Rural Volunteerism Impacting Development and Sustainability Thursday 14 th June 2018 Dr Maura Farrell NUI Galway
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