Background
Methods
Design
Data collection
Data sources
Data source a; managers of volunteering organisations and initiatives (n=10)
Data source B; volunteers (n=22)
Data source C; ACE participants (n=20)
Data analysis
Results
Participant characteristics
Activators (n=13) n (%) | Participants (n=20) | |
---|---|---|
Age (mean; years) | 66.8 ± 4.3 | 75.9 ± 8.3 |
Range | 63–74 | 67–94 |
Gender | ||
Female | 10 (77) | 13 (65) |
Male | 3 (23) | 7 (35) |
Ethnicity | ||
White Caucasian | 13 (100) | 19 (95) |
Other | 1 (5) | |
Marital status | ||
Married | 7 (54) | 6 (30) |
Widowed | 3 (23) | 8 (40) |
Divorced/separated | 2 (15) | 5 (25) |
Single/living with partner | 1 (8) | 1 (5) |
Highest education level completed | ||
Completed secondary school | 5 (39) | 14 (70) |
Some college/ vocational training | 1 (8) | 3 (15) |
Completed college or university | 5 (39) | 2 (10) |
Completed graduate degree or higher | 2 (15) | 1 (5) |
Thematic structure
Motives, benefits of peer volunteering and characteristics of a good peer-volunteer
“I was re-housed up here. And I’d just taken early retirement so... I was looking for something to do. I came in to see what was going on..., I got well roped in” (Male, Older Volunteer- Data source B)
“It’s nice having a new social circle; I’ve got to meet other people I wouldn’t have come across” (Male, ACE Activator, Data source B)
“For me it’s the reintegration into a social situation. It gives people a purpose. Once people are integrated … you know, you’re expected somewhere and wanted somewhere” (Female, Community initiative Manager, Data source A)
“I can honestly say never once since I met her, has she let me down” (Female, ACE Participant, Data source C)
“I found her easy to talk to and I didn’t know what to expect but I found her very friendly” (Female, ACE Participant, Data source C)
“The biggest thing I found was motivation. It was motivating people – to do things, trying things out, some work, some don’t” (Female, ACE Activator Data Source B)
“And then she [peer volunteer] informed me she was away for x number of weeks and couldn’t see me for this and couldn’t see me for that. I don’t honestly think she poured her heart and soul into it” (Female, ACE Participant, Data source C)
Peer volunteering challenges
“I probably could have started volunteering for the wrong reasons; because I had spare time. But if there’s a purpose behind it, that’s when it works” (Male, Older Volunteer, Data source B)
“I was in a bit of a quandary; it was obvious that my participant was having problems with his health. I didn’t know whether I should volunteer to go round … I didn’t want to become a sort of health visitor, or carer” (Male, ACE Activator, Data Source B)
“I would offer to take her out, but I think if I started that, I don’t know where it’s going to lead. So, I have been a little bit careful, she wanted me to go there on a Saturday, and I thought no, I’ve had to push it back to a Friday” (Female, Older Volunteer, Data source B)
“I did feel at one time that she resented me being there …. she felt that I was her minder or something” (Female, ACE Activator, Data Source B)
“She didn’t want to do anything. … And I sort of said, “Well, I don’t know what you’re doing on this programme, you know. Tell me what you do want to do” (Female, ACE Activator, Data source B)
“… in villages it is more difficult in the area I live because there isn’t any public transport. … so, there’s much more reliance on volunteer drivers” (Female, ACE Activator, Data source B)
Peer volunteer training needs
“Certainly, the training I felt was too long, two days, too academic, it just wasn’t right for some of the volunteers” (Female, ACE Coordinator, Data source A)
“I felt a bit isolated; I didn’t want to go round knocking on his door, it was difficult. But the training guided me in how I should approach him” (ACE Activator, Data source B)
“So, you’ve got that balancing act between guiding people and helping them, and not overwhelming them with too much information” (Female, ACE Activator, Data source B)
“… at the beginning of the programme it would have been useful to have dates for training in our diaries so that we could have kept those dates free” (Female, ACE activator, Data source B)
“...it’s a recognised training. Something that they feel proud they’ve actually achieved, although it’s not an onerous training it’s practical as well, and at the end of that day they all go away feeling good...so it’s a booster” (Female, Manager, Data source A)
Recruitment of peer-volunteers
“Personal contacts, going talking to people, talking to groups, building relationships with people, seeing them two or three times in seven days. Working closely with partners who are embedded in the community and getting them to buy in” (Female, Community Initiative Manager 2, Data source A).
“I also went to every group to see what was happening; all the singing, bowling and knitting groups where people were already active … and thought, they would be my ideal volunteer” (Female, Community Initiative Manager 2, Data source A).
“You could get something in the Evening Post … .. You could get people that way. We did get people through campaigns in newspapers” (Male, Older volunteer, Data source B).
“You’ve got literacy challenges ...the application form is very paper heavy. I understand that people need to read the information sheet. That maybe could come at a later stage. I think really the best contact … is just that initial face to face and chatting” (Female, Community Initiative Manager 2, Data source A).
“The second time we did the training, I did ask on the form for 2 years of commitment otherwise we would ask them to pay some of the training costs back. I think that they were more aware that if they committed to it, it was going to be a commitment for a couple of years (Female, UK Charity Manager 1, Data source A).
“I’d say the thing that can be completely underestimated when managing volunteers is the amount of time that goes into coordinating them. You’re constantly having to reassess things and think about what can be changed, or moving planned sessions” (Female, UK Charity Manager 2, Data source A).
“We’ve got an application form, and I’ll talk or have an email chat with somebody. You can usually make it clear what the commitment is, and then we will do Disclosure and Barring Service check as well. Then either the coordinator of a group or myself would meet the person. You can tell a lot from meeting volunteers if they’ve got through the first two stages” (Female, Manager, Volunteering Service Provider, Data source A).
“I think it will work better when it’s no longer an academic study...that adds more paperwork. There is just that thing about allowing it to build momentum, to become something that people are aware of, not just a new idea. People don’t like doing something new. They want to know somebody who’s done it” (Female, Community Initiative Manager, Data source A).
Retention of peer-volunteers
Administrative support
“We now have a charity log system to manage volunteers, clients and everything. …. because obviously for reporting it makes life a lot easier. But it puts another onus on the volunteers. We have had a few drop off because, the paper work got a bit too much; whereas before they would you know keep their own register in a file, but because of the data management legislation we have to change that …. They are not allowed to keep all the data in a file with them” (Female, UK Charity Manager, Data source A).
“You know volunteers can only do so much I think, but you do need to have this … it’s a sort of impetus behind the scenes that just keeps it going (Female, Older volunteer, Data source B).
“I think things do work best when there is a designated coordinator. It is really important I think to have a dedicated volunteer management type role” (Female, UK Charity Manager 2, Data Source A).
Peer support network
“I found it useful to find out, there were some participants that were like mine, that other people had got those problems, so I thought ‘oh it wasn’t so bad after all’, it was a general problem type of thing” (Female, ACE Activator, Data source B).
“I think that would set up, ‘is this becoming competitive?’ or ‘am I being judged for the way I’m, working?” (Male, Older Volunteer, Data source B).
“We put on all sorts of wonderful training and think people will be really interested. But actually, encouraging volunteers to come along to that training, the take up is quite bad (Female, Manager, Data source A).
Clarity of the volunteering role
“You can’t tie them in … you’ve got to be careful about the legal issues around making anything look like a job as opposed to a volunteer role” (Female, Manager, Volunteering Service Provider, Data source A).
Matching peers
“if you match two people that were police officers, … or you could have two people who have lived abroad. Perhaps it’s about finding common interests” (Female, UK Charity Manager 2, Data source A).
“I felt that I didn’t like to have my friend (peer volunteer), … come more often than was necessary because she was some distance away” (Female, ACE Participant, Data source C).
“Don’t be afraid if it doesn’t work out because it’s very difficult to match. … we tend to do it on a trial basis really” (Female, ACE Activator, Data source B).
Funding of expenses and activities
“You’re going to need to make sure you’ve got money set aside to reimburse those expenses. You wouldn’t want anyone to be out of pocket as a result of giving up their time for you” (Female, UK Charity Manager 2, Data source A).
“And volunteer thank you events so they feel recognised and supported” (Female, ACE Activator, Data Source B).
Building long-term partnerships
“My retired volunteers … have often worked for us for years and years” (Male, ACE Activator, Data source B).
“I try and partner volunteers up and get them working together in a little hub …. just to try and strengthen the bond between the network of volunteers” (Female, UK Charity Manager 1, Data source A).
“Make it really clear. 6 months, have that end goal” (Female, Manager, Volunteering Service Provider, Data source A).
“Having task descriptions or role descriptions is quite helpful” (Female, Manager, Volunteering Service Provider, Data source A).
“I think it’s really about being just really open and transparent about what the volunteering would entail” (Female, ACE Activator, Data source B).
Discussion
Set up | |
▪ Acquire sufficient funding for volunteer management/coordination, volunteer training, expenses and incentives prior to project commencement | |
▪ Set realistic volunteer recruitment targets and timescales | |
▪ Design and implement a programme evaluation. Work with the funder to ensure this will deliver the outcome data they require | |
Recruitment | |
▪ Use appropriate, diverse advertising and recruitment and joining routes focusing on delivering a diverse volunteer cohort | |
▪ Where appropriate target those whose life circumstances are changing i.e. retirement, moving to a new area or end/reduction of (grand) childcare responsibilities | |
▪ Incorporate motives for volunteering into recruitment campaigns including positive outcomes for recipients (altruism), opportunity for volunteer to (re) connect with their community and personal fulfilment | |
▪ Design roles to deliver popular benefits of volunteering i.e. personal fulfilment, purpose, acquisition of new skills, increased social and community connections | |
▪ Provide a clear volunteer role description | |
▪ Provide accurate details of time commitment and period of engagement | |
▪ Interview potential volunteers for characteristics that match well with the role including a good sense of humour, good interpersonal skills and the ability to relate to peers | |
Implementation and Retention | |
▪ Request that all volunteers claim expenses so that no-one feels they cannot afford to volunteer | |
▪ Develop and deliver a simple, clear training programme providing the knowledge and skills required for the specific volunteering role | |
▪ Prioritise shared interests and geographical proximity when pairing older adults | |
▪ Build in a break-point when both volunteer and participant can request a no-blame change of pairing partner | |
▪ Provide regular feedback, recognition and incentives to support volunteer retention | |
▪ Engage volunteers in discussing their preferences and needs in terms of on-going/ top-up training | |
▪ Initiate and support peer volunteer support networks | |
▪ Develop and maintain a structure for good, on-going, two-way communication | |
▪ Ensure sufficient professional volunteer management/coordination resource is available | |
▪ Build resilience through a sufficient bank of trained volunteers to cope with absences and holidays | |
▪ Work on developing a pathway to sustaining the programme | |
▪ Use outcome data to report impact to funders and support programme roll out and applications to additional funding streams | |
▪ Initiate partnerships with community stakeholders |