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CHAPTER SEVEN ATTRACTIONS TO VOLUNTEERING

Summary

7.1 This chapter has analysed factors that encourage respondents to volunteer. It was found that volunteers are often motivated to volunteer through a desire to help their community and/or to help people experiencing a situation, problem or condition which has been experienced by the volunteer him or herself, or by a friend or family member.

7.2 This chapter has also analysed factors that might encourage former volunteers to re-start volunteering. Some variations exist based on age, gender, economic status, income and urban/rural classification, but a large proportion of respondents across all groups said that nothing would encourage them to volunteer again.

7.3 While qualitative research confirmed that nothing could encourage many former volunteers to re-start volunteering, analysis of Scottish Household Survey data found that a relatively large proportion of former volunteers would be encouraged to volunteer again if they could fit it round their other commitments, a finding that is supported by qualitative research.

Introduction

7.4 While volunteering is by no means a novel concept, Hodgkinson (2003) points out that the current weight of expectation about the contribution it can make to individual development, social cohesion and addressing social need is unprecedented.

7.5 Participation in volunteering brings benefits for the individual such as work experience, skills development, training opportunities and improving confidence and self-esteem, and also has benefits for society as a whole. For example, Rochester (2006) remarks that volunteering can act as a response to social exclusion by helping individuals to become or continue to be an active member of society. Volunteering can also help to deliver government priorities in the fields of sustainable communities, rural communities, health and social welfare, criminal justice, education, social inclusion and antisocial behaviour.

7.6 Rochester (2006) asserts that volunteers are motivated to volunteer by a mix of altruism and self-interest.

7.7 This contention is examined in this chapter, which explores the reasons that prompted current and former volunteers to start volunteering, what non-volunteers perceive to be the benefits of volunteering, and reasons that might encourage former volunteers to re-start volunteering.

7.8 This is based on analysis of qualitative research we have undertaken relating to current and former volunteers and SHS data on formal volunteers.

Motives to Volunteer

7.9 Our qualitative research with current and former volunteers identified the reasons why they started volunteering.

7.10 As discussed in Chapter 4, many volunteers start volunteering as a result of a desire to help people who are experiencing a similar problem, situation or condition that they themselves, or a friend or family member, have experienced.

7.11 This finding is supported by research carried out by TNS on behalf of Volunteer Development Scotland, which found that a life event or emotional association with a cause is a common motive to volunteer. (Volunteer Development Scotland, 2005).

7.12 Other motives to volunteer common across age bands, genders and urban and rural areas identified by current and former volunteers including the following:

• A desire to help people and/or organisations in their local community. This may be prompted by a strong sense of community spirit in the area and/or a desire to help with activities that the participant or their children are involved with, for example youth organisations, sports clubs and church activities.
• To meet new people and take part in social events, thereby overcoming social isolation.
• A desire to gain skills or experience in a field in which the participant has an interest in working, with a view to gaining future paid employment.
• To 'give something back', for example, to an organisation that had helped the participant or their family in the past.
• To have something to do with their time.
• To boost self-esteem and confidence.

7.13 Comments made by research participants regarding their motives to volunteer include:

" I volunteered to give something back to the community" (former volunteer, Fife, female)

"to help build the community" (former volunteer, Borders, female)

" it gives me something to do. It keeps me busy" (current volunteer, Skye, male)

"it provides a structure to the day when you're retired" (current volunteer, Skye, female)

"volunteering let me gain experience of working with disabled children" (former volunteer, Fife, female, who is now studying to become a primary teacher)

7.14 The motives listed at 7.12, as well as motivating people to start volunteering, can also be seen as benefits gained by volunteers through volunteering. Another benefit of volunteering identified by current and former volunteers (that did not necessarily motivate them to start) is gaining a sense of achievement, as illustrated by the following quotations.

" volunteering gives you a sense of being useful" (current volunteer, Fife, female)

"volunteering helped me to overcome feelings of uselessness and worthlessness" (former volunteer, Fife, female)

"you can see you can make a difference and achieve results" (current volunteer, Skye, male)

7.15 Therefore, volunteers are attracted to volunteering through a desire to help others and to gain benefits for themselves. This supports Rochester's (2006) view that a mix of self-interest and altruism results in a motivation to volunteer.

7.16 Participants who have never volunteered mentioned the following, unprompted, as potential benefits of volunteering:

• helping the community
• gaining new skills and improving employment prospects
• social opportunities, particularly for retired and isolated people
• a sense of achievement.

Reasons for Re-starting Volunteering

7.17 It emerged from our qualitative interviews that former volunteers would be more likely to re-start volunteering if they had more time and/or if they could fit volunteering around their other commitments such as work and children. Former volunteers would be more likely to re-start volunteering if volunteering opportunities were made more flexible, for example:

• if children could be taken along and perhaps participate - this would solve childcare worries
• if volunteering could be undertaken at the weekend
• if voluntary work could be done from home
• if volunteers could choose when and for how long to volunteer.

7.18 The TNS research (Volunteer Development Scotland, 2005) mentioned above found that former volunteers would be happy to re-start volunteering when they have more time, but see this as relatively far off in the future. This is a similar theme to one that emerged from our telephone interviews - some interviewees plan to volunteer again when they reach retirement.

7.19 We analysed Scottish Household Survey data from questions to former volunteers regarding factors that might encourage them to re-start volunteering.

7.20 Figures in brackets refer to the 95% confidence interval in which the proportion of respondents giving each reason lies.

Table 7.1: Reasons for Re-starting Volunteering

Base: 2733 respondents who were asked question: "what do you think might encourage you to undertake work or activities on a voluntary basis (again) in the future?"

Variables in italics indicate those included in 2005 data as reasons given through an open response

7.21 Table 7.1 shows that, for the largest proportion of Scottish Household Survey respondents, nothing would encourage them to volunteer again.

7.22 A slightly lower proportion of telephone interviewees - 7 of 20 - than Scottish Household Survey respondents said that nothing would encourage them to re-start volunteering. Reasons given by qualitative interviewees for saying that nothing could encourage them to re-start volunteering include:

• an inability to volunteer because of their age or health
• a lack of time
• a bad experience of volunteering in the past (for example, experience of volunteering with an organisation unwilling to be flexible with timing of volunteering and seemingly lacking appreciation of the volunteer's efforts)
• a feeling that they have 'done their bit'.

7.23 The next largest proportion of Scottish Household Survey respondents claimed that they would be more likely to volunteer if it fitted in with their other commitments. This is consistent with findings from our qualitative interviews.

Demographic Analysis of Reasons to Re-start Volunteering

7.24 The following section reports on the reasons to re-start volunteering and relationships to the following demographic characteristics:

• Age
• Gender
• Economic Status
• Income
• Urban/Rural Classification.

Age

Table 7.2: Reasons for Re-starting Volunteering by Age

Base: 2733 respondents who were asked question: "what do you think might encourage you to undertake work or activities on a voluntary basis (again) in the future?"

Variables in italics indicate those included in 2005 data only as reasons given through an open response

Age 16 to 24

7.25 Sixteen to 24 year olds, were more likely to say that nothing would encourage them to volunteer (19.4%) or that they would be encouraged to volunteer if it fitted in with their other commitments (20.3%) than any other reason for re-starting.

7.26 However, this age group is less likely than the survey sample to say that nothing would encourage them to volunteer. This is supported by our telephone interviews, where only one of the seven who said that nothing would encourage them to volunteer again was under 45.

7.27 Further, 16-24 year olds are proportionately significantly more likely than the survey sample to be encouraged to start volunteering if they knew more about the opportunities available, if someone asked them to do something or if it fitted in with their other commitments.

Age 25-34

7.28 Twenty-five to 34 year olds, when compared with other reasons for re-starting volunteering, were most likely to say that nothing would encourage them to volunteer (21.1%) or they would be encouraged to volunteer if it fitted in with their other commitments (20.8%).

7.29 However, this age group is less likely than the survey sample to say that nothing would encourage them to volunteer.

7.30 This age group is more likely than the survey sample to be encouraged to volunteer if it fitted in with their other commitments, or if they thought they could help others.

Age 35-44

7.31 Respondents aged 35 to 44 were more likely to say that nothing would encourage them to volunteer (24.0%)) or that they would be encouraged to volunteer if it fitted in with their other commitments (24.2%) than any other reason for re-starting.

7.32 However, this age group is less likely than the survey sample to say that nothing would encourage them to volunteer.

7.33 This age group is more likely than the survey sample to be encouraged to volunteer if they had more time and if it fitted with their current commitments.

Age 45-59

7.34 The largest proportion of those aged 45-59 said that nothing (33.3%) would encourage them to volunteer. However, this age group is significantly less likely to say this than the survey sample.

7.35 This age group is significantly more likely than others to claim that being retired/not working would encourage them to volunteer, a finding supported by our telephone interviews.

7.36 Respondents aged under 59 were more likely than those aged 60 or over to be encouraged to volunteer if it fitted in with their other commitments.

Age 60-74

7.37 The largest proportion of those aged 60-74 said that nothing (65.0%) could encourage them to volunteer. This proportion is significantly higher than that of the survey sample.

7.38 Those aged 60 or over are more likely than those aged 59 or under to say that nothing would encourage them to start volunteering.

Age 75 Plus

7.39 The largest proportion of respondents aged over 75 said that nothing would encourage them to volunteer (86.6%). Compared to all other age groups and the survey sample, a significantly higher proportion of this age group gave this response.

Gender

Table 7.3: Reasons for Re-starting Volunteering by Gender

Base: 2733 respondents who were asked question: "what do you think might encourage you to undertake work or activities on a voluntary basis (again) in the future?"

Variables in italics indicate those included in 2005 data only as reasons given through an open response

7.40 Males are most likely to say that nothing could encourage them to volunteer than any other response (41.5%).

7.41 This is also the case with female respondents (40.4%). The next largest proportions of males and females would be encouraged to re-start volunteering if it fitted in with their other commitments.

7.42 There is no significant difference in the proportions of males and females who gave these responses. Our telephone interviews found no noticeable difference between the reasons given by males and females to re-start volunteering.

Economic Status

Table 7.4: Reasons for Re-starting Volunteering by Economic Status

Base: 2733 respondents who were asked question: "what do you think might encourage you to undertake work or activities on a voluntary basis (again) in the future?"

Variables in italics indicate those included in 2005 data only as reasons given through an open response

Note: Groupings 'at school', 'in government work/training scheme', 'unable to work due to short term health' and 'other' have been omitted from the table due to small sample size.

Self-employed

7.43 The responses self-employed respondents were most likely to give are 'nothing' (28.7%) and 'if it fitted in with my other commitments' (20.9%).

7.44 Respondents in this group are significantly more likely than those who are retired or permanently sick or disabled to say that they would be encouraged to volunteer if it fitted in with their other commitments.

7.45 This group of respondents, when compared to the survey sample, is significantly more likely to be encouraged to volunteer if they were supported or valued in a voluntary role.

Full-time Employed

7.46 Respondents who are employed on a full-time basis were significantly more likely to say that nothing would encourage them to volunteer (26.0%), or that they would be encouraged to volunteer if it fitted in with their other commitments (21.0%), than any other response.

7.47 However, this group was less likely than the survey sample to say that nothing would encourage them to volunteer.

7.48 When compared with the survey sample, this group of respondents was significantly more likely to be encouraged to volunteer if it fitted in with their other commitments or if they had more time.

Part-time Employed

7.49 When compared with other responses to this question, respondents in part-time employment were most likely to say that nothing would encourage them to volunteer (29.2%), or that they would be encouraged to volunteer if it fitted in with their other commitments (23.9%).

7.50 This group is significantly less likely than the survey sample to say that nothing would encourage them to volunteer.

7.51 When compared with the survey sample, this group is more likely to say that they would be more likely to volunteer if it fitted in with other commitments.

Looking after Home/Family

7.52 Compared to other responses, those respondents looking after their home/family are most likely to say that nothing would encourage them to volunteer (39.5%). The next largest proportion would re-start volunteering if it fitted in with their other commitments.

Retired

7.53 Those respondents who are retired are more likely to say that nothing would encourage them to volunteer (75.2%) than any other response.

7.54 Compared with the survey sample, those who are retired are more likely to give this response.

Unemployed and Seeking Work

7.55 Compared with the survey sample, the unemployed and seeking work are significantly more likely to be encouraged to volunteer if they could afford it.

7.56 They are less likely than the survey sample to say that nothing could encourage them to volunteer. This reinforces the findings set out elsewhere, that if the right 'hook' is found, such as providing financial support or emphasising the benefits it could have for their job search, unemployed people could be attracted to volunteering.

Higher/Further Education

7.57 Those in further or higher education are the most likely group to say the following would encourage them to volunteer:

• 'if I knew more about the opportunities available' (8.9%)
• 'if I thought I could help others' (12.4%)
• 'if someone asked me to do something' (9.7%)
• 'if it would improve my career/job prospects' (8.9%)
• 'if it fitted in with my other commitments' (15.0%)
• 'if it fitted in with my interests and skills' (14.2%)
• 'nothing' (13.3%).

7.58 When compared with the survey sample, this group is more likely to be encouraged to volunteer if they knew more about the opportunities available, if it would improve their career/job prospects and if it fitted in with their other interests and skills.

7.59 This group is significantly less likely than all other economic status groups, other than the unemployed, to indicate that nothing would encourage them to volunteer.

Permanently Sick and Disabled

7.60 A larger proportion of the permanently sick and disabled said that nothing would encourage them to volunteer than any other response (46.8%).

7.61 This group is significantly more likely than the survey sample to say that they would be encouraged to volunteer if they had better health.

Annual Household Income

Table 7.5: Reasons for Re-starting Volunteering by Annual Household Income

Base: 2733 respondents who were asked question: "what do you think might encourage you to undertake work or activities on a voluntary basis (again) in the future?"

Variables in italics indicate those included in 2005 data only as reasons given through an open response

£0-£6,000

7.62 A larger proportion of those earning between £0 and £6,001 said that nothing would encourage them to volunteer than any other response (62.0%).

£6,001-£10,000

7.63 A significantly larger proportion of respondents earning £6,001 to £10,000 said that nothing would encourage them to volunteer (56.9%) than any other response. This is also significantly larger than the population average.

£10,001-£15,000

7.64 A larger proportion of respondents in the £10,001 to £15,000 income bracket said that nothing would encourage them to volunteer than any other response (53.5%). This is significantly higher than the population average.

£15,001-£20,000

7.65 When compared with other responses, respondents who earn £15,001 to £20,000 were significantly more likely to claim that nothing could encourage them to volunteer (40.3%).

7.66 Those earning more than £15,000 are significantly less likely to say that nothing would encourage them to volunteer than those earning £15,000 or less.

7.67 Likewise, those respondents earning £15,001 or more are significantly more likely than those earning less than that figure to re-start volunteering if they could fit it round their other commitments. Respondents earning £15,001 or more, other than those in the £25,001 to £30,000 bracket, are also significantly more likely to be encouraged to volunteer if they had more time than those earning below this figure.

£20,001-£25,000

7.68 Respondents in this income bracket were more likely to say that nothing would encourage them to volunteer than any other response (34.2%). However, these respondents are less likely than the population average to give this response.

7.69 Compared with the survey sample, this group of respondents is significantly more likely to feel encouraged to take up volunteering if it fits in with their other commitments.

£25,001-£30,000

7.70 A larger proportion of those earning £25,001 to £30,000 said that nothing could encourage them to volunteer (34.5%) than any other response.

7.71 This group was more likely to be encouraged to volunteer if they could fit it round their other commitments when compared with the population average.

£30,001-£40,000

7.72 A larger proportion of respondents in this income bracket claimed that nothing would encourage them to volunteer (27.4%) or they would be encouraged to volunteer if it could fit round other commitments (19.4%), than any other response.

7.73 However, a smaller proportion of respondents earning £30,001 to £40,000 said that nothing could encourage them to volunteer than the population average.

7.74 Compared with the population average, a larger proportion of these respondents would be more likely to volunteer if they had more time or if it fitted in with their interests and skills.

£40,001 Plus

7.75 Respondents in the upper income bracket are more likely to give the following responses than any other responses:

• that nothing would encourage them to volunteer (28.0%)
• that being able to fit volunteering round their other commitments would make them more likely to participate (23.7%).

7.76 This group is less likely, when compared with the population average, to say that nothing would encourage them to volunteer.

7.77 Further, when compared with the population average, this group is more likely to volunteer if it fits in with their other commitments.

Urban Rural Classification

Table 7.6: Reasons for Re-starting Volunteering by Urban/Rural Classification

Base: 2733 respondents who were asked question: "what do you think might encourage you to undertake work or activities on a voluntary basis (again) in the future?"

Variables in italics indicate those included in 2005 data only as reasons given through an open response

7.78 Our analysis of Scottish Household Survey data found little variation between reasons given for re-starting volunteering in urban and rural areas, and neither did our qualitative research. Below is a discussion of reasons given, broken down by urban/rural classification.

Large Urban Areas

7.79 Compared to other responses, respondents living in large urban areas were most likely to say that nothing would encourage them to volunteer (36.7%).

7.80 However, this group is less likely when compared with the survey sample to give this response.

Other Urban Areas

7.81 Respondents living in other urban areas are more likely to indicate than any other response that nothing would encourage them to volunteer (43.6%).

Small Accessible Towns

7.82 A larger proportion of respondents in small accessible towns indicated that nothing would encourage them to volunteer than any other response (44.4%).

Small Remote Towns

7.83 A larger proportion of respondents in small remote towns indicated that nothing would encourage them to volunteer than any other response (42.7%).

Accessible Rural Areas

7.84 A larger proportion of respondents in accessible rural areas indicated that nothing would encourage them to volunteer than any other response (47.1%).

Remote Rural Areas

7.85 When compared with other responses, a larger proportion of respondents in remote rural areas indicated that nothing would encourage them to volunteer (39.6%).

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