Recruitment and retention resources

2.2. A low-level steady flow of new recruits

Your band is doing well and you want a slow, steady stream of new recruits coming to you to keep the band young and fresh. So how do you get to this position? Aim to increase general awareness of local bellringing and bellringers using a wide range of different media and networks.

This isn’t about a big event, its about a steady drip-feed of news with a clear and welcoming “call to action”. If potential ringers can find you and make the decision to learn to ring by their own self-interest and motivation, they are more likely to commit long-term.

Personal contact

Face to face is by far the most effective way of recruiting people. Friends and family members can be the easiest to approach.

I have to admit to always feeling a chill run down my spine when anyone suggests a recruitment drive. We don’t actively recruit, we just respond quickly and informatively to enquiries and have had a steady stream of new ringers, some through the website, or through online enquires and some through word of mouth. Very occasionally if numbers are low I send out an email to the students encouraging them to recommend us to friends or other ringers at their home towers. I think the students themselves are probably the best recruiting sergeants.

Raise awareness online

Most people now use social media of some form. Set up your own Facebook and Twitter groups and make sure you give regular postings to other local social media groups. Make sure you have a good web presence. Your website should contain interesting material including attractive photographs as well as details of local ringing times.

Magazines and newsletters

Write a piece for the church magazine or the Parish newsletter or free newspaper about ringing. A paper copy of the church notices is often given out at the beginning of the service for the congregation to take home. These notices are often emailed out to a local distribution list.

Celebrate success

Let the local community know when you've achieved something you're proud of. If one of your team has just conducted their first quarter peal, announce this on social media, but also consider writing a few paragraphs for your local newsletter or paper.

Give a talk

Many local interest groups such as the WI, Rotary Club, Young Farmers, History Society, U3A or Townswomens' Guild have a regular series of talks at their meetings and are always delighted to hear from someone new. How about offering to go along and talk about bell ringing? 

An annual church service

Poster campaigns and notices read in services are good for setting the scene – but a personal appearance and appeal by one or more ringers in a service is really helpful; the side-effect is that you’re appealing to people likely to be available on a Sunday. It also establishes a personal connection – potential recruits know your face. 

Experience days or gifts

A great way of getting the occasional curious recruit launched onto an intensive teaching programme. It might not be a traditional route into ringing but feedback suggests that it’s a very good way of recruiting a new ringer.