This document discusses contribution through volunteering and supported volunteering programs. It outlines the benefits of such programs, including increased independence, confidence, skills and community integration for individuals. Volunteering programs are also financially sensible as they provide social and economic benefits to communities. Specifically, the document describes CSV's supported volunteering approach which uses volunteer mentors to help individuals with support needs contribute to their communities through meaningful volunteering opportunities matched to their skills.

1. Contribution through Volunteering: Part
one, What and How
Jemma Mindham, Area Manager, CSV
jmindham@csv.org.uk
Andrew Tyson, In Control associate
andrew.tyson@in-control.org.uk

2. How to participate today

3. Policy: the Care Act
“Our overall vision is about promoting
people's wellbeing and independence and
enabling them to be active citizens”(Glen
Mason, Director of People, Communities
and Local Government, DH.)
“There is a strong emphasis in the Care Bill
on improving people's overall wellbeing,
which shifts the emphasis from a remedial,
'deficit' based system, to one which seeks
to take pre-emptive, preventive and
supportive measures.” (Bridget Warr, CEO
UK Home Care Association and TLAP
Board Member)

4. The wider policy environment
● Human rights agenda
● Equalities agenda
● Personalisation agenda
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5. Why ‘contribution’?
• We deprive many citizens of the opportunity to make a
valued contribution because they are too…
– young/old/poor/wealthy… (etc.)
– or they live in the inner city or the wrong part of the
country or in a village or a town, their English isn’t
good enough, they once fell out with their parents or
got into a fight or got pregnant when they were a
teenager and ended up sleeping rough etc. etc.
• ‘Valued contribution’ considered as a human right.
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6. Real Wealth
6

7. Contribution through volunteering:
our approach
● Enables individuals with a range of support needs to
contribute to their communities through volunteering with
the support of trained mentors from the local community
(also volunteers)
● Enables them to be trained to increase their skills and
enhance their ability to contribute
● Breaks down barriers and builds relationships through
using community volunteers as support mentors
● Works with employment agencies to move individuals
into the workplace where appropriate
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8. Support for me to make a contribution
“Help to think through what I
am good at, how I can
help… a plan?”
“Guidance on how to find out
where I can help.”
“Support, mentoring, confidence
to make this real and keep going
with it.”
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9. The CTV Triangle
Beneficiary (V)
Support mentor (V) Volunteer Support worker (P)
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10. CSV Supported Volunteering
Disabled people participating as active and equal citizens
in their local communities: as volunteers, neighbours and
family members with civic and social responsibilities.
Training
Supported and
Independent
Volunteering
Supported
Employment
Social Inclusion

11. CSV Supported Volunteering
● Support for disabled volunteers
● Peer/Community Mentors
● Positive, holistic approach - Focus on ability
● Choice and control
● Meaningful, self-defined contributions
● Valuable and valued
● Building community capacity through mutual support networks

12. How does Supported Volunteering work?
● Assessment (of skills, support needs, likes and dislikes, aims
setting)
● Match to a volunteer mentor and a community volunteering
placement – progressing through:
 1) Mentor Support (building skills and self-esteem);
 2) Supported Volunteering (volunteering placement with their
volunteer mentor);
 3) Independent Volunteering (accessing volunteering
independently).

13. Outputs
● Enabling individuals to develop ‘circles of support’ for various
activities.
● Supporting individuals with travel training.
● Helping individuals to access college courses or job skills training
(including an optional accredited CSV Volunteer/Work-skills Training
Programme).
● Access to supported volunteering.
● Working closely with other agencies to help individuals to gain work
experience (including providing continued but time limited support
from the Volunteer Mentor during this).

14. Support Structure
 CSV Staff
 Full Time CSV Volunteers
 Volunteer Mentors
 Supervisors
 Training provided by CSV to all
 Goal setting and review
 Independence

15. Outcomes
● Increased independence, confidence and self esteem
● Increased skills and enhanced access to employment
● Appreciation of self-worth and role within community;
enhanced resilience
● Enhanced understanding of disability
● Community integration
● Empowerment to use own resources

16. Impact
● King’s Fund Volunteering in Health and Care (2013) - support
provided by volunteers/mentors is of particular value to those who
rely most heavily on services.
● CSV Reports On: Mental Health, Volunteering and Social Inclusion
(2008):
 more likely to have a positive outcome due to the informal nature of
the relationship and the responsibility it gives the service user for
their own recovery
 encourages community and peer responsibility
● Self-reported outcomes:
 93% increased independence
 65% more in control
 79% feel better because someone freely gave time to support them.

17. Lisa’s Story
‘My confidence has improved and my social skills and being able to
use a proper coffee machine has been very good…without CSV I
would not have got anywhere and would be sat at home bored with
nothing to do”.
● Lisa’s aim was to gain the skills
necessary to secure a job.
● She volunteered, supported by a CSV
Volunteer Mentor, at a local Community
Coffee Bar for 12 months and took part
in 2 full days of training including barista
training.
● Working with Support into Employment
and CSV, she has secured a part time
job with a national pub/restaurant chain.
● Lisa said that her volunteering played a
big part in her getting her job.

18. Gemma’s Story
“CSV is brilliant!”
● Gemma joined CSV to gain
work-skills and become more
independent
● She was supported to catch
public transport and access
volunteering placements with a
community mentor
● She became independent in her
travel and placements
● Gemma decided to apply to
become a CSV mentor herself –
and share her experience and
skills
● Gemma completed the training
programme and now supports 3
individuals on a regular basis, as
well as continuing with her own
volunteering

19. Outcome domains
● For individuals
● For communities
● In terms of efficiencies/savings
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20. Process to date
● Reviewed existing models
● Developed new models
● Launched with sector leaders
● Developed business model with Essex CC
● Discussed with DH
● Included in Strategic Partners Programme
● 3 regional workshops
● 2nd
year of Programme: promote further, extend to
children’s and young people’s services
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21. Our learning
● Diverse citizens
● All age
● Diverse communities
● Diverse local practice
….hence
• It’s more than ‘this model’
• Influence on commissioning practice
• …including CCGs and public health
• Importance of making the business case (part 2)

22. Conclusion
● Volunteering provides a valid and valuable link to community - Being
a volunteer gives self esteem and confidence – a sense of purpose
and makes me happy
● Enables real choice and control - I need to be included in decisions;
it’s about what I want
● Supports skills and independence - Help to build my skills up so I
know what I want to do and how to do it – I want to do things
properly and well
● Makes financial sense - Department for Work and Pensions:
Wellbeing and Civil Society (2013) - social and economic benefits of
volunteering. Economic value of formal volunteering in the UK 1.3%
to 1.6% of GDP – around £23 billion.

23. Any questions?

24. Further information
● Part 2 webinar: the business case date tbc
● www.in-control.org.uk/contributionthroughvolunteering
● www.in-control.org.uk/webinarschedule2014
● www.in-control.org.uk/stayconnected
● www.csv.org.uk/volunteering/supported