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CHAPTER SIX INTENSITY OF VOLUNTEERING IN SCOTLAND

Summary

6.1 Our analysis found that the largest proportions of volunteers volunteer about once a week or several times a week and that in 2005 the average number of hours spent volunteering per month was 12.8.

6.2 Intensity and frequency of volunteering is similar among all volunteers regardless of gender, economic status or age.

6.3 On average, volunteers give up around three hours per week to volunteer. It is our sense that these findings could be used to reassure those people reluctant to volunteer due to a fear of it involving an excessive time commitment. These people could be encouraged to volunteer if they were aware that they could do so for only one afternoon or evening per week.

Introduction

6.4 This chapter reports on the findings of the intensity of volunteering in Scotland. Data was analysed by frequency, cross-tabulations and regression.

6.5 It is set out under the following headings:

• Frequency of Volunteering
• Hours Spent Volunteering.

Frequency of Volunteering

6.6 This section considers the frequency of volunteering and is based on the question 'thinking about all the voluntary work or activities you undertake, how frequently do you do these?'

6.7 The results are presented below and are further analysed by gender, age, urban/rural classification, and economic status.

6.8 Figure 6.1 presents the proportions of volunteers against a range of frequencies and Table 6.1 provides 95% confidence intervals for each category.

Figure 6.1: Frequency of Volunteering

Table 6.1: Frequency of Volunteering

6.9 Table 6.1 illustrates that volunteers are most likely to volunteer about once a week (23.3%). This is a significant difference to the proportions of other frequencies. This is followed by 'several times a week', 'about once a month' and 'a few times a year' (there are no significant differences between these categories).

Frequency of Volunteering by Gender

Table 6.2: Frequency of Volunteering by Gender

6.10 Table 6.2 illustrates that there are significant differences between males and females in the frequency of volunteering.

6.11 Males are more likely to volunteer several times a week (22.3%) or about once a week (19.6%), with no significant differences between each frequency. However, females are more likely to volunteer about once a week in greater proportions than males (25.1%). Other significant differences exist in the proportions of males and females who volunteer several times a week.

Frequency by Age

Table 6.3: Frequency of Volunteering by Age

6.12 As illustrated in Table 6.3, across all age groups, the highest proportion of volunteers are volunteering about once a week. For those aged between 35 and 74, there are no significant differences between the highest proportions volunteering once a week and those working several times a week, as is for volunteers aged under 59 spending a few times a year, about once a month and several times a week volunteering.

6.13 There are no significant differences between the proportions of volunteers aged 45 to 59 volunteering about once a week and the proportions of volunteers aged under 59 spending a few times a year, about once a month and several times a week volunteering.

Frequency of Volunteering by Economic Status

Table 6.4: Frequency of Volunteering by Economic Status

6.14 Table 6.4 shows that the majority of volunteers in all employment categories, apart from those in full-time employment, volunteer several times a week or about once a week.

Frequency by Urban/Rural Classification

Table 6.5: Frequency of Volunteering by Urban/Rural Classification

6.15 Across all urban/rural areas, volunteers are most likely to volunteer about once a week. All urban/rural areas with the exception of small accessible towns are equally likely to volunteer several times a week.

6.16 Those from rural areas (small remote towns, accessible rural areas and remote rural areas) are equally likely to volunteer about once a month, several times a month but not every week and several times a week.

6.17 Those from large urban areas are significantly less likely to volunteer a few times a year compared to volunteers from all other areas.

Hours Spent Volunteering

6.18 This section considers the total number of hours spent volunteering in a month. The results are presented below and average hours are further analysed by age, economic status, income and urban/rural classification.

6.19 Regression analysis suggests that in general none of the demographic factors included as predictors appears to exhibit strong associations with the probability of performing higher levels of voluntary activity (that is, nine or more hours per month).

6.20 The overall explanatory power of the model is low: the Nagelkerke R ² value is 0.05, indicating that only 5% of the total variability in the probability of performing the higher intensity of voluntary service (nine or more hours per month) is explained by the factors included as predictors.

6.21 However, a number of individually significant effects are evident and these are presented as part of the cross-tabulation analysis of hours spent volunteering by age, economic status, and income.

6.22 A summary table of the results of the regression analysis can be found in Annex 3.

Number of Hours Spent Volunteering Per Month

6.23 For 2005, results indicate that the average number of hours spent volunteering in a month was 12.8.

6.24 Figure 6.2 and Table 6.6 on the following page show the proportion of volunteers and the number of (banded) hours spent volunteering.

Figure 6.2: Average Number of (banded) Hours Spent Volunteering per Month

Table 6.6: Average Number of (banded) Hours Spent Volunteering per Month

(removed those who said never to give a base of 2001)

6.25 Table 6.6 illustrates that volunteers are most likely to spend up to five hours volunteering in a month (24.4%) or have no regular hours (20.4%). There are no significant differences between these two categories. The next largest proportion of volunteers spends between six to 10 hours volunteering (18.8%). The differences in proportions increase significantly between these categories and other frequencies. The amount of time a volunteer is least likely to spend volunteering is less than an hour per month (1.8%).

Hours Spent Volunteering by Age

6.26 The rank correlation of age with total number of hours volunteered is 0.11 (p value < 0.0001) indicating that there is a modest positive association between age and the number of hours of voluntary service per month that is, older people tend to put in more hours of service.

Table 6.7: Odds ratio estimates for the probability of engaging in nine or more hours of voluntary work in an average month

6.27 Table 6.7 displays the likelihood of respondents to volunteer for nine or more hours in an average month broken down by age groups, relative to the age group that applies to the greatest number of respondents (45-59 years - the 'reference group'). Age groups with an odds ratio greater than one are more likely than the reference group to volunteer, and those with an odds ratio of less than one are less likely than the reference group to volunteer.

6.28 Table 6.7 suggests that volunteers in the age range 35-44 years are less likely to perform the higher level of service than the reference group (45-59 years).

Average Hours Spent Volunteering by Age

Table 6.8: Average Hours Spent Volunteering Per Month by Age

6.29 Volunteers aged between 60 and 74 spend a significantly average number of hours volunteering per month than those aged 25 to 44. There is no significant difference between other age groups.

Hours Spent Volunteering by Economic Status

Table 6.9: Odds ratio estimates for the probability of engaging in nine or more hours of voluntary work in an average month

6.30 Table 6.9 suggests that those whose economic status is self-employed, or who are engaged in looking after their homes or families, are significantly more likely to perform the higher level of service than the reference group (those in full-time employment).

Average Hours Spent Volunteering by Economic Status

Table 6.10: Hours Spent Volunteering by Economic Status

Note: Groupings marked with'*' are omitted from the table due to small sample size.

6.31 When average hours spent volunteering are taken into consideration there are no significant differences in the average number of hours spent volunteering across economic status categories as illustrated in Table 6.10.

Hours Spent Volunteering by Income

Table 6.11: Odds ratio estimates for the probability of engaging in nine or more hours of voluntary work in an average month

6.32 Table 6.11 suggests that volunteers whose household income falls into the highest band (above £40,000) are markedly less likely to engage in the higher level of voluntary commitment than the reference group (those whose household income falls within the range £10,001 - £15,000).

Average Hours Spent Volunteering by Income

Table 6.12: Hours Spent Volunteering by Income

6.33 Table 6.12 illustrates that there are no significant differences between average hours spent volunteering and all income brackets below £40,000. This confirms the findings of the regression analysis.

Hours Spent Volunteering by Urban/Rural Classification

Table 6.13: Odds ratio estimates for the probability of engaging in nine or more hours of voluntary work in an average month

6.34 Table 6.13 suggests that volunteers from other urban areas and accessible rural areas are more likely to engage in the higher level of voluntary commitment than the reference group.

Average Hours Spent Volunteering by Urban/Rural Classification

6.35 Table 6.14 shows the average hours spent volunteering by urban/rural classification and 95% confidence intervals.

Table 6.14: Average Hours Spent Volunteering Per Month by Urban/Rural Classification

6.36 Table 6.14 illustrates that there are no significant differences between average hours spent volunteering and all urban/rural areas.

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