Conference Report
Belfast, 17th May 2007
Background to the Event
The Volunteer Development Agency brought together policy makers and
practitioners of youth volunteering from across the UK and the Republic of
Ireland to give an overview across the nations.
The purpose of the conference was to share experience and practice at what is
a time of change in policy for youth volunteering as well as fast moving social
trends among young people.
In the morning the conference followed the format of briefing lectures and
questions. This was followed by a market place event where participants
looked at the issue of increasing the number and diversity of young people in
volunteering.
Working as an issue group, participants discussed and agreed 10 ideas for
action to address the issue and meet the challenge of increasing the number
and diversity of young volunteers.
Overview & Key Trends for Youth Volunteering in England
Presented by Mike Locke – Assistant Director (acting) Institute for
Volunteering Research
1. Pressures put on young people’s volunteering by government policies
Volunteering is proposed as a solution to several problems focused on young
people including work skills and employability, social cohesion and
‘normalising’ young people, reducing crime and anti-social behaviour
A range of demands and expectations are loaded onto young people’s
volunteering.
2. Extent and patterns of young people’s volunteering in England.
The picture of young people’s volunteering presented from national statistics
is not so different from volunteering by other age groups in its patterns,
reasons, activities and fields.
In terms of formal volunteering (i.e. through an organisation) - 32% of 16-19
year olds are volunteering once a month compared with 29% of the total
population, this figure increases to 53% annually compared with 44% of the
rest of the population.
50% of 16-19 year olds volunteer informally once a month and 78% once a
year compared with 37% & 68% of the rest of the population.
More young people would volunteer if they could access free training, gain a
qualification or benefit their career.
At the other end of the spectrum, some young people are disaffected and
disconnected from volunteering and political participation.
A minority of young people see volunteering as ‘sad’ and ‘not cool’ and15% of
young people thought volunteering was ‘being a mug doing something for
nothing.’
3. Tackling Problems
Psychological and practical barriers can be tackled through measures such as
improving information, working through social connections and directly
asking for help, giving young people some leadership or ownership of their
volunteering.
There is a need to look at the rebranding of volunteering for young people.
The public policy agenda for volunteering does not (mostly) coincide with the
reasons why young people volunteer.
The Government and volunteer involving agencies may need to take risks in
terms of accountability to serve the variety of needs of young people.
The Cares, Interests, Passions and Beliefs of Young People in England
Dr Terry Ryall, Chief Executive V
V has a remit to deliver a public policy agenda and a programme that is
attractive to young people.
The Youth Advisory Board carried out research on what would make young
people act locally and globally.
Global Concerns include terrorism, war, poverty, famine and climate change.
Local issues include a lack of inspiring activities to get involved in locally, the
negative perceptions of young people, crime, a poor environment and drugs.
The majority of young people do not act on these local or global concerns.
This research also showed barriers to volunteering include:
Time (50%), Unsure how to help (25%), Self esteem / nothing to offer (25%)
Not sure how to action ideas (20%).
Young Peoples Passions are sport, friends & family, music, reading & writing,
computers and TV & film.
V has undertaken pilot projects to address these issues for example:
‘Thrifty Squid’ is a project addressing financial exclusion. Young people were
given the challenge of designing a project which would provide a product for
other young people who may find themselves in a hard up situation.
Examples include: healthy eating website, goody bags with vouchers for
food/transport and leisure.
The winners got £10,000 to develop their product – the winning project
provided peer support and awareness for those being bullied.
V has launched a youth fund worth £1 million. Young people can apply for up
to £2,500 to start their own project. V looked at why earlier youth funds have
failed - quite often young people have been unsure what to do. V have
created a support tool Outside the Box to assist with this.
Organisations and policy makers need to look at engagement and how to
involve young people in respect of their cares, passions and beliefs.
Overview and Key Trends for Youth Volunteering in the Republic of
Ireland
Dr Yvonne McKenna, National Development Officer, Volunteer Centre’s Ireland
There is no overview of youth volunteering in Ireland but sources show a 15%
decline in youth volunteering. Statistics from Volunteer Centre Ireland show
that 31% of people registered in 2006 were under 25; so far in 2007 this figure
has increased to 34%.
More than 50% of these young people have not volunteered before.
The 2006 census carried out in the Republic of Ireland specifically asked a
question about volunteering – therefore when the results are published this
will provide a further insight into volunteering in Ireland.
There are a number of dedicated volunteer programmes to support youth
involvement in Ireland including: Big Brother Big Sister Ireland, Comhairle na
nÓg / Dail na nÓg, National Youth Council Ireland, Young Social Innovators
andYouth Work Ireland.
Research on youth volunteering in Ireland
The National Children’s Advisory Research team carried out research in 2006.
They examined: Perceptions of volunteering, motivation of volunteers,
incentives, barriers, routes into volunteering, mobilising young people
Findings from this research included: It is difficult for young people to locate
opportunities, there is a lack of understanding in how to get involved, there
are negative perceptions of volunteering – it is not cool, there is no
unanimous understanding of what volunteering is, volunteering is a good
opportunity to socialise and meet new friends.
Barriers to volunteering include peer opinion and structural barriers – there
are a lack of opportunities and awareness.
To develop clear and accessible routes for young people to participate it was
recommended that more opportunities have to be developed and more
schools have to be involved; volunteering needs to be promoted as fun;
young people need to be consulted and have input into the development of
volunteering / opportunities.
Recommendations from the research include:
 The need to develop a youth volunteering education and awareness
programme.
 The need to provide enhanced and more accessible information on
youth volunteering opportunities.
 The need for further detailed case study research on international
youth volunteering initiatives and the need for detailed case study
research on youth volunteer involving organisations in Ireland.
 Policy relevant issues that have emerged from the research should be
considered in the development of youth volunteering policy.
Challenges presented include:
Policy makers / youth volunteering involvement organisations need to
respond to the voices of young people on how barriers can be removed.
Key Trends for Youth Volunteering:
Youth volunteering is on the agenda – this needs to be reviewed and
informed on an ongoing basis to ensure it remains
Overview and Key Trends for Youth Volunteering in Scotland
Alison Harrower, Local Partnership Programme Leader Volunteer Development
Scotland.
There is a network of 32 volunteer centres (one in each local authority) each
employs a youth development worker to deliver the Millennium Volunteers
programme. In 2005/06 3,757 Millennium Volunteer Awards were distributed.
The guiding document for youth volunteering in Scotland is the Scottish
Executive’s Volunteering Strategy 2004, recommendations from it include:
 Focus Project Scotland and young people
o More young people are aware of volunteering, its benefits and
how to access it.
o Underrepresented young people are engaged.
o There is a national recognition system (Millennium Volunteers).
 Dismantling the barriers to volunteering and closing the
opportunity gap.
 Improving the volunteering experience.
 Monitoring, evaluating and ongoing development.
It has been identified that young people want to work with people, to see
positive impact from their actions, to work on projects, to work in teams, to
socialise with other young volunteers, respect from peers / parents /
community, recognition from employers and a chance to contribute and learn.
Therefore when working on a project it is important that everyone is working
towards the same shared goals and aims.
Young people have identified the following as activities of interest: helping
children and young people, raising money for good causes and sporting /
outdoor activities.
This is a challenge for organisations because it makes them demanding
consumers – when organisations are developing new roles it is useful to hold
focus groups with young people to input into role descriptions.
To attract young people volunteer involving organisations should recognise
the value of young volunteers and create and tailor placements that are
meaningful, flexible, team based and project based which meet the needs of
young people and give young people ownership.
KEY TRENDS
Volunteering is increasingly about increasing the skills of young people, taking
action as an active citizen, a panacea for policy makers, engaging hard to
reach young people and organisations working in partnership.
Traditionally young people have volunteered to develop skills for job hunting
and many universities include volunteering as a credit within their courses.
VDS has started to work with Youth Achievement to pilot the development of
youth achievement awards in volunteering which is accredited by ASDAN.
Recent policy and strategy publications in Scotland have all included
volunteering, as have all the political parties’ manifestos for the recent Scottish
elections. While the impact of volunteering has been recognised increasingly
it could be seen as an answer to all problems (i.e. making unemployed people
volunteer etc). VDS wish to show policy makers that young people have ideas
that they can achieve through volunteering.
Volunteering is lower amongst lower socio-economic groups making this
group the most difficult to engage for organisations. Organisations need to
not only identify these barriers but put in place a number of support
mechanisms (expenses, training etc) to retain these young people because this
group gain the most from volunteering.
Caitríona Ruane, MLA – Minister of Education for Northern Ireland
The Minister highlighted the important role of volunteering in the
development of young people.
‘Volunteering can provide young people with a valuable learning experience.
Not only can they make a difference to others they can also make a tangible
difference to their own social and personal development.’
The Minister emphasised her hope that the government working in partnership
with the voluntary and statutory sectors to promote and support youth
volunteering, would result in more young people would become involved.
The Minister commended the work being undertaken across the sector to
‘identify best practice and remove the barriers that many young people face.’
‘The Minister shared her commitment to enhancing youth volunteering and
working with the sector to develop opportunities that fit young peoples
lifestyles.’
She indicated that ‘Volunteers need to be right at the centre of the organisation’.
Overview and Key Trends for Youth Volunteering in Northern Ireland
Denise Hayward Volunteer Development Agency & Terry McGuinness
Youth Empowerment Scheme
Three recent pieces of research in Northern Ireland:
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Scoping Study on Young People Volunteering in the Youth Sector.
Why Not Ask Me - Examining volunteering and community
relations in Belfast.
Volunteering in Northern Ireland - A population based survey to be
published in June 2007.
For engaged young people there is an understanding of what volunteerism is.
A substantial number of young people (particularly those who are not
engaged) however do not have a clear understanding of volunteering.
23% young people are formally involved as volunteers; 33% young people are
informally involved as volunteers; 91% of all young people would volunteer if
asked.
All three pieces of research have consistently demonstrated that young men
and young people with disabilities are underrepresented as volunteers.
Young people from minority ethnic communities were not underrepresented in
relation to the 2001 census figures, however this may not represent the current
picture.
Who are volunteers and what do they do?
The most popular types of volunteering activities are youth club leader /
helper, fundraising, music/ arts & drama and organising events.
Only 35% of organisations in the youth sector involved young people in
governance – there is a challenge for organisations in the voluntary sector to
engage young people and increase involvement in this key role.
Young people prefer to volunteer in the evening with afternoon and then
weekends being most popular.
In Northern Ireland 66% of young people are interested in undertaking
accreditation of skills learned through volunteering.
78% of young people are interested in taking part in training relating to their
volunteering.
This reflects the fact that gaining skills and experience was the most important
motivating factor for young volunteers responding to the survey.
Other findings concluded:
 Organisations should make the benefits of volunteering clear – lack of
information is the main reason cited for not participating.
 Organisations should seek to improve flexibility – it allows volunteers to
take charge of their own experiences, volunteers may contribute fewer
hours in 2007 but the commitment is longer term.
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Volunteering encourages Active Citizenship – volunteers are more
likely to vote and they have a greater sense of ownership of their
community.
Government needs to increase their support for volunteering –
recognises the value of volunteering and supports a positive image.
Organisations wishing to involve volunteers should seek to be
efficient and informal – volunteering should always be a positive
experience.
Key Trends for Youth Volunteering in Wales
Leah Doherty, Millennium Volunteer Coordinator, Wales council for
Voluntary Action
Research carried out in Wales includes:
 2001 Home Office Citizenship Study.
 2003 Welsh Assembly Research.
 2007 Millennium Volunteers evaluation.
 2008 Russell Impact (this will assess the impact of the £3 million
funding from Russell).
Based on the findings of this research100% of young volunteers would
recommend volunteering to a friend.
A number of programmes exist in Wales to promote youth volunteering
including:
 14-19 Learning Pathways.
 Welsh B.accalaureate.
 CWVYS .
 Millennium Volunteers – 9000 young people have registered as
Millennium Volunteers. 84 organisations are funded to deliver the
programme including 22 Volunteer Centres (1 in each county).
 Funky Dragon – Children & young people feed in to the Welsh
Assembly decision making process.
 Youth university, Young achievers, Duke of Edinburgh.
Following the Russell Commission recommendations and subsequent funding
to Wales the following projects are being implemented:
6 national organisations have been funded to enhance the Millennium
Volunteers programme – a target to involve over 1200 new volunteers over 2
years.
22 part time youth development advisors have been employed throughout
Wales to support youth volunteering, a portal for youth volunteering is being
developed and a promotional campaign has been undertaken.
Future developments will include:
 Sourcing and tailoring placements which will be attractive to people
in full time employment.
 Review and develop volunteering opportunities in the health sector.
 Target employers – only 1% are aware of Millennium Volunteers
and its value.
 Challenge perceptions – through the media demonstrate that
young people successfully do a lot in the community and it’s not
naff!
 Best practice in volunteer management – challenge organisations
that don’t involve young people.
 Continue to use the internet as a tool to promote the programme
(the portal) and to promote resources.
The Market Place – Issues & Ideas
For the afternoon session participants were asked to choose a priority issue in
relation to the following challenge
‘To increase the number and diversity of young people volunteering’.
Four priorities were identified and each group discussed and agreed ideas for
action to address the issue and meet the challenge of increasing the number
and diversity of young volunteers.
The participants agreed on the following priorities:
Challenging negative perceptions of volunteering.
Create excitement about volunteering and the opportunities.
Participants felt that organisations wishing to involve young people should be
aware of:
There are many other demands / commitments on a young person’s time.
Volunteering needs to be perceived as cooler / more relevant, then it may be
more of a priority.
The first group agreed the following action points to:
INCREASE DIVERSITY IN VOLUNTEERING -
Promotion should be BY young people.
Celebrity endorsement - which celebrities? Some research suggests that
young people are not impressed by celebrities.
 Building on their passions -what’s in it for me? Young people need to
also be aware of how their role contributes to the wider picture.
 Volunteering should provide an opportunity for new friendships.
 Organisations should promote the diversity of opportunities – This can
be achieved by highlighting case studies of different volunteering
opportunities.
 Organisations should consider and where necessary challenge the
image INSIDE organisations - work with schools/youth clubs to promote
the idea of volunteering.
 Promote volunteering as career currency - demonstrate the attractive
prospects of volunteering opportunities for young people.
 Show appreciation - in different ways: some young people want more
responsibility.
 Organisations should put volunteers first – organisations need to listen
to young people and involve them in planning/recruitment, being clear
in use of language. Organisations should help all young people to
understand benefits and concepts of volunteering.
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Group two agreed the following action points to:
INCREASE MALE VOLUNTEERING AND UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS
Issues for organisations to be aware of:
How do you ensure that you engage with harder to read groups and embed
the benefits of volunteering to them?
How do you find out what has worked for different groups of volunteers?
Perceptions held by these young people?
Why would you want to do work and not get paid? People who volunteer are
mugs because the organisation has paid staff.
Action points to increase participation:
 Using the male volunteers you have recruited to promote their
experience to potential male volunteers.
 Changing the perception of volunteering to males especially in the
caring services.
 Changing the attitude of individuals within the organisation to be
more welcoming to more diverse groups - monitor what works.
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Develop a targeted recruitment campaign aimed at the groups you
wish to attract - presentations at schools, youth groups, sports clubs etc.
Ensure potential volunteers are aware of the many different
opportunities open to them within the organisation.
Identify and remove barriers to volunteering.
Ensure that there is on hand support when recruiting more vulnerable
volunteers.
Must focus on each individuals need. Look at their abilities not their
disabilities.
Encourage opportunities for family volunteering (pass on benefits of
voluntary experience to brothers, sisters etc…).
Develop taster days - Ensure that roles are appropriate/attractive to
young men.
Group 3 discussed how to ensure young people are placed at the centre of
the organisation.
YOUTH LED VOLUNTEERING – FACILITATING
EMPOWERMENT/OWNERSHIP
Motivating young people
Areas for consideration:
Young people should have support to control resources.
Young people should be able to develop skills and learning in
governance and have the opportunity to participate on a committee
and where appropriate undertake advocacy training.
 Scale of empowerment/guidance/support – young people can
encourage whole organisation to support youth volunteering.
 Organisations should take risks and allow young people to take risks.
 Organisations should do preparation work with adults supporting
young people e.g. drop ‘committee’ name, introduce management team
– develop task driven activities.
 Training/Advice/Best practice for volunteer managers with young
people - make meetings more accessible – be aware of timing etc...
 Creativity by volunteer managers in involving young people.
 Organisations need to consider accountability vs. risks - mentoring by
‘older members’ – not directly involved with placement -don’t expect
young people to fit into adult structure such as ‘committees’, allowing
time for activities to develop and evolve.
 Funders / managers need to give volunteer managers working with
young people the freedom to be creative and to take risks.
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Support and training could be provided to ‘older’ Board/Committee
members.
Organisations should be committed to engaging young people rather
than serving young people - believe in young people and their abilities.
Constitutions &policies which reflect youth involvement needs to be
young person friendly.
Organisations resources need to flow to areas of youth initiative and
creativity - give young people an opportunity and let them lead their
own projects.
Organizations should develop a qualitative measurement /approach to
successful projects.
Young people involvement should range from consultation through to
action through to evaluation and recognition - have participation
standards for organisations re governance etc, challenge other staff and
volunteers when they are negative about young people.
Group 4 examined :
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER IN
ORGANISATIONS
This approach encourages organisations to see young people as part of
the solution rather than part of the problem.
Organisations can achieve this by:
 Offering an opportunity for qualifications/recognition.
 Ensuring funding and resources are allocated for practical based
volunteer work experience.
 Suggesting volunteering as an alternative to work experience.
 Promoting the positive benefits of volunteering to reduce the
stigma (about volunteering).
 Removing barriers for all volunteers.
 Creating engaging volunteering opportunities.
Organisations need to:
Make volunteering more of a two way street – organisaitons and
volunteers need to be benefiting from the volunteering relationship.
Make the benefits of volunteering more concrete.
Volunteer involving organisations need to:
 Have clear roles for volunteers.
 Design or ‘find’ sales pitch championing the benefit of involving
young people (Practical guide – does anyone have one?).
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Provide recognition.
Pay expenses.
Have someone in organisation who believes in young people –
challenge perceptions.
Offer training for volunteer managers specific to youth volunteering.
Address fears (of young people/ organisation / existing older
volunteers).
Organisations need to employ volunteer managers.
Use ‘investing in volunteers’ as template – an element of the
standard specific for young people would have to be designed.
Encourage organisations to include young people on their
management board.
Sell the concept of youth volunteering to senior management.
Encourage organisations to volunteer with young people then
encourage them to do vice versa.
All the ‘perceptions groups’ ideas.
Prepare a task rather than get them something to do after they
arrive.
Identify where young people are volunteering (and don’t recognise
themselves as volunteers) therefore raising profile of volunteering.
Identify what is good infrastructure/use existing structures that
support young person volunteers - recognition and training for
volunteers and monitor what works, develop real and meaningful
tasks for volunteers to carry out and allow young people to take the
lead in volunteering allow them to develop their skills and interests.