Economic Impact of Volunteering

About VSNW Work nationally via Regional Voices partnership DoH/NHS England VCSE Strategic Partner Work closely with Public Health England committed to implementing the recommendations of ‘Due North: report of the inquiry into health equity in the North’ Supporting greater VCSE involvement in ‘Well North’ initiative Looking to drive VCSE role in increasing community participation in health and wellbeing Supporting sector involvement in devolution agenda in NW: Helping set up Greater Manchester VCSE Reference Group Working with new VCFSE partnership in Liverpool City Region, VS6 Beginning discussions in Cheshire and Warrington Supporting Cumbria Third Sector Network and Cumbria CVS Helping VCSE leaders develop their vision for the future of their communities Championing a balanced economic strategic via the North West Leaders Board

Volunteering: Some facts and figures Economic value of volunteering nationally according to 2013 figures from the ONS is £23.9bn DWP and Cabinet Office estimated wellbeing value to frequent formal volunteers is £70bn British Household Survey estimates value of formal volunteering at £13,500 per person year

North West 36% of people in the NW undertake formal volunteering at least once a year – 2013 figures 30,000 plus Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise groups in the North West

Sub-Regions of the North West Greater Manchester - 330,000 people carried out voluntary work, valued at £947 million Liverpool City Region economy estimate of 181,000 volunteering contributing £551m worth of activity per annum Cumbria - 5,000 plus groups working with 50,000 plus volunteers Cheshire and Warrington every week, over 95,000 people volunteer with VCS groups in; volunteers contribute over 145,000 hours of their time, which is equivalent to over 3,800 full time jobs;

Cheshire East Hidden Power On average 53,004 people volunteer in Cheshire East Each week volunteers contribute 74,522 hours of their time 21% of the population volunteer Volunteering is worth £25million to the local economy Local VCFS employs 2.5% of the workforce The total income in was expected to be just over £200 million 64% of the sector has an income of less that £100,000 with just under a quarter (24%) having an income of less than £10,000

Why put an Economic Value? Volunteers are not a free resource Not a ‘work substitute’ Social value of volunteering has an economic impact

Volunteering Opportunities for All Employer-supported volunteering increasing nationally Irregular, annual engagement Low rates of monthly employee volunteering (less than 3% of all employee volunteering national) Manifesto commitment to 3 days per employee per year on the way, starting with public sector Young People Short term activities – social action Some connection to future economic activity Carers the total annual contribution is the equivalent of £19,336 for every carer, or £2,033 for each person in the UK.

How do we develop the business case for volunteering? New Economy have developed a cost benefit analysis toolkit and set of formulas – agreed with HM Treasury and linked to public service reform and devolution business cases/propositions Use key initiatives in order to develop templates for future sector activity: Well North Health Devolution Vanguards and New Models of Care

Being clear on what volunteering can’t do There are limits to what volunteering and social action can achieve Not a work substitute Time limited Burn out Cannot replace the need for paid services Complementary role

The Volunteering on Prescription Pilot Focus: helping people with low level mental health conditions to volunteer as a way of improve their health and well-being. Referral Process: GPs, other health or social care professionals – pilot in one area of Blackburn: Blackburn North Use Volunteers as Community Navigators to help the service user to access volunteer opportunities or positive activities within their local neighbourhood. Use community assets – ABCD approach – skill up local people and use existing volunteer led groups. Use Try It – bitesize volunteering tasters to ensure the service users finds a volunteering role that suites them and also gives the community group comfort: chance for both parties to test that it will work for them. Monitoring Process: use of case studies and looking to use 5 ways to well-being to monitor progress over time.

“I really didn’t think anyone would take me seriously as a volunteer because of my mental health problems. I really wanted to help others who had experienced the same…thanks to Volunteering on prescription I am now booked in for training with a view to helping others. I feel better about me”

Voluntary Sector North West St. Thomas Centre, Ardwick Green North, Manchester, M12 6FZ Tel: