
Access Assemble
Challenge
- Managing Volunteer Recruitment: High turnover post-pandemic required efficient recruitment processes to maintain volunteer numbers.
- Administrative Burden: Paperwork and manual processes were slowing down recruitment and communication.
- Volunteer Engagement: Keeping volunteers connected and informed across diverse roles, both indoors and outdoors.
Approach
- Adopting Access Assemble: Implementing Access Assemble’s all-in-one platform for volunteer management.
- Streamlined Communication: Using Assemble’s messaging and news feed features to keep volunteers engaged.
- Efficient Recruitment: Digitising and simplifying the recruitment process to attract new volunteers promptly.
Results
- Faster Recruitment: Reduced paperwork and streamlined processes sped up volunteer onboarding.
- Improved Communication: Volunteers stay informed through regular updates via Assemble’s messaging and news feed.
- Enhanced Engagement: Greater volunteer satisfaction and retention through improved communication and efficiency.
Access Assemble has eliminated unnecessary paperwork and made our recruitment process more efficient. It’s a one-stop shop that keeps volunteers informed, engaged, and supported.
About Abbotsford House
Abbotsford House, the historical home of Sir Walter Scott, is a five-star visitor attraction reliant on its dedicated volunteers to support its operations. Volunteers assist in every area, from visitor services and estate maintenance to events like ScottFest and the Christmas Markets. Faced with the challenge of replenishing and engaging their volunteer workforce, Abbotsford House invested in Access Assemble to modernise their volunteer management and enhance efficiency.
Karen O’Brien-Barrett, Volunteer Coordinator at Abbotsford House, tells us of their success since implementing Access Assemble:
“Access Assemble has certainly sped up our recruitment process and has eliminated the need for unnecessary paperwork. It has made the process more efficient, which is vital when you want to keep the interest of enquirers whilst you take them through the application process.”
Key takeaways
- Efficiency in recruitment
- Enhanced volunteer engagement
- Simplified communication
Efficiency in recruitment
One of the most significant improvements for Abbotsford House has been the efficiency of their recruitment process. Before Access Assemble, volunteer recruitment was hampered by slow, paper-based processes and administrative delays. Volunteer Coordinator Karen O’Brien-Barrett noted, “Access Assemble has certainly sped up our recruitment process and has eliminated the need for unnecessary paperwork.” The software ensures that potential volunteers remain engaged throughout the recruitment journey, which is essential for maintaining interest in a competitive environment.
By digitising recruitment, Access Assemble helps Abbotsford House quickly onboard volunteers, filling crucial roles across the estate. Karen explained, “It has made the process more efficient, which is vital when you want to keep the interest of enquirers whilst you take them through the application process.” This speed and efficiency are helping the Trust recover its volunteer numbers and support its diverse activities.
Enhanced volunteer engagement
Keeping volunteers engaged is vital to retaining them and ensuring they feel valued. Abbotsford House uses Access Assemble to maintain regular contact with volunteers, keeping them informed and connected. Karen highlighted how they “maintained contact with volunteers through regular updates via Access Assemble’s messaging feature, as well as reaching out on the telephone.”
The platform’s news feed feature allows the team to share updates, project developments, and general news, ensuring volunteers feel part of the community. Karen shared that “we share general news and updates on the Assemble news feed to keep volunteers informed of project updates, development within the Trust or items of general interest.” This consistent communication helps volunteers stay engaged, even if they temporarily step back from active roles.
Simplified communication
Access Assemble has also simplified communication for both staff and volunteers. Previously, communication relied on emails, spreadsheets, and locally stored documents, making it difficult to manage effectively. The software centralises all communication, making it easy for volunteers to access information and connect with staff. Karen noted, “Assemble is a one-stop shop volunteer management software for everything volunteers need to support them in their role in areas such as rotas, training and expenses.”
This streamlined approach reduces email traffic and the need to remember staff email addresses. Volunteers can also securely communicate with each other if needed. As Karen explained, “It cuts out much of the email traffic and removes the need for cumbersome spreadsheets or the local storage of documents.” This efficiency allows volunteers to focus on their roles without the frustration of administrative hurdles.
Why Abbotsford House recommends Access Assemble
Access Assemble streamlines the entire volunteer management process, offering a single, reliable platform for recruitment, training, communication, and scheduling. By keeping everything in one place, the software supports Abbotsford House’s mission of delivering an exceptional visitor experience while ensuring volunteers feel valued and connected. Since implementing Access Assemble, Abbotsford House has witnessed a tangible improvement in volunteer engagement, transforming how they recruit, manage, and communicate with their team. This investment has been key to maintaining a vibrant, committed, and efficient volunteer workforce.
About Access Assemble
Access Assemble is the leading volunteer management software for charities. It helps organisations recruit, manage, and retain volunteers with ease. By simplifying administrative tasks, improving communication, and streamlining processes, Assemble ensures charities can focus on their mission.