The follow-up

Keep the momentum going. Contact anyone interested in learning to ring as soon as you can after they have expressed an interest and arrange something concrete - either a no-obligation taster session or their first lesson. People will lose interest if you contact them months later or feel you're not really interested in them.

At a recruitment event

It is important to collect names, e-mail addresses, Facebook names and phone (mobile) numbers of recruits and keep in regular touch with them.

It is often a good idea to give someone who is "good with people" the responsibility for getting this information. If you have lots of people at your event a few discrete long-range group photos can help you put names to faces afterwards. Make sure you can read people's writing before they disappear.

Have a plan prepared

Whether you receive an "out-of-the-blue" request to learn to ring or have a list of people from a specific recruitment event, you can better respond if you have a plan. A good plan will include:

• Any minimum age restrictions (usually dependent on weight of bells)
• Making sure that HSE and safeguarding systems are in place
• Meet the band and taster session (if not done as part of a recruitment event)
• See the bells at home tower or another if that not practical
• Teaching by trained ringing teachers
• Tie bells, use sound control or a simulator initially
• Intensive handling sessions
• Introduction to practices and Sunday ringing
• Continuing bell handling lessons