Recruitment and retention resources
3. The recruitment event(s)
3.5. The follow-up
Keep the momentum going. Contact anyone interested in learning to ring as soon as you can after they have expressed an interest and arrange something concrete - either a no-obligation taster session or their first lesson. People will lose interest if you contact them months later or feel you're not really interested in them.
At a recruitment event
It is important to collect names, e-mail addresses, Facebook names and phone (mobile) numbers of recruits and keep in regular touch with them.
It is often a good idea to give someone who is "good with people" the responsibility for getting this information. If you have lots of people at your event a few discrete long-range group photos can help you put names to faces afterwards. Make sure you can read people's writing before they disappear.
Have a plan prepared
Whether you receive an "out-of-the-blue" request to learn to ring or have a list of people from a specific recruitment event, you can better respond if you have a plan. A good plan will include:
- Any minimum age restrictions (usually dependent on weight of bells)
- Making sure that HSE and safeguarding systems are in place
- Meet the band and taster session (if not done as part of a recruitment event)
- See the bells at home tower or another if that not practical
- Teaching by trained ringing teachers
- Tie bells, use sound control or a simulator initially
- Intensive handling sessions
- Introduction to practices and Sunday ringing
- Continuing bell handling lessons