Rebecca Kennelly Chair Hampshire Councils of Voluntary Services Network Chief Executive Basingstoke Voluntary Service The Value of Volunteering and the National Picture

Introduction What is Volunteering National Volunteer Organisations/Strategies The Value of Volunteering Factors Affecting Volunteering

Definition of volunteering - defined by Volunteering Compact and Code of Good Practice 1: ‘Volunteering is an activity that involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that aims to benefit the environment or individuals or groups other than (or in addition to) close relatives.’ Informal volunteering – giving unpaid help as an individual to someone who is not a relative. Formal volunteering – giving unpaid help through groups, clubs or organisations to benefit other people or the environment DCLG Citizenship Survey

Volunteer England – – (national Volunteer Database) –The England Volunteering Development Council The Commission on the Future of Volunteering – – Report on ‘Manifesto for Change’ and subsequent change recommendations Cabinet Office/ Office for the Third Sector ‘In the Office of the Third Sector we have the vision of a society where voluntary activity flourishes and where all individuals and communities are enabled to play a full part in civil society.’ Key National Volunteer Organisations

V organisation ( volunteering) – –Youth Volunteering - £117 million of new resources available from Government for youth volunteering, through the organisation v Capacity Builders (Infrastructure development) – –Volunteer Infrastructure modernisation program –Government invest £4million in new training programmes for volunteers and volunteer managers. Key National Volunteer Organisations

National Statistics – Value Added 73% of adult population are involved with volunteering 21% of respondents said they had never volunteered 48% did so at least once a month 63% of adults in England volunteered informally, while 45% of adults volunteered formally (2007 DCLG Citizenship Survey) Why people volunteering –in order to improve things or help people (53% of volunteers) –the cause was important to the volunteer (41%) –the volunteer had spare time (41%). (2007 Cabinet Office’s Helping Out - Survey of Volunteering and Charitable Giving)

63% of year olds and 62% of over 65's say volunteering helps them feel less stressed 71% of volunteers who offer their professional skills and experience say volunteering helps combat depression 53% of young people aged have volunteered with a club or organisation at least once in the last 12 months 78% have given unpaid help on an informal basis. 28% of over 75's have volunteered with a club or organisation at least once in the last 12 months, while 46% have given unpaid help on an informal basis DCLG Citizenship Survey Women are more likely to volunteer than men. In % of women regularly volunteered formally compared to 24% of men DCLG Citizenship Survey National Statistics – Value Added

Economic Value Added National Volunteer Value 2005 volunteering was worth over £48 billion in England and Wales. Adult population volunteered informally 2003 –63% = 26.4 Million people (England and Wales) Giving 1.9 billion Hours totaling £22.6 billion to the economy Home Office Citizenship Survey Basingstoke and Deane Volunteer Value In 2008/ Community organisations recorded 7,202 Volunteers with recorded annual hours of 842,487 National Average Wage = £7.83 per hour = £6,596, (Annual Monetary Value based on the Joseph Rowntree Foundation Economic Equation of Volunteering Findings in February 1993) Average UK Pay in Basingstoke and Deane = £16.73 per hour = £14,094, (Based on the Annual Monetary Value based on the Office for National Statistics Survey of Hours and Earnings 2008)

Basingstoke & Deane Volunteer Value During 2008/ people attended interviews and 995 referrals were made to voluntary organisations seeking volunteers 78% of available volunteers were successfully placed with voluntary groups – 98% said that their sense of well-being had been enhanced In 2008/09 43 employee team challenge days involving 534 employee volunteers took place –This represents a total of approximately 3738 volunteering hours given by local employees. 455 young people have volunteered in 2008/09 –1065 short term volunteer opportunities –610 part time volunteer opportunities –27 Full time volunteer opportunities

Factors Affecting Volunteering Volunteering levels have remained static since 2001 with evidence that it is falling since 2005 London 2012 will depend on up to volunteers Increase in bureaucracy/Liabilities –CRB, Health and Safety, Reporting –28% said there was too much bureaucracy 2007 DCLG Citizenship Survey Reducing funds for community activities

Factors Affecting Volunteering Recession Increase in work commitments decreasing time available to volunteer –31% of respondents stated that having more spare time would increase their volunteering –82% of non-volunteers stated ‘not enough spare time’ as a reason for not volunteering in 2007 (Cabinet Office’s Helping Hands - Survey of Volunteering and Charitable Giving) Increase in short term volunteers looking to increase employability –The Charities Commission’s analysis of recession’s effect on charities found that charities were experiencing a change in their volunteer demographics –Increase in unskilled volunteers looking to increase skills and experience –Department Work and Pensions Volunteer Initiative (Hampshire Pilot)

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