Articles

Abstracts from the third issue of Voluntary Action
Autumn 1999 (Volume 1 Number 3)

 

Recruiting and retaining black volunteers: A study of a black voluntary organisation

Dr Nadia Joanne Britton, Leverhulme Trust Research Fellow, Department of Sociology, University of Manchester

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This article uses a black voluntary organisation, the Black Justice Project, as an example to identify and explain areas of good practice in the recruitment and retention of black volunteers. The research findings are compared and contrasted with those of previous studies. The policy implications of the findings are applicable to both mixed and black voluntary organisations.

Time as Currency: A new approach to building communities

David Boyle, Senior Associate, New Economics Foundation

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This article introduces the concept of time dollars and describes how they have been used in the USA to attract new people into volunteering, not so much by paying them credits – though that is how the concept works – but by measuring and recognising their contribution and by changing the relationship between volunteer and ‘recipient’. It looks at how the concept fits into the debate about social capital, how it is being adapted in the UK and the USA, and how it might be developed further.

Service users' perceptions of volunteers involved in a residential and training service for adults with a learning disability

Val Turley, Social Worker, Community Awareness and Involvement Programme, Brothers of Charity Service

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This article looks at how people with a learning disability perceive the role of volunteers, and at how they feel volunteers can be of help to them. The findings suggest that they view volunteers as friends. Until services can be reorganised to the point where staff can support people with a learning disability in more community-based activities, the introduction of volunteers as friends may be seen as a positive and valuable step.

Charity shop volunteers: a 'no-cost' option?

Roy Whithear, Self-Employed Charity Consultant

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This article discusses some of the consequences for volunteering of the move towards ‘professionalism’ in the charity shop sector. The findings confirm that, despite the growing presence of paid staff in charity shops, there continues to be a demand for supplementary volunteer effort. However, as more paid managers are appointed, so the support volunteers are likely to take on a different profile. This trend, together with the mixture of paid and unpaid staff working in close proximity, will bring new challenges.

Volunteer Bureaux and the promotion and support of volunteering in local communities in England

Dr Stephen P Osborne, Voluntary and Non-profit Research Unit, Public Services Management Group, Aston Business School

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This article explores the role of Volunteer Bureaux in promoting and supporting volunteering in local communities in England. The role of these bodies is a relatively under-researched topic. Based upon new research, the article explores the strengths and weaknesses of this role, and recommends how the management of Volunteer Bureaux can best maximise their impact.