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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.