The Changing Profile of Volunteerism – Implications for Community and Voluntary Organisations at local level

Chapter 1 Introduction

This dissertation explores the changing profile of volunteerism in the community and voluntary sector at local level in Ireland over the past ten years. It also seeks to highlight how community and voluntary groups at local level can adapt to take account of these changes so that they can sustain their voluntary efforts.

There is a perception in the community and voluntary sector in Ireland that the nature of volunteerism has changed. Community and voluntary organisations at local level are experiencing difficulties in recruiting and holding on to volunteers. Some organisations have scaled down their activities as a result of the difficulties they have experienced. Foroige, the youth work support agency, has seen a fall in the number of voluntary youth clubs in County Carlow. Lack of volunteers to facilitate clubs at local level has been cited as a major factor. On the other hand some people would argue that the community and voluntary sector has never been so strong. The local and regional representative structures that are now in place have given the sector a voice, and a seat at the decision-makers table.

This Research Study will examine the nature of volunteerism among small-scale community and voluntary groups in County Carlow, and compare and contrast the findings with similar surveys carried out in Ireland and the UK. It will also examine the valuable contribution made by volunteering to the economic, social and cultural life of society through the development of social capital. The study will also look at changes that the smaller community and voluntary organisations need to make if they are to continue to attract volunteer and make their efforts sustainable.

The community and voluntary sector in Ireland has a long and valued tradition of meeting a wide variety of social needs in Ireland. Community involvement has over the past 100 years moved from a geographical predominantly rural basis to an urban setting, reflecting the demographic shift during this time. It has also widened its focus from a geographical community base to that of communities of interest, with networks and coalitions forming on issues such as for example, the rights of people with disabilities, the unemployed and the Travelling community, (Department of Social Community and Family Affairs, p.3, 2001).

There are three core components to voluntary activity in all its forms. First, it is not undertaken for financial gain. Second of all, it is carried out freely and without compulsion and finally it benefits both the volunteer and the individual or group whom the action aims to aid, (United Nations Commission for Social Development, 2001). The Board of Directors of the International Association of Volunteer Effort (IAVE) offer an all encompassing definition

“volunteering – either through individual or group action – is a way in which human values of community, caring and serving can be sustained and strengthened; individuals can exercise their rights and responsibilities as members of communities while learning and growing throughout their lives, realising their full human potential; sustainable communities, working together to provide innovative solutions to our shared challenged and to shape our collective destinies”

The main target audience for this research study are individuals who volunteer with small-scale community and voluntary organisations in County Carlow and who are affiliated to the County Carlow Community Network. The following definition of volunteering has been adopted by the author, for the purposes of this study:

“Volunteering is the commitment of time and energy, for the benefit of society, local communities, individuals outside the immediate family, the environment or other causes. Voluntary activities are undertaken of a person’s own free will, without payment, except for the reimbursement of out-pocket expenses.”
(Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, 2000, p.83)

Volunteering can be further broken down into two main components – “formal volunteering”, undertaken through an organisation and “informal volunteering” carried out as unpaid one-to-one work for people other than one’s own family. This study will take consider both aspects of volunteering to some extent.

The community and voluntary sector comprises of a wide variety of organisations and is difficult to categorise. In the Governments Green Paper on the Community and Voluntary Sector, “Supporting Voluntary Activity”, Faughnan (1990) offers the following broad classification of voluntary and community organisations:

• mutual support and self help organisations;
• local development associations;
• resource and service-providing associations;
• representative and co-ordinating organisations; and
• campaigning and advocacy organisations

(Department of Social Welfare, p.30)

This study will focus on small-scale community and voluntary groups, operating at neighbourhood level, that are affiliated to the County Carlow Community Network, known hereafter as the Network. The Network was selected as the conduit for this research study, because it is representative of the sector throughout the County, and they are in a good position and are willing to respond to issuesidentified as a result of this project. The Network is the County forum for small-scale community and voluntary groups and organisations in County Carlow. It is the structure through which the community and voluntary sector collectively , and elect representatives to a wide range of decision-making structures. It is one of 34 County Community and Voluntary Fora established as part of the County Development Board process in 2000. The County Development Board (CDBs) under the provision of the Local Government 2001 Act have responsibility for drawing up and overseeing the implementation of economic, social and cultural strategies and for the co-ordination of the activities of the bodies and interests represented by the Board. The Community and Enterprise Development Officers, CEDOs, employed by Carlow County Council, support the County Carlow Community Network. The Network seeks to involve all members of society in a meaningful way in the decision making process. The County Carlow Community Network currently has one hundred and forty six member groups from all parts of the County. Approximately 10,000 community and voluntary groups across the country are affiliated to these Fora, including area-based groups, issue based groups, anti-poverty groups and sports/ recreational groups. Each Fora has an Executive elected by its members. Other issue based sub-networks have also been established to increase participation by specific target groups in the work of the Fora. For example, in Carlow a social inclusion network has been established to increase the participation levels of anti-poverty groups in the CCCN activities.

I chose the challenges posed by volunteerism as the main topic for this dissertation, as I have an interest in volunteerism from her own personal perspective and through her job as a Community and Enterprise Development Officer with Carlow County Council. Through my work, the need for additional supports for volunteers in the County has been identified time and again. It is envisaged that the findings of this research study will help to identify and secure the appropriate supports necessary to ensure the sustainability of voluntary activity in the County. I have committed to prepare a report highlighting the main finding and conclusion of this research study and to present it to the County Carlow Community Network. This study will research the nature of volunteerism in County Carlow and compare and contrast this with surveys carried out at national and European level. It will also highlight what motivates volunteers, what causes dissatisfaction among volunteers and what the main challenges are for small-scale community and voluntary groups in County Carlow. Research to date has focused on the bigger volunteer organisations and any good practices adopted do not seem to have filtered down to the grass roots level. This study aims to redress this imbalance and highlight how local organisations can adapt their practices and benefit from the experiences of volunteer organisations at regional, national and international level.

Surveys have been carried out by Volunteer Bureaus around the country to determine the nature of volunteerism in Ireland. However the latest figures outlining the situation in relation to volunteering at National level date back to 1999. These surveys will be discussed in detail in Chapter 2 The Literature Review. The Irish Government has committed to fund ongoing research in to volunteering and voluntary activity, however results have not been published as yet. This study will build on work carried out to date by examining how volunteerism has changed over the past ten years and by examining other external factors that influence the level of volunteer activity in community and voluntary organisations.

The value and importance of active citizenship and volunteerism in Ireland, in particular in the community and voluntary sector, has been recognised by the Irish Government in the White Paper, Supporting Voluntary Activity;

“an active voluntary and community sector contributes to a democratic, pluralist society, provides opportunities for the development of decentralised institutional administrative structures and fosters a climate in which innovative solutions to complex social problems and enhancement of quality of life can be enhanced for all”
(Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, 2000).

It equates civil society and active citizenship with the voluntary sector. In the foreword to the White Paper- “Supporting Voluntary Activity”, the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD stated that

“voluntary activity forms the core of all vibrant and inclusive societies…. Particularly in a time of great change in our country, we must work hard to protect and enhance the spirit of voluntary participation and we must see this as a key social goal”

Chapter 2 The Literature Review, will examine the significance of volunteerism and the valuable contribution it can make to society, socially and economically. Consideration will also be given to the concept of social capital and how volunteerism contributes to the development of social capital. The present context for volunteering in Ireland will be expanded further. In addition to this, the nature of volunteerism in Ireland will be examined.

Chapter 3 outlines the main research method adopted for the purposes of this research study - a postal questionnaire survey. The most recent National Survey of Volunteering in Ireland was carried out in 1997-8. The questionnaire survey for this study contains similar questions to the 1997-8 National Survey, in order to allow the author to make some comparisons and conclusions as to the changing nature of volunteerism over the past eight years. The target group for the questionnaire are individuals who volunteer with small-scale community and voluntary organisations in County Carlow.

Chapter 4 presents an analysis of the main research findings. These will be discussed in greater detail in Chapter 5 – The Discussion. This Chapter will compare the profile of volunteerism as established through this research study, with the profile outlined by other research surveys such as the National College of Ireland Volunteer Surveys carried out in the 1990’s. It will also compare the findings of this research study with other reports such as the European Value Survey, 2000. The implications for small scale community and voluntary organisations at local level will be discussed by comparing the findings of this study with previous research studies. The main challenges as identified by respondents in this research study, will also be discussed.

Chapter 6- The Conclusion, will focus very clearly on the changes and adaptations that small-scale community and voluntary organisations will need to make to ensure their sustainability in the future. It will also outline the responsibilities that other agencies at local, national and European level have to assist these organisations to continue to provide valuable public and community services in a voluntary capacity. This Chapter will also outline the areas where change is needed if voluntary activity is to be sustainable in the future. Finally, a number of recommendations for the future will be made in this Chapter for both the community and voluntary organisations and key support organisations.

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