This document discusses community building and volunteering. It provides information on: - The factors that influence community engagement. - Data on volunteering rates and how they vary in different areas and demographics. - How associational life and belonging to social groups can impact volunteering and health. - The potential for increased community building to foster more inclusive and frequent volunteering. - Next steps discussed include supporting local organizations, participation opportunities, and leadership from within communities.

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#theevidencesessions

2. We will forever be thankful.
Read the full tribute to Liz Burns OBE CMG
https://www.volunteerscotland.net/about-us/news-blog/news/some-sad-news/

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#theevidencesessions

4. Community
Building &
Volunteering
Alan Stevenson
Matthew Linning

5. Structure
2
Volunteering
How it can contribute
Community
Understanding the context
Development
Agreeing the ‘Plan'

6. What is ‘community’?
Communities
of place
“A community is a
group of people
connected to each
other by geographic
location or common
concern or interest.”
(Open University)
Communities
of interest
3
Communities
of identity

7. Engaged communities
• Feel part of their community
• Trust and value their neighbours
• Work together collaboratively
• Reciprocate with acts of kindness
• Feel safe in their community
• Make friends and improve social capital
Are fundamental to a healthy and engaged society.
Rather than feel isolated or lonely, people…
National
Performance
Framework
Outcomes
4
“There is nothing more powerful than a community which has recognised
what it cares about” - Margaret Wheatley

8. Local
politics
Local
Culture
Individual
factors
Labour
market
Housing
Local
orgs &
groups
Local
activities
Education
Services
Factors influencing community
engagement?
Associational life
5
Popul-
ation
Techn-
ology
Govern
-ment

9. Reduces social
isolation &
loneliness
6
Increases
social
capital
Political
participation
Improves
health &
wellbeing
Enhances
local services
Community
infrastructure
Builds cultural
capital
Social connectedness
Contribution of associational
life to communities?
Improves the
environment

10. 7
11%
14%
25% 25%
21%
1.0
0.9
1.2 1.2
0.9
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
1 2 3 4 5
SIMD QUINTILES
Scottish Voluntary Organisations
No. and income by SIMD quintile
% of organisations Estimated value (£bn)
Scotland – the evidence
%oforganisations
Source: State of the Sector 2018: Scottish third sector statistics (SCVO)
Income£bn

11. Our engagement
Neighbourhood engagement 1
21% Lack of belonging to your
local neighbourhood
43% “There are welcoming places and
opportunities to meet new people”:
those who disagree or neither/nor
Community engagement 2
72% Limited or no involvement
in your local community
44% Cannot influence decisions
affecting your local area
Sources: (1) Scottish Household Survey 2018; (2) Scottish Health Survey 2017 8

12. What is the contribution of
volunteering to communities?
Formal volunteering (2018)
Local community/neighbourhood groups
• 21% of volunteers = 247,000
• 2nd most popular category
Informal volunteering (2018)
• More inclusive
• 18% of volunteers support
those at risk of being lonely = 293,000
Source: Scottish Household Survey 2018
17%Large urban
39%Remote rural
11%Age 16 - 24
29%Age 60 - 74
31%SIMD Q1
39%SIMD Q5
9

13. What is the contribution of
volunteering to communities?
SHS 2018
Formal
volunteering
Informal
volunteering
Participation rate1
(regular vol.)
26% (20%) 36% (29%)
No. of volunteers1 1.2 million 1.6 million
No. of hours p.a. 1 128 million 167 million
Vol. which is ‘local’ 81%
2
?
Sources: (1) Scottish Household Survey 2018; (2) analysis of Scottish data for NCVO’s ‘Time Well Spent’ 10

14. What is the contribution of
communities to volunteering?
Discovering youth
organisations
Growing up
in clubs
Transitioning
into volunteering
Participant-to-volunteer pathway
Characteristics:
• Organisations embedded in local neighbourhoods
• Importance of ‘influencers’ i.e. friends and family
• Engagement driven by ‘interest’, welcoming culture, etc.
• Volunteering comes later – evolutionary rather than planned
Source: ‘Young people and volunteering: Attitudes and experiences in areas of multiple deprivation’ Davies, J. (2018) 11

15. Source: NHSGGC 2017/2018 Health & Wellbeing survey
Association - Do you belong to any
social clubs, associations, church
groups or anything similar?
Volunteer participation and do you belong
to any social clubs, associations, etc.?
48%
9%
NHSGGC
Average
18%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Yes No
Volunteerparticipationrate
Volunteer participation and do you belong to any social clubs,
associations, church groups or anything similar?
23%
77%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Yes No
%ofAdults(16+)
Do you belong to any social clubs, associations, church groups or anything similar?
23%
77%
Yes No
48%
9%
Yes No
%ofadults(16+)
Volunteerparticipationrate
Associational life
Greater Glasgow & Clyde
n = 7,834
12
18%

16. • Objective - foster associational life
• Target – disadvantaged communities
• Demographic – all ages
• Investment:
• Local organisations
• Participation
• Places to meet
• Leadership – ‘from the community
for the community’
13
Formal
volunteering
&
Informal
volunteering
Community-led approach

17. ‘Volunteering for All’ –
the community focus
National Outcome
We live in communities that are inclusive,
empowered, resilient and safe.
Volunteering Outcome
The places and spaces where we volunteer
are developed, supported and sustained.
‘Volunteering for All’ Outcome
A Scotland where everyone can volunteer,
more often and throughout their lives.
Delivery
Plan
14

18. Reports:
• Volunteering Trends in Scotland: Scottish Household Survey 2007 – 2017: Volunteer Scotland
• Volunteering cross-sectional analysis: Scottish Household Survey 2016: Volunteer Scotland
• Volunteering, Health & Wellbeing - Full Report: Volunteer Scotland
• The contribution of volunteering to Scotland's health & wellbeing - Full Report: Volunteer Scotland
• Time Well Spent: A National Survey on the Volunteering Experience: NCVO (GB data)
• Scottish Household Surveys: 2011 – 2018: Scottish Government
Contacts:
alan.stevenson@volunteerscotland.org.uk
matthew.linning@volunteerscotland.org.uk
www.volunteerscotland.org.uk @VolScotland
Further information
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Over to you: Who we are and what
do we think? 15 minutes
Yellow face of cube
What do we think about what we’ve just heard?
Pair Working
 Work in pairs
 Each pair to write 1 to 2 points on post it notes
Group sharing
 1 minute per pair to share key messages
 Table facilitator to capture key messages on cube
 Table facilitator to gather post it notes

21. Dr Toby Lowe
Newcastle Business School
Northumbria University

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Over to you: What’s the potential? 30 mins
If our collective view is that increased community building leads to
more, and more inclusive, volunteering, what can we do to increase
community building?
Purple face of cube (US)
 What can we do as a sector to increase community building?
Blue face of cube (WE)
 What can my organisation do to increase community building?
Red face of cube (ME)
 What can I do to increase community building?
Green face of cube
 Next steps – what are the first things that need to happen to take this forward?

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Panel Reflections
Prof. Daniela Sime – Strathclyde University – Research
Perspective
David Duke MBE – Founder and CEO of Street Soccer Scotland –
Community Perspective
David McNeill – Director of Development, SCVO – Third Sector
Perspective

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In conversation…
Calum Irving
Scottish Government
Head of Third Sector Unit

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Making Connections,
Gathering Data
Before the end of the session, write and send one tweet including the
hashtag #theevidencesessions to complete the following statements:
After the session, connect
with your fellow attendees
to build community where
you live and across Scotland.

28. Thank You
Social Good HQ
#theevidencesessions
To our partners
North East Together
Leaders Network

29. Thank You
#theevidencesessions
To our facilitators
Julie Cowie, Fiona Reid GCU
Jeff Sanders Make Your Mark (OPiT)
Andrew Crosbie NE Together
Wendy Marsden, Louise Meikleham OSCR
Erin Fulton PAS
Fiona Taylor, Nicky Reid Scottish
Professional Football League
David McNeill SCVO
Neil Campion SFA
Caroline McKenna Social Good HQ
Norman Gill Street Soccer
Natalie Masterson SVE
Sarah Latto SVF
Stuart Callison St Andrews First Aid
Paul Wilson, Marie Oliver TSI
Adrian Murtagh, Alan Stevenson
Janie Meikle-Bland, June Osborne,
Matthew Linning Volunteer Scotland

30. #theevidencesessions