Tag: Volunteer Scotland

Volunteer Scotland report: Volunteering is in crisis

Last year was busy for Volunteer Scotland’s research team.

We completed in-depth analysis of the 2022 and 2023 Scottish Household Survey data on volunteer participation, wrote three bulletins about the impact of the cost of living crisis on the Third Sector, published doctoral research on volunteering and associational life, shared findings from a literature review of employer supported volunteering, and commissioned research on the social value of volunteering in Scotland.

Each piece of research is part of a jigsaw puzzle that makes up a picture of volunteering in Scotland.

We’ve written a report that draws together all this research and presents five headlines about the state of volunteering in Scotland today.

The headlines: a brief overview

Volunteering is in crisis

The Scottish Household Survey reveals that 335,000 people stopped volunteering between 2019 and 2023 which means that there are fewer volunteers for third sector organisations to draw upon to meet increased demand for core services.

The cost of living crisis is closing doors to volunteer participation

Evidence from multiple sources points to the cost of living crisis making it harder for people in Scotland to volunteer. The cost of living crisis s is chipping away at people’s mental wellbeing and resilience as well as making it harder for people to justify the time and expense of participating in leisure activities, which our evidence shows are a crucial pathway into volunteering.

People are missing out on the wellbeing benefits of volunteering, when they need it most

With the decline in volunteer participation, we know that more and more people are missing out on the wellbeing benefits they can experience through volunteering. And, it is often the people who benefit most from volunteering who are missing out, particularly people living with a disability and those with poor physical or mental health.

The deprivation gap is closing, but it isn’t all as it seems

The gap between volunteer participation in Scotland’s least and most deprived areas is getting smaller, but it is not clear whether this is driven by positive social changes. Our evidence shows us that the relationship between deprivation and volunteering is complex, and while the gap is closing there are more questions to consider for ensuring that volunteering is a positive experience for people across all of Scotland’s communities.

The demographic profile of Scotland’s volunteers is changing

There have been multiple shifts in the demographic profile of Scotland’s volunteers, including a decline in volunteering among males, ethnic minorities and working age adults. In our report, we explore = the potential impact of this on future volunteering among retired adults.

To find out about these headlines in more and what evidence supports these conclusions, please read our report.

What action should we take?

Based on the research, we think there are several questions and actionable insights to consider:

  • Leisure activities, including culture, sport and hobbies, are important pathways into volunteering. What can be done to protect these pathways in light of the impact of the cost of living crisis?
  • Volunteering can play a role in improving the health and wellbeing of Scottish adults, but it cannot only be for people who have good physical and mental health. What opportunities are there to broaden volunteer participation among those with poor physical and mental health so that they can access the wellbeing benefits of volunteering? How can the third sector encourage decision-makers to recognise the wellbeing benefits of volunteering when introducing or reviewing relevant policy or legislation, including around social prescribing, community health, and employability?
  • How can we better understand volunteering motivations, behaviours and patterns in Scotland’s most deprived communities so that volunteers are having a positive experience and are not being exploited to fill service gaps?
  • How can we tackle the barriers working age adults face in participating in volunteering and how can volunteering be promoted as part of people’s transition from work to retirement?
  • How can VIOs adapt their recruitment and retention strategies to ensure volunteering remains inclusive, especially in light of the uneven impacts of the cost of living crisis on different demographic groups?

We encourage colleagues in the Scottish voluntary sector to grapple with these findings. All our analysis is available for you to explore and use as evidence in your work. This matrix can be used to search for Volunteer Scotland research publications across a range of themes.

Do these headlines marry with your experience of Scottish volunteering? We’d love to hear your perspective and what you think should be done to address the crisis in volunteering. Please contact research@volunteerscotland.org.uk with any questions, comments or research opportunities.

The-state-of-Scottish-volunteering-reportDownload

SCVO: Charities face staff and volunteer crisis

A third of organisations reported this as one of their top challenges  

Third Sector organisations in Scotland are increasingly facing shortages of staff and volunteers, a new report has warned.

The Scottish Third Sector Tracker has found that issues relating to staffing and volunteers are one of the top challenges for a third of voluntary sector organisations.

Data from the tracker observes the emergence of the sector from the Covid-19 pandemic through 2021, followed by the development of the cost-of-living crisis and associated organisational concerns during 2022 and 2023.  

In August 2021, 35% of organisations reported a significant concern about staff and volunteer numbers. Just two years on, that figure has now risen to 65%, with only finances currently proving a bigger challenge for the sector.  

While staff and volunteer support remain a growing concern, third sector groups report an ongoing increase in demand for their core services and activities over the six waves of the tracker. In Wave 1 (Aug 2021), 56% of organisations reported an increased demand, rising to 63% by Wave 6 (Apr 2023). 

These factors, on top of growing financial pressures due to the rising costs crisis and public sector funding cuts, are leading to a perfect storm for charities and voluntary groups, with strain put on already stretched teams.  

Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), said: “The Scottish voluntary sector is a significant employer, providing jobs for 5% of the Scottish workforce. 

“At a time where many organisations are facing recruitment challenges, the funding environment means that many voluntary organisations are struggling to keep pace with salary increases needed to attract and retain staff. 

“Existing staff and volunteers have been working flat out since Covid, helping organisations and communities to weather the cost-of-living crisis.  We can no longer afford to rely on their goodwill to go the extra mile. 

“The invaluable services and supports provided by Scotland’s voluntary sector need sustainable investment to ensure their survival.” 

Volunteer Scotland are also concerned by the staff and volunteer crisis facing the sector, highlighted by the Third Sector Tracker.

The recent release of the 2022 Scottish Household survey results reinforces the volunteer crisis, with formal volunteer participation rates falling by 4 percentage points since 2019 to 22% – this equates to less than one million Scottish adults volunteering.  

In light of the current crisis, the actions that can be undertaken by volunteer involving organisations include ensuring that volunteer expense policies are clear and considering how roles can be made more flexible to fit with the decreased time volunteers have available.  

Alan Stevenson, CEO of Volunteer Scotland said: “The many impacts of the cost-of-living crisis on volunteering has meant that we can no longer take for granted the contribution of our volunteers.

“While recruitment and retention issues are being felt more acutely by some, the first step for all must be the focus on good volunteering practice, appropriately supported.” 

The Scottish Third Sector Tracker is a growing research community made up of representatives from third sector organisations based across the whole of Scotland, who are willing to share their experiences, views and concerns as the sector faces both new and ongoing challenges. 

The Tracker is run by an independent research company called DJS Research on behalf of SCVO, the Scottish Government, the William Grant Foundation and the National Lottery Community Fund. 

Those involved in the running of a third sector organisation operating in Scotland are invited to represent their organisation as a member of the Scottish Third Sector Tracker.   

An Executive Summary of the Scottish Third Sector Tracker’s First Phase of research can be found here: 

https://scvo.scot/policy/research/evidence-library/2023-scottish-third-sector-tracker-waves-1-to-6-executive-summary 

Third-Sector-Tracker-W1-6-Executive-SummaryDownload

Charities face staff and volunteer crisis 

A third of organisations reported recruitment as one of their top challenges

Third Sector organisations in Scotland are increasingly facing shortages of staff and volunteers, a new report has warned.  

The Scottish Third Sector Tracker has found that issues relating to staffing and volunteers are one of the top challenges for a third of voluntary sector organisations.

Data from the tracker observes the emergence of the sector from the Covid-19 pandemic through 2021, followed by the development of the cost-of-living crisis and associated organisational concerns during 2022 and 2023.  

In August 2021, 35% of organisations reported a significant concern about staff and volunteer numbers. Just two years on, that figure has now risen to 65%, with only finances currently proving a bigger challenge for the sector.  

While staff and volunteer support remain a growing concern, third sector groups report an ongoing increase in demand for their core services and activities over the six waves of the tracker. In Wave 1 (Aug 2021), 56% of organisations reported an increased demand, rising to 63% by Wave 6 (Apr 2023). 

These factors, on top of growing financial pressures due to the rising costs crisis and public sector funding cuts, are leading to a perfect storm for charities and voluntary groups, with strain put on already stretched teams.  

Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), said: “The Scottish voluntary sector is a significant employer, providing jobs for 5% of the Scottish workforce. 

“At a time where many organisations are facing recruitment challenges, the funding environment means that many voluntary organisations are struggling to keep pace with salary increases needed to attract and retain staff. 

“Existing staff and volunteers have been working flat out since Covid, helping organisations and communities to weather the cost-of-living crisis.  We can no longer afford to rely on their goodwill to go the extra mile.  The invaluable services and supports provided by Scotland’s voluntary sector need sustainable investment to ensure their survival.” 

Volunteer Scotland are also concerned by the staff and volunteer crisis facing the sector, highlighted by the Third Sector Tracker. The recent release of the 2022 Scottish Household survey results reinforces the volunteer crisis, with formal volunteer participation rates falling by 4 percentage points since 2019 to 22% – this equates to less than one million Scottish adults volunteering.  

In light of the current crisis, the actions that can be undertaken by volunteer involving organisations include ensuring that volunteer expense policies are clear and considering how roles can be made more flexible to fit with the decreased time volunteers have available.  

Alan Stevenson, CEO of Volunteer Scotland said: “The many impacts of the cost-of-living crisis on volunteering has meant that we can no longer take for granted the contribution of our volunteers.

“While recruitment and retention issues are being felt more acutely by some, the first step for all must be the focus on good volunteering practice, appropriately supported.” 

The Scottish Third Sector Tracker is a growing research community made up of representatives from third sector organisations based across the whole of Scotland, who are willing to share their experiences, views and concerns as the sector faces both new and ongoing challenges. 

The Tracker is run by an independent research company called DJS Research on behalf of SCVO, the Scottish Government, the William Grant Foundation and the National Lottery Community Fund. 

Those involved in the running of a third sector organisation operating in Scotland are invited to represent their organisation as a member of the Scottish Third Sector Tracker.  

An Executive Summary of the Scottish Third Sector Tracker’s First Phase of research can be found here: 

https://scvo.scot/policy/research/evidence-library/2023-scottish-third-sector-tracker-waves-1-to-6-executive-summary 

SCVO: Voluntary organisations in Scotland are more vital than ever

Data shows scale of crucial voluntary sector impact in Lothian and beyond

Figures collated by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) using data from OSCR, Volunteer Scotland, the TSI Network Scotland, and the Social Enterprise in Scotland Census have highlighted the crucial role of charities, social enterprises, and community groups in Scotland.

The data reveals that across Lothian alone there are currently 3,729 registered charities, generating a combined annual income of £4,342,612,905, and 1,125 social enterprises operating across the TSI area.

Along with employing 64,190 paid staff, an amazing 234,336 people from across the area also support organisations by volunteering their time and skills to help people, communities and groups, making an invaluable contribution to their local community in the process.

Nationally, Scotland enjoys the benefits of over 40,000 voluntary sector organisations, employing over 100,000 paid staff – a similar number to the Scottish digital and technology sector.

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and TSI Scotland Network believe that sharing this data will further highlight the indispensable contribution of the voluntary sector, particularly over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, during which charities and voluntary organisations, both local and national, have played a vital role across Scotland.

Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive for the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) said: “We know that the voluntary sector is a major player in Scotland in terms of economic impact and employment.

“Our recent #NeverMoreNeeded campaign highlighted how crucial the sector has been during the pandemic across the country, and continues to be essential in recovery.

“These findings highlight not only how vital charities, social enterprises and community groups are in Lothian, but also the level of local support provided to these organisations through volunteering, which is really encouraging.”

A spokesperson for Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council (EVOC) said: “Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector is a key asset in our communities, even more so over the last two years, but it is one which is often underestimated and overlooked.

“We hope that this data, which shows the size and scale of the sector, can emphasise just how vital the sector is and how much it supports us all, both locally and nationally.”

Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, said: “I welcome the figures produced by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), particularly those that highlight the invaluable contribution that charities and voluntary organisations make in Lothian.

“The voluntary sector has been crucial throughout this pandemic, both in the local area and nationwide, and it’s important that we not just recognise that incredible contribution, but also explore how the Scottish Parliament can work better with the sector to maximise these efforts.”