POVERTY & YOUNG PEOPLE’S OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTEERING 14th May 2015 | University of Strathclyde James 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 Percentage of year olds providing unpaid help to organisations or groups from 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 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 JDIs volunteering a word that […] yourselves and your peers relate to? Is it the terms that’s used ANo’ really SI usually say like helping out JDHelping out, ok and why’s that? SDon’t know, it’s just a word I’m used to AIt sounds less like, if you say “Oh I’m volunteering” like somebody might go “Pft volunteering” DAye ASo 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 JDDo you think there are any things that’d make it easier for young people to volunteer in this area? SIf there were more things to volunteer for

Barriers to Volunteering DThe schools don’t really like promote where to volunteer, they’ll say like “Go out and volunteer you time” AThey’ll tell you to volunteer, but they won’t tell you where to do it DThey 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.