POVERTY & YOUNG PEOPLE’S OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTEERING

14th May 2015 | University of StrathclydeJames Davies

Workshop Outline

Who, what, where? Volunteering rates in Scotland

Young people’s experiences Perceptions of volunteering Routes into volunteering Barriers to volunteering

Discussion/questions

Volunteering Rates in Scotland Urban < Rural Deprived < Less deprived Lower household income < Higher

household income

Young People’s Participation

2010 2011 2012 20130

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

MaleFemale

Percentage of 16-24 year olds providing unpaid help to organisations or groups from 2010-2013

Source: adapted from Scottish Household Survey, waves 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014

Volunteering in Scotland

Thinking back over the last 12 months, have you given up any of your time to help out with things like clubs, campaigns or organisations without being paid? Volunteer Scotland (2015) Young People in Scotland Survey

45% of 11-18 year olds said yes

Whether provided unpaid help to organisations or groups in the last 12 months (Scottish Household Survey, 2014)

28% of adults (16+) said yes

Perceptions of Volunteering

Volunteer Scotland Survey Helping people; Good citizen; Skills and

experience Mix of altruism and instrumentalism

Among socially excluded adults (Smith et al, 2004) An image problem persists Overly formalised: recruitment, general

practice Disempowering: “helper” vs. “helped”

Perceptions of Volunteering

JD Is volunteering a word that […] yourselves and your peers relate to? Is it the terms that’s used

A No’ reallyS I usually say like helping outJD Helping out, ok and why’s that?S Don’t know, it’s just a word I’m used toA It sounds less like, if you say “Oh I’m volunteering” like somebody might go “Pft volunteering”D AyeA So you just go “I’m just like helping like somebody”

Routes to Volunteering

Volunteer Scotland Survey Parent or guardian; Teacher; Friend

In deprived areas “The parent almost stopped the young person

from volunteering” (volunteer coordinator) “They [parents] have not got an idea on the

impact that they’re [children] having on their community […] quite often parents are outstanded […] at how active their young people are […] but there seems to be this negativity towards the young person” (project coordinator)

Routes to Volunteering

“I would never’ve known about this if [person] hadn’t picked up the teacher or she hadn’t got in touch with me herself, that was like, the only reason I knew about it was because the teacher had mentioned it, I was interested in things like this […] but otherwise I’d’ve never know that this opportunity, or other opportunities to volunteer” (young volunteer in deprived area)

“I got tricked into my first ever meeting” (young volunteer in deprived area)

Barriers to Volunteering

These can exist on a number of levels: Supply: The willingness/capacity

for people to participate

Demand: The availability of opportunities

Psychological: Being put off by people’s attitudes

Practical: No access to information

Barriers to Volunteering

JD Do you think there are any things that’d make it easier for young people to volunteer in this area?S If there were more things to volunteer for

Barriers to Volunteering

D The schools don’t really like promote where to volunteer, they’ll say like “Go out and volunteer you time”

A They’ll tell you to volunteer, but they won’t tell you where to do it

D They won’t tell you where does it or lets you

Barriers to Volunteering

Peer influence “a bit of peer pressure that they don’t want

to, ‘cos they could be doing this wi’ us but there could be some other pressures out there wi’ different groups of friends, you know, so it just depends what their friends groups are like but I think if, some young people’s friends groups wouldn’t appreciate the positiveness of the recognition so you have to be very careful” (project coordinator)

Discussion Points

If your organisation involves young volunteers, what are the main challenges to recruiting and supporting them?

What factors do you think make it difficult for young people to volunteer?

Is volunteering for everyone? Why should young people be encouraged to volunteer?

References

Gaskin, K. (2004) Young People, Volunteering and Civil Service: A Review of the Literature, London: Institute for Volunteering Research

Scottish Government (2014) Scotland's People: Annual Report: Results From 2013 Scottish Household Survey, Edinburgh: The Scottish Government

Smith, J., Ellis, A., Howlett, S. & O'Brien, J. (2004) Volunteering for All? Exploring the Link Between Volunteering and Social Exclusion, London: Institute for Volunteering Research.