Growing the Civic Core: How to get new people to commit to regularised voluntary social action in an age of austerity in North East England Tony Chapman, St Chad’s College, Durham University

What is the Civic Core, and who is in it? People in the Civic Core, according to Professor John Mohan of TSRC, are about 7% of the population, but deliver 51% of ‘formal’ volunteer hours. Tend to be: better educated, in good jobs, middle class, from faith groups, older, women. But many people with these characteristics do not commit to volunteering. And many other people do ‘informal’ voluntary action.

What is volunteering? Can include ‘continuous’ commitment (on the wane). Can include ‘episodic’ volunteering (now more common) and new forms such as ‘e-volunteering’ We like to think it is ‘volitional’ but often it isn’t entirely so – and not just ‘compulsory volunteering’ And we like to think it is unpaid – but quite often it is paid (e.g. ESVs are paid by employers) Social action initiatives are becoming more common too – via #iWill, National Citizen Service)

Demand for volunteers Schemes to match potential volunteers with placements have mixed success and tend to be expensive. Surveys show high levels of demand for volunteers from charities and community groups. Charities and community groups often base their strategies on expectations about maintaining or building their volunteer workforce. And yet, when asked if they can accept volunteers – there can be reservations. Why is that?

So, can we grow the civic core?

How many people are involved? It depends on who you count? Is it about the ‘number’ of hours given? Is it about the ‘value’ of the work they do? Is it just about ‘formal’ and measurable volunteering? Is it about freely ‘given time’ or time which is given because of pressure from others?

Formal Non- volitional informal Volitional

Formal Non- volitional informal Volitional Civic Core ‘idealised view’

Formal Non- volitional informal Volitional Civic Core ‘more realistic view’

Formal volunteering isn’t for everyone, and legitimately so? People who go the “extra mile” in their day job... Teachers, nurses, police officers, social workers, shop keepers, care workers, and more...). Many people make a contribution to the “social glue” without needing to or wanting to recognise this as formal volunteering. Maybe we need to learn ways of valuing these contributions in the formula?

Formal Non- volitional informal Volitional Civic Core ‘more realistic view’ Other elements of the “social glue”

The ‘untapped’ resource? Levels of volunteering are quite stable. But the mix of volunteers is changing (more young people, ethnic minorities). Bringing new people into the civic core is easier said than done. – No time, not been asked, don’t know what to do. – Don’t identify with ‘volunteers’ and may be repelled by the idea. – Don’t feel responsibility to serve certain causes. – Don’t recognise that they already volunteer.

Formal voluntary social action Non- volitional Informal voluntary social action Volitional Civic Core ‘more realistic view’ Other elements of the “social glue” Some scope to formalise?

Not convinced about the value of voluntary social action Close to the Civic Core and likely to make the journey Ambivalent feelings about voluntary action Threshold of commitment to the civic core Longest journey to civic core Short journey Doorway to voluntary action Journeys towards the civic core