BTCV Handbooks Online

Book:	Local Action
Chapter:	Planning Projects
Section:	Tips for your first practical project
Metadata:	Details	Buy this book

Remember, practical projects are supposed to be fun.

To make sure your volunteers come along again they need to achieve something, feel safe, have fun. A properly organised project should help people achieve all of these things, then they will go away enthusiastic and come back again, bringing a friend with them. One purpose of your group is to improve the environment, so it is important to show people that you mean business right from the start. Ideally you will have been able to set up at least one project to announce at the launch meeting and, even better, will have got people to sign up there and then. You must also have taken out public liability and personal accident insurance. (See Insurance ).

The first project should have clear objectives and it should be possible for everyone taking part to see what has been achieved by the end of the first day. Something like a clean-up is a great idea; you might follow it up with a tour of the site and some discussions about what needs doing next. Don't organise a first practical project to do something potentially controversial - like thinning trees - unless you have already gone through an action planning process and have got general agreement about it.

People

As you approach your first project, new volunteers may feel that they are stepping out into the unknown. They may never have done anything like this before. It is important to bear this in mind. You may find you are short of people.

The Friends of Beaumont Park only had six volunteers on their first project, by the third time they met the volunteers who had come along the first time and had fun had brought friends, neighbours, parents and children with them and they had a group of ten people.

Don't give up or despair. Plan a project you can do in small pieces until you can find more volunteers. Try and find out why previously enthusiastic people have backed out. Check to see if other dates will produce more volunteers.

In Burnley, a group of mothers and children came together out of concern that there was nowhere to sit or play. The local BTCV field staff supported them to form MAFIA (Mothers And Families In Action) and to start creating their own play and wildlife area. With support from local business and the council they have gained the confidence to transform a piece of wasteland into an area valuable to both the community and wildlife alike.

On the day

The main task beforehand is to ensure you've got everything, including tools, the first aid kits and refreshments. Since this is the first day, getting things like this right is extremely important. Even if most volunteers have brought a thermos flask someone may have forgotten and you want everyone to feel welcome. Make sure one of the organisers can bring something extra to share. Some groups organise refreshments for everyone, or have a base on site they can use for refreshments. A basic brew kit would include tea, coffee, sugar, fruit squash and biscuits, along with a small stove and kettle. Don't forget to check that drinking water is available on site. If not, assemble enough water bottles to allow everyone at least a couple of drinks.

A basic brew kit.

Get to the site well before your start time and put up some signs if you think you need to so new volunteers can find the meeting place. When you get on site the first thing to do is give a brief talk to explain what's to be done and why. Show people around the area where the work will take place and answer any questions. Most importantly, give a full briefing on health and safety issues and on the correct use of the tools. Make sure you know who everyone is and that you have their name and address recorded. If there are any experienced volunteers, encourage them to take part in the discussions and to work with those who seem least confident. Then encourage people to start work. Don't expect miracles on the first day and above all make sure that everyone is safe and working to the plans.

At tea-break have a chat about how people feel and what's been done. Let everyone have a say and talk about what you might do on the next project and how the day has run so far. People might offer to help organise things next time, or have a brainwave that will make the logistics simpler next time. Have a good walk around the site if you haven't done this before, telling people what ideas the group has. This will help new volunteers understand how the work they are doing fits in with the management plan.

Don't ask people to work for too long. For this first day, set easily achievable work targets - actually getting people out and making sure they go home satisfied with their contribution is as important as getting lots of work done. Above all remember to thank them for coming.

Take photographs to show what you achieved and what a good time everyone has had. Start as you mean to go on by keeping good records of who attended and the work that has been done. Make sure that there is a full report on the day at the next group meeting. You should also think about sending a press release to the local papers highlighting your first successful day's work.