Rural Volunteerism Impacting Development and Sustainability

Thursday 14th June 2018

Dr Maura Farrell

NUI Galway

Overview

Rural Context

Volunteerism Literature

Project Methodology

Findings: Two Fold

Project-Based Learning

VI Data-set

Project Conclusions

Summary

Policy Recommendations

Rural Context

Rural Change

Rural Restructuring – Fundamental change in rural society.

Driven by Technologies Innovation – Social Modernisation and Globalisation.

Result:

Population

Demographic: Aging/Youth

Agricultural

Employment

Migration/Emigration

Gender

Services and facilities

Tackling Change in Rural Ireland

Supporting 135,000 New

Jobs by 2020

Realising Our Rural

Potential: Action Plan for

Rural Development

Increasing Overseas

Visitors by 12%

Investing €50+ Million in

Sports, Recreation and

Cultural Facilities

Protecting Vital Local

Services

Ensuring all Homes and

Businesses are

Connected to

Broadband

Support 4,00 New

Community Projects Revitalising 600+ Towns

and Villages

Double Investment in

Flood Relief Works by

2021

Key Objectives

Pillar 1:

Supporting Sustainable Communities

67

Actions

Responsible

Pillar 2:

Supporting Enterprise and Employment

84

Actions

Responsible

Pillar 3:

Maximising our Rural Tourism and Recreation

Potential

51

Actions

Responsible

Pillar 4:

Fostering Culture and Creativity in Rural

Communities

29

Actions

Responsible

Pillar 5:

Improving Rural Infrastructure

and Connectivity

45

Actions

Responsible

Action Plan

Rural Volunteerism

Volunteerism – both formal and informal pervades the whole of the rural sector (Rogers, 1987).

“Volunteerism is becoming increasingly important in social-service provision as national governments devolve responsibility for particular

programs to lower levels of government and/or the voluntary and private sectors”(Joseph et al. 2012: 381).

“Growing the capacity of local people, agencies and professionals that support communities and build social networks founded on high levels of volunteering and skilled support is one of the prerequisites for vibrant rural

communities” (Carnegie Trust UK, 2007).

Rural Volunteerism

Rural Volunteerism – unpaid formal or informal activities

Informal volunteerism can be helping out a neighbour or caregiving for someone in a local community, while formal (also unpaid) means that the volunteer is

registered with a club, society or organisation.

Key Aims:

Gain an understanding of

the significance of

volunteerism in rural society

Develop an

understanding of why

rural people become

involved in volunteerism

and what they gain from

their involvement

Evaluate the impact

of rural volunteerism

on your local area

and society.

Collaborative Research Study

Two-fold

Part A:

Project Based Learning – NUI Galway Final Year Rural Geography students - January to the end of April 2018

1. Desk-Based Study

2. Surveys (607 Respondents)

3. Interviews (60 rural participants) 15 Counties

4. Posters

Part B:

NUI Galway research enhanced Volunteer Ireland data and analysed by project partners (VI, Pat Kennedy, Dr Maura Farrell and Paul Collins (VI)).

VI Data collected via the national volunteering database (I-VOL) - contains information from over 16,000 Volunteer

Findings VI Data

70% Female

30% Male

Who is Volunteering in Rural Areas

Recruitment Method

Volunteer Organisations and Activities

Types of Volunteer Organisations Kind of Volunteer Activities

Impact of Rural

volunteerism

“In my opinion, the single biggest

impact of volunteers is promoting

excellent community spirit. For

example, if volunteer organisations did

not provide a basis for people to

socially interact and to get to know

each other, the bonds or ties within the

community would be a lot weaker. So,

yeah, volunteering allows for

connections and friendships to be built

which would allow for good community

spirit”.

Issues and ConcernsNot enough

Volunteers in

rural areas

Additional Funding

required to

enhance voluntary

activities

Excessive ‘red

tape’ for

volunteers

involved

More training and

Support for Rural

Volunteers

3 words: Impact of Rural Volunteer

Work

Conclusions Voluntary activity - Formal and informal with informal activity being more prevalent.

Rural Volunteers play multiple and diverse roles.

Voluntary activity through rural clubs, particularly sport, was most popular with caring services also proving very popular.

Volunteering carried out in rural development activities, such as Tidy Towns, culture and the arts was also significant in rural settings.

The amount of time rural volunteers give freely to their communities was significant with over 62% of survey respondents giving time weekly to activities.

In all cases the majority of respondents felt that volunteerism positively impacted on the lives, activities and social capital of rural inhabitants.

Issues of concern for volunteers and the continuation of voluntary activity in rural areas include a lack of volunteers, inadequate support from local and state government and a need for continued support and training.

Summary

Considerable challenges in rural Ireland yet, volunteer work takes place in many if

not all rural areas;

Type and extent of volunteer work taking place in rural communities is extensive;

Considerable impact on rural society, economy, culture;

Creates considerable social capital in rural communities;

Vibrant and sustainable rural communities can be created and enhanced by the

work carried out by rural volunteers.

Where To From Here….

Policy Recommendations:

1. Rural communities need a strong infrastructure built around volunteer activities to

ensure its continuity.

2. Volunteer activities must be properly resources and facilitated – it is enough for

people to give freely of their time.

3. Training and support is essential for volunteers numbers to increase.

4. Support volunteer development programmes in both primary and post primary

schools in rural areas to build social capital at a young age.

5. Increase rural development funding to prevent volunteers having to engage in

services provision roles in rural areas.

Acknowledgments

Volunteer Ireland – Paul Collins, Nina Arwitz, Amy Woods

Volunteer Galway – Donnacha Foley

eTownz Project – Pat Kennedy

All rural volunteer who took part in the research

NUI Galway 3rd Year Students – TI369 Geographical Perspectives on Rural Change