Things to prepare for…

People will drop out. As with any volunteering there is always the chance that people will no longer be able to carry on with their original committed time. This can be frustrating when time and effort is put in to training, but try not to let this put you off. You could always look to try and recruit a couple of people for your site so the role is shared.

2. Management time. Keeping momentum going can be tricky so make sure you have enough time to monitor and support this role before you start the scheme.

3. Difficult situations. When engaging with the general public there is always the possibility that you might encounter a difficult situation. Ensure that you offer some sort of training prior to your ambassador starting, which gives guidance on dealing with tricky conversations. Again you may wish to only offer a dual role position to avoid anyone lone volunteering. It is also worth noting that you will want to recruit the right type of person who is able to have calm conversations and who is not easily agitated.

4. Risk assessment. Check whether you need to have a risk assessment in place for such situations and ensure you are covered legally for any potential incidents which may happen to your ambassadors or be caused by your ambassadors.