Volunteering & the Historic Environment Photo © Historic Environment Scotland Volunteer Management – the Opportunities & Challenges Presentation to Heritage Volunteer Managers’ Conference Matthew Linning – 21st September 2017

Presentation structure Background to research Volunteering – a ‘good news’ story Challenges for historic environment sector Good practice from case studies Summing up and questions

Research project Funded & supported by Historic Environment Scotland Conducted Jan – May 2016 Development of database of heritage bodies (1,040) Online survey (182 responses) Case studies (x 10)

Volunteering – a ‘good news’ story

Av. 7 days per volunteer p.a. Key statistics - 2015 17,100 volunteers 121,000 volunteer days Av. 7 days per volunteer p.a. Staff to volunteers 1: 1.6 Economic value £17.5m

Trend in volunteering Actual change in volunteer numbers 2015 Desired change in volunteer numbers 2016 n = 179

Volunteering benefits

Volunteering – the challenges Impact on volunteers From ‘Whole Picture’ research Volunteering – the challenges n = 125 - 129

Challenges to increasing volunteering participation

Changing the volunteer profile Current focus “....predominantly female, aged 65+, retired & highly educated.” New focus Youth engagement – schools & tertiary education Excluded individuals – deprived communities, mental health, ex-offenders, immigrants, etc. Changed practice Flexibility in the volunteering offer – interesting, meaningful & volunteer focused (timing, content, skills)

Improving volunteer management Engagement “Initial engagement is the part that needs work” Communication “People don’t know what opportunities are out there” Recruitment “Speak to volunteers & ASK what they want” Problems & Solutions Volunteer Status “Greater appreciation at all levels in the organisation” Skills “Learning and gaining experience” Management “Posts dedicated to volunteer management”

The resource challenge Volunteer engagers Reduced core funding – less time for volunteer management “....often it is the perceived luxury items such as volunteer projects (which are cut).” Funders & government “....volunteering is not free.” “....lack of understanding about how voluntary orgs. operate.” Changed practice Sector to make a more robust and evidenced based case Capacity building for funding bodies & government

Volunteering case studies Impact on volunteers From ‘Whole Picture’ research Volunteering case studies n = 125 - 129

Community engagement Lessons learned Local ‘ownership’ Scottish Coastal Archaeology And the problem of Erosion Edinburgh Graveyards Project Scottish Redundant Churches Trust © SRCT © SCAPE © Susan Buckham Lessons learned Local ‘ownership’ Community led, but....facilitation and support Clear project focus Softly-softly Flexible timeline

Scottish Waterways Trust Young Archaeologists Club Youth volunteering Dig It! 2015 © Dig It! 2017 Scottish Waterways Trust © Scottish Waterways Trust Young Archaeologists Club © Katy Firth Examples Youth volunteers engaging youth beneficiaries Supporting disadvantaged young people 16/17 year olds supporting primary school children

Innovative volunteering National Museums Scotland © National Museums Scotland National Trust for Scotland © National Trust for Scotland Historic Environment Scotland © Historic Environment Scotland © Creative Commons license, Scotland's Urban Past for HES Scotland’s Urban Past Examples Music and performing arts Costume interpretation Specialist & technical skills

Implications of research Importance of volunteering to the sector Strong development potential Excellent examples of good practice But......barriers have to be addressed Are these surmountable?

Implications of research Importance of volunteering to the sector Strong development potential Excellent examples of good practice But......barriers have to be addressed Are these surmountable? “Volunteers want to participate in a worthwhile, well run organisation; they want a task they enjoy, where they help meaningfully; they need to be appreciated and thanked, as well as encouraged.” (survey respondent)

Feedback & questions W www.volunteerscotland.org.uk Matthew Linning Volunteer Scotland, Research and Evaluation W www.volunteerscotland.org.uk @VolScotland Link to Report & Case Studies Volunteering & the Historic Environment Source: Micky Alridge