Volunteering the Historic Environment Photo Historic Environment Scotland

Volunteering & the Historic Environment Photo © Historic Environment Scotland Volunteer Management – the Opportunities & Challenges Presentation to Heritage Volunteer Managers’ Conference Matthew Linning – 21 st September 2017 1

Presentation structure ü Background to research ü Volunteering – a ‘good news’ story ü Challenges for historic environment sector ü Good practice from case studies ü Summing up and questions

Research project • Funded & supported by Historic Environment Scotland • Conducted Jan – May 2016 • Development of database of heritage bodies (1, 040) • Online survey (182 responses) • Case studies (x 10)

Volunteering – a ‘good news’ story 4

Key statistics - 2015 17, 100 volunteers Economic value £ 17. 5 m Staff to volunteers 1: 1. 6 121, 000 volunteer days Av. 7 days per volunteer p. a.

Trend in volunteering Actual change in volunteer numbers 2015 n = 178 Desired change in volunteer numbers 2016 n = 179

Volunteering benefits 83% Volunteers improve community engagement Volunteers improve capacity of organisation 77% Volunteers bring attributes , skills & experience 75% Volunteers bring contacts & external influence 52% Volunteers bring credibility because unpaid 20% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% % of responses n = 181

Impact on volunteers From ‘Whole Picture’ research Increased knowledge of history & culture 93% Developed new skills 73% Improved wellbeing 62% Volunteering – the challenges Increased self confidence 44% Improved mental health 33% Improved physical health 14% 0% n = 125 - 129 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% % of volunteer respondents

Challenges to increasing volunteering participation n = 178

Changing the volunteer profile Current focus “. . predominantly female, aged 65+, retired & highly educated. ” New focus • Youth engagement – schools & tertiary education • Excluded individuals – deprived communities, mental health, ex-offenders, immigrants, etc. Changed practice • Flexibility in the volunteering offer – interesting, meaningful & volunteer focused (timing, content, skills)

Improving volunteer management Engagement Communication “People don’t know what opportunities are out there” Volunteer Status “Greater appreciation at all levels in the organisation” “Initial engagement is the part that needs work” Recruitment “Speak to volunteers & ASK what they want” Problems & Solutions Skills Management “Posts dedicated to volunteer management” “Learning and gaining experience”

The resource challenge Volunteer engagers • Reduced core funding – less time for volunteer management • “. . often it is the perceived luxury items such as volunteer projects (which are cut). ” Funders & government • “. . volunteering is not free. ” • “. . lack of understanding about how voluntary orgs. operate. ” Changed practice • Sector to make a more robust and evidenced based case • Capacity building for funding bodies & government

Impact on volunteers From ‘Whole Picture’ research Increased knowledge of history & culture 93% Developed new skills 73% Improved wellbeing 62% Volunteering case studies Increased self confidence 44% Improved mental health 33% Improved physical health 14% 0% n = 125 - 129 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% % of volunteer respondents

Community engagement Scottish Coastal Archaeology Edinburgh Graveyards And the problem of Erosion Project © SCAPE © Susan Buckham Scottish Redundant Churches Trust © SRCT Lessons learned • • • Local ‘ownership’ Community led, but. . facilitation and support Clear project focus Softly-softly Flexible timeline

Youth volunteering Dig It! 2015 © Dig It! 2017 Scottish Waterways Trust © Scottish Waterways Trust Young Archaeologists Club © Katy Firth Examples • Youth volunteers engaging youth beneficiaries • Supporting disadvantaged young people • 16/17 year olds supporting primary school children

Innovative volunteering National Museums Scotland National Trust for Scotland Historic Environment Scotland © National Trust for Scotland © National Museums Scotland Examples Scotland’s Urban Past • Music and performing arts • Costume interpretation • Specialist & technical skills © Creative Commons license, Scotland's Urban Past for HES

Implications of research • Importance of volunteering to the sector • Strong development potential • Excellent examples of good practice • But. . . barriers have to be addressed • Are these surmountable?

Implications of research • Importance of volunteering to the sector • Strong development potential • Excellent examples of good practice • But. . . barriers have to be addressed • Are these surmountable? “Volunteers want to participate in a worthwhile, well run organisation; they want a task they enjoy, where they help meaningfully; they need to be appreciated and thanked, as well as encouraged. ” (survey respondent)

Feedback & questions Matthew Linning Volunteer Scotland, Research and Evaluation W www. volunteerscotland. org. uk @Vol. Scotland Source: Micky Alridge Link to Report & Case Studies Volunteering & the Historic Environment