Mary Laycock - Keech Lottery Volunteer
Hello everyone!
I am a volunteer in the Lottery Team, and am thoroughly
enjoying it since joining last November.
One of the things that struck me is that as a charity, we need to raise 75% of our annual income from the local community just to keep going, which in the current economic climate is a huge challenge, so I am doing my bit to try and help.
Each week, I telephone people who have previously supported us by playing the lottery, but are no longer doing so, to ask them to re-join; I thought I would share with you what I have found seems to work:
Imagine you are going to have a chat with your friends when you pick up the phone – a friendly tone goes a long way! If people enjoy their conversation with you, they are more likely to play again.
I always open the conversation by thanking them for supporting us in the past, and saying how appreciative we are of all our supporters.
I then explain that it’s a courtesy call to see if we can tempt them back, with a weekly prize of £1,000 and the knowledge that even if they are not lucky enough to win, they are supporting a fantastic cause.
Some people don’t realise they are not playing any more and are pleased to re-join – in that case, I take as many details as I can over the phone to make it as easy as possible for them to re-join.
Some people explain that they have difficult financial circumstances or don’t want to play any more, or have decided to support a different charity, in which case I thank them again for all their previous support and wish them all the best.
I don’t use a script, but I do have a few bullet points of key things to say if I have to leave a message on a voicemail e.g. “this is a message for xyz, its Keech Hospice Care Lottery Department, could you please call us back on …..and quote your lottery membership number …..”
I really enjoy doing it, and have had some fun with people – like the girl who very strangely, had someone singing a song as her phone message! I left a message asking her to call back, which she did a few minutes later. I asked if she was auditioning for the X Factor and we had a laugh about it, and she signed up to play for a year!
I’m very happy for anyone to come and sit with me if they would like to give it a go (not that I’m an expert, I just like talking!!). If you are interested please contact Liz Gallacher on 01582 497814.
Thank you.
Mary Laycock
We are currently on the look out for volunteers like Mary to help promote our Lottery e.g. promotion of lottery wedding favours, selling and promoting the lottery in our shops and at events. If you think you have good powers of persuasion (!) and would like to give volunteering a go, please call Liz Gallacher on 01582 497814 or email lgallacher@keech.org.uk for further details.
