Contribution through Volunteering: Part one, What and HowJemma Mindham, Area Manager, CSVjmindham@csv.org.ukAndrew Tyson, In Control associateandrew.tyson@in-control.org.uk

How to participate today

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)

The wider policy environment

● Human rights agenda

● Equalities agenda

● Personalisation agenda

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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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Real Wealth

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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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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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The CTV Triangle

Beneficiary (V)

Support mentor (V) Volunteer Support worker (P)

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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.

TrainingSupported and Independent Volunteering

Supported

EmploymentSocial Inclusion

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

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).

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).

Support Structure

CSV Staff

Full Time CSV Volunteers

Volunteer Mentors

Supervisors

Training provided by CSV to all

Goal setting and review

Independence

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

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.

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.

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

Outcome domains

● For individuals

● For communities

● In terms of efficiencies/savings

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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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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)

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.

Any questions?

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