Campaign message 5: Celebrity endorsement

Local or national celebrity volunteer endorsed campaigns.
Often involves a special event or launch.
Relies on photos of the celebrity.
The celebrity (rather than the charity) makes a personal, direct "ask" for volunteers.
The celebrity is interviewed and reveals details about problems/ issues they've faced in their personal life and why volunteers can help people going through the same thing.

Can be a quick way to raise the profile of an organisation or volunteering campaign.
The use of the right celebrity can appeal to particular target groups (particularly young people).
The celebrity can act as a familiar friend asking the audience to help them out. The celebrity is making a personal recommendation.
A celebrity campaign can secure popular media coverage and therefore has the potential to reach a large audience.

Celebrities don’t guarantee you media coverage (the celebrity media market is saturated).
The use of the wrong celebrity can put people off getting involved.
Celebrities can appear “fickle” and can even de-value your campaign (particularly if they have been associated with lots of other charities and events before).
For the celebrity to successfully ask others to volunteer, the celebrity really needs to have had first-hand experience of being a volunteer or have received the help of a volunteer.

Case studies