‘Community Development – Volunteering’: A Submission by Volunteer Ireland and Volunteer Centres to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht(June 2014)

Introduction

IreVolunteer Ireland and local Volunteer Centres welcome the opportunity to address the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and Gaeltacht Addairs on the topic ‘Community Development – Volunteering’. Volunteering is at the heart of community development in Ireland. Strong communities empower people through social action and connect citizens with a social bond. Volunteering plays a unique and invaluable role in empowering members of the public to participate and play an active role in making their community a better place – for everyone. It has been demonstrated time and time again that volunteers are core actors in community development.

In 2006, the first and last time volunteering was counted on a national level, the Census found that one in six people aged 16 and over in Ireland volunteered. Since then, Volunteer Ireland and local Volunteer Centres have recorded a significant increase in the number of people interested in volunteering. Since the recession, we have recorded a 100% increase in volunteer registrations. The Community Foundation of Ireland’s ‘Vital Signs’ report (2013) found that 32% of people in Ireland volunteer regularly. Last year the World Giving Index reported that 37% of people in Ireland volunteer once a month. The increase in volunteering is arguably one of the few positive outcomes of Ireland’s economic downturn.

The development and ongoing impact of over 15,000 community organisations across Ireland has largely been made possible thanks to the contribution, managed involvement and oversight of volunteers. Community development cannot happen without volunteer engagement and volunteering enables sustainable and self-sufficient community projects – it helps to connect communities from the ground up without relying on outside intervention and demonstrates community support for community development initiatives. Simply put, volunteering connects individuals and strengthens communities.

The Value of Volunteering

The benefits of volunteering are countless. Volunteering is good for the recipients of volunteering, the thousands of community and voluntary organisations with which they volunteer, for volunteers themselves and, of course, the wider society. In a survey that Volunteer Ireland carried out in April 2014, over 70% of the Irish public stated that they believed volunteers made Ireland a better place to live. Economically, volunteering is estimated to be 2.7% of GDP of developed countries – which in Ireland’s case equates to over €3bn.

The social impact of volunteering is far greater, and much more difficult to measure. On a daily basis and all across Ireland, volunteering positively impacts thousands of people. The people that are on the receiving end of direct services, being supported, listened to, visited, entertained. From the most vulnerable to the invincible, we are all recipients of volunteering and, as recipients of volunteering, the benefits are incalculable, sometimes not even noticed – from survival to being happier and more free to live our lives.

Volunteering is also good for volunteers. Volunteering can help individuals to develop new skills or put existing skills to work, grow personal and professional networks and can play a vital role:

in the capacity building of members of the public who would be considered socially excluded e.g. ethnic minorities, young people, individuals with mental health problems, long-term unemployed – enabling individuals to learn new skills and build self-esteem.

in the transition into employment and out of employment; in supporting the reintegration of offenders and those in recovery

from addiction;

Volunteer Ireland (VI) and the twenty-one local Volunteer Centres (VCs) located across Ireland form a significant element of the volunteering infrastructure in Ireland: organisations or entities dedicated to promoting and engendering volunteering in Ireland. VI and VCs work in a complimentary way, often in collaboration, towards achieving a shared vision of an Ireland where everyone who wants to, can volunteer (see appendix for more detail).

Since the recession, Volunteer Ireland and local Volunteer Centres have seen a significant increase in the number of unemployed and underemployed individuals interested in volunteering. So far in 2014, one in three volunteers are volunteering to improve skills or assist employment prospects. Volunteering can be a great way of developing new skills, putting existing skills to use and expanding your professional network.

Volunteer Centres work with relevant institutions and clubs such as the HSE and Jobcare to help place socially excluded individuals in suitable volunteering roles. They also help and support young people to volunteer – one-in-four volunteers registering with I-VOL and local Volunteer Centres

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are aged 22 or under. Volunteer Ireland is involved, with partners from across the private and non-profit sector, in developing a ‘Careers Passport’ that will acknowledged the employability skills young people gain through volunteering. Volunteer Ireland also works with Campus Engage and USI on a national level to promote and facilitate volunteering for third level students, whilst many Volunteer Centres work closely with Higher Education Institutes to place student volunteers in suitable volunteering roles.

Connecting volunteers with community needs

In 2013, over 14,900 volunteers registered to volunteer through I-VOL and/or their local Volunteer Centres. These volunteers clocked up over 500,000 hours of voluntary work with an equivalent economic value of over €10 million. A further 2,450 volunteers from previous years re-engaged with Volunteer Centres last year. 920 organisations registered with I-VOL and Volunteer Centres for the first time, bringing the total number of organisations currently supported to over 7,000. Volunteer Ireland and local Volunteer Centres also provide a Garda Vetting Service

for volunteer-involving organisations and each year process up to 9,000 Garda Vetting forms.Gender of volunteers registered on I-VOL in 2013

Additionally, www.volunteer.ie, the online portal for volunteering in Ireland that provides resources, guides and supports for volunteers, prospective volunteers, volunteer-involving organisations and employers interested in supporting volunteering, received over 140,000 unique visitors in 2013.

Volunteer registrations on I-VOL, the national database of volunteering, 2013

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With interest in volunteering at an all-time high, Volunteer Ireland and local Volunteer Centres are helping to connect volunteers with suitable volunteering roles in their community. This is in a context of reduced capacity within community and voluntary organisations to recruit and manage volunteers. With ongoing funding cuts and a challenging fundraising climate, organisations are finding it difficult to invest in the time and resources required to engage and manage volunteers (even though demand for services is increasing).

Volunteer Ireland and local Volunteer Centres support volunteer-involving orgnisations by providing training in volunteer engagement and management – building the capacity of organisations to utilise volunteering towards achieving their own objectives and helping to meet increased demand.

Last year, 24 volunteer management training courses were delivered by Volunteer Centres with a total of 237 attendees across the country. There was an average of a 95% overall event satisfaction rating.  Additionally, Volunteer Ireland provides a calendar of training events for national volunteer-involving organisations to help improve the effectiveness and overall impact of volunteer programmes. Through training, international best practice standards and bespoke consultancy, Volunteer Ireland and local Volunteer Centres are helping volunteer-involving organisations increase capacity for volunteers and implement best practices in volunteer management.

Policy to support volunteering

There have been appeals for a national policy on volunteering since the 1990s. In its 2000 White Paper (‘A Framework for Supporting Voluntary Activity and for Developing the Relationship between the Community and Voluntary Sector’), the Government acknowledged there was ‘no policy framework’ for volunteering or developing volunteering, deferring consideration on the matter to the National Committee on Volunteering (NCV) established in response to the designation of 2001 as the United Nations International Year of the Volunteer. The report of the NCV (‘Tipping the Balance’, 2002) made two core recommendations to government. First, that it should develop a policy on volunteering. Second, that it should support the emerging volunteering infrastructure as a prime delivery agent.

It was a previous incarnation of this Committee, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Sports, Tourism, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, that next took up the baton, receiving presentations from the C&V sector in 2004 (including Volunteer Centres Ireland, who merged in 2011 to form Volunteer Ireland) and issuing its own report in January 2005, ‘Volunteers and Volunteering in Ireland’. As stated in the report, it was the Committee’s view that “a clear strategy [was] needed on volunteering, essential to which were agreed objectives, targets and specific timeframes.” The Committee also recommended that the emerging

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infrastructure be supported by public funds to develop into a national volunteering infrastructure. Shortly thereafter, the newly establish Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs announced ‘a package of measures to support volunteering’ which included providing core funding to the then eight local volunteer infrastructure agents (a mix of bureaux and centres, with a town or county remit) and a national agency (VCI).

In the years that followed, the local volunteering infrastructure grew such that by 2008, there were more than 20 local Volunteer Centres, most of which were affiliated to VCI and operating according to a quality standard framework designed to establish a base level of good practice and align working practices across VCs. In the same year, the Department undertook a review of the Volunteer Centre programme resulting in a departmental ‘Policy on Supporting Volunteer Centres’, which has formed the basis of funding and evaluation of Volunteer Centres since. Although envisioning a Volunteer Centre in every county, due to the economic climate (with respect to resourcing additional VCs), the policy was effectively put ‘on hold’ the year it was issued (2009). It remains the only official policy (national or departmental) that exists on volunteering in Ireland.

In the last five years interest in and levels of volunteering have risen dramatically in Ireland – yet there remains no official policy on volunteering. Volunteer Ireland and local Volunteer Centres welcomed the announcement last year that the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government has committed to developing a Departmental policy to support volunteering. Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, committed to developing a draft policy for consultation by the end of 2013. This draft policy has yet to be released.

We believe that a national policy for volunteering could:

1. Increase awareness and understanding of the diversity, value and impact of volunteering in Ireland.

Volunteer Ireland and local Volunteer Centres believe there is insufficient awareness across all sectors of society of the diversity, value and impact of volunteering in Ireland. A Departmental policy can ensure that volunteering is aligned to national priorities, targets and objectives.

2. Facilitate access to volunteering

Supports and funding for volunteering infrastructure are currently disproportionate in Ireland. With various levels of core funding, Volunteer Centres are operational across 17.5 counties in Ireland. In non-VC counties, dedicated resources are often limited to ring-fenced funding within the LDC budget. Volunteer policy should provide a roadmap to a fully integrated and nationwide volunteering infrastructure. Volunteering policy could also address barriers to volunteering, e.g. issues for volunteers in receipt of social welfare - people need to be encouraged/invited to volunteer.

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3. Encourage quality in volunteering within the C&V sector

The quality of the volunteering experience is vital to creating a culture of volunteering. A Departmental policy can set national priorities, targets and objectives with respect to building the capacity and best practice of volunteer-involving organisations (from the very largest, to the very smallest) and employers (from MNCs to SMEs) which can be delivered by the volunteering infrastructure through training (accredited/non-accredited), awards, quality standards and ICT, with achievements tracked, monitored and evaluated accordingly.

A policy for volunteering would clarify the objectives and outcomes of the Government’s investment in volunteering, and provide strategic direction to the current volunteering infrastructure, helping to instil a collective clarity of purpose. Volunteer Ireland and Volunteer Centres believe that a national policy for volunteering should contain measurable, time-specific objectives and goals for the volunteering infrastructure to work towards achieving, in a collaborative and joined-up way.

Given the impact this Committee has previously had with respect to volunteering, we would greatly appreciate its support in ensuring that a policy for volunteering is developed and that the Department engages with key stakeholders, including but not limited to Volunteer Ireland, local Volunteer Centres and key national Volunteer-Involving Organisations, in a consultation when a draft policy is produced.

Sustain volunteering supports and infrastructure

Volunteer Ireland and local Volunteer Centres received a 5% cut last year. This followed near-consecutive cutbacks to both Volunteer Ireland and Volunteer Centres since 2010. Overall, the cut has been 15%, but some VCs (and VI) have seen much higher cuts – between 25% and 38%. Whilst seeking to absorb these cuts, Volunteer Ireland and local Volunteer Centres have met an increased demand for services – both from volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations. Volunteer Ireland has grown its service offerings, engaged with bigger audiences year on year and, together with local Volunteer Centres, has grown I-VOL to offer nationwide access to volunteering opportunities.

Now more than ever it is crucial that volunteering is supported and existing infrastructure is sustained. Ongoing funding cuts and lack of clarity regarding the future of the programme is having a negative impact on services – with some Volunteer Centres at risk of collapse. The lack of clarity has mitigated innovation and creativity and has stifled Volunteer Ireland and the network of Volunteer Centres’ ability to plan beyond the immediate and short-term.

It is vital that current levels of funding for volunteering are sustained – to ensure the survival of the current infrastructure and to allow us to grow

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and develop new services and supports for volunteering.

Conclusion

Volunteering makes for safer, healthier (mentally and physically), more active societies. The extent to which people connect to other people – social networking in the traditional sense of the word – is the measure of a community. The breadth and range of volunteering creates societies in which more services (from the noble to the fun) are available. It creates more tolerant, more equal, more inclusive, more cohesive and more questioning communities.

When Volunteer Ireland and local Volunteer Centres presented to the Oireachtas Joint Sub-Committee in 2009, we made the point that the way in which Ireland chose to respond to the greater demand for volunteering would inform the experience of recession and the country that could emerge from it. As Ireland finally turns a corner out of recession, it is prescient to consider the kind of society we wish to create and it remains the view of the volunteering infrastructure that the extent to which we can encourage and support people to be involved in their community will bring us closer to a more equal society for all.The resources currently invested in Volunteer Ireland and local Volunteer Centres are having a positive impact (both socially and economically) and yield a significant return on investment. At the same time, we acknowledge that no public funding should be wasted - and there is arguably a risk of this being the case with no volunteering policy and ongoing funding cuts to volunteering supports. With the desire to volunteer at an all time high, and an ongoing lack of capacity within organisations to effectively engage and manage volunteers, now more than ever a national volunteering policy is required to ensure nationwide supports for volunteering are in place to assist the continued growth and development of volunteering in Ireland. The policy must be cognisant of other recent policy developments in local and community development and citizen engagement – indeed there is an opportunity for it to not only complement existing policy, but also facilitate related policy goals and aims.

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Appendix

About Volunteer Ireland

Volunteer Ireland is the national volunteer development agency and a support body for all local Volunteer Centres and Volunteer Information Services in Ireland. Our vision is every person connected to and participating in their communities to build a better Irish society and we strive to achieve this through increasing awareness of, access to and quality in volunteering in Ireland. Volunteer Ireland works to promote and celebrate volunteering in Ireland through campaigns such as National Volunteering Week (May 12th – 18th) and the Volunteer Ireland Awards (September – December). We support national volunteer-involving organisations by offering bespoke training, consultancy and an extensive range of online guides and resources on engaging volunteers. Volunteer Ireland also provides support to for-profit companies interested in volunteering and offers volunteer management services for large-scale events and festivals. Volunteer Ireland develops and supports best practice in volunteering and Volunteer Centres, including the evaluation of Volunteer Centres according to a quality standard framework. Volunteer Ireland works collaboratively with the network of local Volunteer Centres and with the emerging Volunteering Information Services in managing I-VOL (the national database of Irish volunteering opportunities and listings) and striving to achieve our shared objective of an Ireland where everyone who wants to, can volunteer.

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About Volunteer CentresVolunteer Centres offer advice and support to both volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations through a range of services that include information provision, consultation, training and Garda Vetting. Volunteer Centres’ primary function is to match individuals and groups interested in volunteering with appropriate volunteering opportunities.

In addition to placing volunteers, Volunteer Centres stimulate and encourage volunteering by promoting volunteering at local, regional and national events and in local, regional and national campaigns. They work towards breaking down the barriers to volunteering, targeting specific groups of people who are under- or unrepresented in volunteering. Volunteer Centres develop volunteering opportunities through consultation with local voluntary and community organisations. They recognise the potential of volunteering and encourage groups and organisations – be they private, statutory or voluntary and community – to think creatively about volunteering roles and to develop imaginative, non-traditional opportunities for potential volunteers.

Volunteer Centres work to promote good practice in working with volunteers through the delivery of training and support. They campaign and respond to legislation that may impact on volunteering and, as local experts on volunteering, inform planning and policy at regional and national level.

Organisation Case Study: Cheeverstown House

Cheeverstown is a voluntary organisation that provides a wide range of residential, respite and day services to almost 400 children and adults with an intellectual disability in Templeogue and throughout various community locations in South Dublin.

Gerry O’Connor, Volunteer Coordinator with Cheeverstown, first registered the organisation with South Dublin County Volunteer Centre back in 2007. He was new in his post and hoped to set up a volunteer program to enhance the lives of the service users in Cheeverstown.

Gerry met with South Dublin Volunteer Centre to discuss best practice in volunteer management and how Cheeverstown could best engage and involve volunteers. Some months later they met again and Gerry had, as a result of the initial consultation, developed a clearer idea of what practices and policies he needed to put in place. In order to develop these Gerry then attended volunteer management training with the Volunteer Centre, which he found very beneficial.

Gerry then became very active in the community and voluntary sector. He joined the Volunteer Managers Forum (coordinated by Volunteer Centres in Dublin) and shared his learnings with others while also gaining experience from more established volunteer managers. Gerry frequently

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attends seminars run by the Volunteer Centre on topics such as ‘Garda Vetting’ and ‘Volunteering and Older People’.

Tricia Nolan, Manager of South County Dublin Volunteer Centre said “Gerry now runs a flourishing volunteer program at Cheeverstown. Working with him, Cheeverstown House has moved from registering with us and having no formal volunteers to now having 7 opportunities registered with the Volunteer Centre and numerous others, which have been filled over the years.”

Tricia continued, “Gerry has become such a pioneer in volunteering. Last year he held a volunteer fair in Cheeverstown House to coincide with International Day of Volunteering, which we attended, to promote volunteering to the staff and service users. Taking small steps, and working closely with the Volunteer Centre, Gerry has developed a volunteer program, built on best practice, which Cheeverstown House can be proud of.”

Gerry recently worked with Volunteer Ireland on adopting ‘Volunteer Impact’ for the organisation – volunteer management software that makes engaging with, and managing volunteers, both efficient and effective. Gerry’s next plan is to sign up to Volunteer Ireland’s Investing in Volunteers Award, the national quality standard for good practice in volunteer management.

Organisation Case Study: Knockbridge Community Initiative The Knockbridge Community Initiative was set up in October 2013 in an effort to increase the number of volunteers and involve more people who were not originally from the parish. A key aim was to carry out a community skills audit under the guidance of Louth Volunteer Centre to see what talents local people might have that the community could benefit from and also to let people know what options existed for helping out. The project arose out of a presentation to Louth County Council on how Louth Volunteer Centre can make it easier for people to volunteer. Declan Breathnach, the local Councillor for Knockbridge, then organised a group of local people to develop a survey and identify the needs of the community. The team at the Volunteer Centre held meetings with the group to design the survey, develop volunteering opportunities, organise information stands/a PR campaign to encourage people to sign up and

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provide on-going support on how to effectively manage and retain volunteers. In February 2014, the survey was distributed to over 600 households. Out of the 58 responses received 28 people have confirmed so far that they now volunteer regularly. Moreover, as a direct result of the Community Audit, a new befriending service for older members of the community who may be at risk of isolation was created. 16 volunteers undertake tasks such as home visitation, going out for tea, giving lifts etc. Another 12 people volunteer either as part of the local Tidy Towns, GAA Club, Girl Guides and/or Vintage Rally Day. One young person who is studying in Dundalk IT is now using her skills as the Editor of the parish newsletter. John Cotterell, Manager of Louth Volunteer Centre said it’s inspiring to see people take the initiative to make their communities stronger with support from their local Volunteer Centre. We have received great feedback on our face-to-face meetings with people willing to help but who are unsure of where to volunteer or did not feel confident enough to approach groups themselves. They also appreciate our follow up support calls, SMS service and newsletters highlighting the latest volunteering opportunities. Based on the success of the Knockbridge Community Initiative, Louth Volunteer Centre hopes to roll out similar projects throughout the county in the near future’.

Volunteer Case Study: Jean

Jean took early retirement a number of years ago and qualified as a Social Worker in 2011.  After that she became a full time carer of her elderly parents.   In 2014 she found herself with free time and had a desire to make a difference in her community. 

Jean registered with South Dublin County Volunteer Centre in March 2014.  She secured her first placement when she responded to an advert for a volunteering opportunity with the DSPCA, who where looking for someone to carry out some data entry and make phone calls in preparation for the Ladies Mini Marathon.    

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Jean wanted to volunteer on a regular basis, so she searched I-VOL for opportunities and the Volunteer Centre kept in contact with her, suggesting opportunities that might be suited to her.  She applied to a number of organisations and attended a number of interviews.   

Out of the six vacancies Jean applied for, she has now been placed in three roles. Jean helps out with Crumlin Meals on Wheels for 2 hours a week. She also volunteers as an Office Volunteer with Arthritis Ireland, helping out for 4 hours every week.  And most recently, she has secured a position with the Irish Foster Care Association, and will be helping with their telephone helpline from July onwards. Jean also approached a local school and has been helping out with reading with the children 2 hours a week.

Volunteer Case Study: William

William ran his own jewellery making business but was unable to continue after suffering a period of depression. Last year, his HSE social worker suggested he contact Louth Volunteer Centre to see if volunteering might interest him.

Based on his interests, skills and preference for a short commitment William’s first volunteer role was as an Invigilator in the ‘Lens a Hand’ photo competition and exhibition in local shopping centres in Drogheda and Dundalk that Louth Volunteer Centre organised as part of National Volunteering Week. The aim of project was to capture the spirit of volunteering in Louth and encourage other people to give volunteering a go.  After this positive experience, the Volunteer Centre connected William with other volunteering opportunities locally. He now uses his skills to teach people how to make jewellery in upcycling workshops in the ‘Action against Addiction’ charity as well as helping out in the Mens Sheds and stewarding in local festivals.

Karen Donlon, Louth Volunteer Centre said ‘ Recently, William was a participant in the local Jobs Club that Louth Volunteer Centre attends. We present to members of the club on how volunteering can be a useful stepping-stone back to employment.  William was a fantastic ambassador for volunteering by sharing his own experience with others on the course’.

William said ‘I didn’t know there was the opportunity to volunteer. The reason I enjoy volunteering is because it give me a sense of worth, keeps me busy, I’ve learned bits and pieces at the Mens Shed and I like to help other people. Also, it’s a bit of company while I’m working and it’s the only involvement with people that I have. I like taking on a bit of responsibility and like to see a job being done well. You never know at some point a job might come from it. It’s not who you know it’s who knows you.’

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