1. Volunteering Research and Public Policy
John Lee
Kathleen Doyle
27 November 2018

2. The Politics of Volunteering
Volunteering a devolved issue:
Policy divergence – distinctly Scottish approaches to volunteering
Reserved policy areas which can affect volunteering:
welfare reform
Volunteers have no legal status or definition in the UK:
A model based on best practice rather than ‘rights’ or legislation
27 November 2018

3. Volunteering Since Devolution
Scottish Government
Scottish Parliament
Active Communities Strategy
National Vol Strategy
NHSScotland Strategy
Third Sector Interfaces
Volunteering Round Table
Reform of Public Services in Scotland
Social Justice/Inclusion
Localism
Phase 1 - Strategy
Phase 2- Infrastructure
27 November 2018
2007

4. Current Policy Priorities
Reshaping care
Focus on prevention
Reform of public services
27 November 2018

5. The Scottish Household Survey (SHS)
An estimated 30% of adults in Scotland volunteered in 2011
Volunteering participation has largely held steady over the past ten years.

6. Percentage providing unpaid help to organisations or groups in the last 12 months by gender and year
2007 to 2011 data, Adults (2011 base: 6,428; minimum: 2,782)
Levels of volunteering have remained relatively stable over the last five years, with around three in ten people providing unpaid help to organisations or groups.
Levels of volunteering vary according to gender across all age groups. Overall, a slightly higher percentage of women (33%) than men (27%) volunteered in the last twelve months.
Source: SHS (2007 to 2011)
27 November 2018

7. Secondary analysis of the SHS data from 2007-2009
Those living in rural areas are more likely to volunteer than those in urban areas, this strength of this positive relationship increases with remoteness.
Source: SHS ( )
27 November 2018

8. Formal volunteering in Local Authority Areas
Rates of participation vary significantly across Local Authority Areas
SHS estimates in are:
Highest rates in: Eilean Siar (57%) Highland (47%)
Average rates at 30% in: Stirling, South Ayrshire and East Dunbartonshire
Lowest rates in: Renfrewshire (20%) and North Lanarkshire (21%)
Will provide handout for all LAA participation rates
27 November 2018

9. I’m very likely to volunteer formally
I live in a very remote, rural area.
I live in a neighbourhood with high levels of education and better health.
I am a woman
I’m educated
I’m either aged or 60-64
I have more than 2, but less than 5 children.
Age – participation does not vary significantly – see AR paper Need to mention some differences in young and mid range but doesn’t vary great
Having children = twice as likely than those without
My household income is relatively high, I own my house.
Rutherford, A. & Harper, H. (2012) Understanding Volunteering Participation: A quantitative analysis of volunteering data in the Scottish Household Survey (forthcoming)

10. Group Discussion
How big a role should volunteering play in current policy priorities (national/local)?
15 mins
Based on your experience, how is volunteering changing?
Feedback
27 November 2018