Syndication
Publish opportunities on your own website and promote volunteering in the process: sign up to do-it.org.uk's opportunity syndication service.
At YouthNet we believe in getting volunteering opportunities out to as many people as possible. One way we can do this is by syndicating our content and volunteering opportunities to other websites.
"This means potential volunteers are offered the chance to volunteer through many different channels."
Mark Crosby of the National Trust explains why they syndicate opportunities from do-it.org.uk
We syndicate do-it.org.uk’s opportunity search so that any National Trust volunteering opportunity loaded on to do-it.org.uk also shows on our own site.
Working with do-it.org.uk has enabled us to reach a wider audience, particularly in terms of national and younger profiles, whilst also maintaining our own information and site. It also provides the Trust with a link to expertise – from people who are focused on web development to developing links with local Volunteer Centres.
We used an external contractor to build our pages and make the links to do-it.org.uk, which in effect meant implementing the code provided by do-it.org.uk and asking for support where needed. YouthNet’s technical expertise has been invaluable in maintaining the syndicated search and their developers have always been on hand to smooth over issues and respond to our queries.
Who can have a feed?
V-Base and online poster account holders
If you are using V-Base or the Online Poster System to upload opportunities, you are eligible for our opportunity syndication service. This means that you can have a cost effective, searchable database of your own opportunities in the look and feel of your own website. This doesn't mean however that you will have to update two databases: all you need to do is keep your opportunities through V-Base or your Online Poster account up-to-date. Once you have made a change to your data, this automatically updates on your site too.
Other organisations
Just because you don't upload opportunities to us, it doesn't mean you can't have a feed. Many organisations look to it as a way to enhance their websites. If you are only interested in syndicating content relating to a certain area of interest, e.g. opportunities to help the environment, or a certain type of activity/skill, e.g. mentoring, this is also possible.
The Process
Interested? Great! We will provide you, or your IT support team, with easy to understand technical information on how set up your opportunity sydication service. All you need to do is sign a content licence agreement. For more information and details on how to get involved, please contact us through this form.