Testing our Resilience: The impact of the cost of living crisis on volunteering and volunteers
The catalyst for the research was a growing realisation that by August 2022 the increased cost of living was a major crisis. We need to better understand the role of volunteering in the crisis, the challenges it will face, and how best to address them. Therefore, the report focuses on the impact of the cost of living crisis on people, organisations and communities in Scotland, and the impact this is likely to have on volunteering and volunteers.
The research evidence for the report was based on a rapid literature review and press search. The work was completed from 24 August to publication on 27 September 2022
The report highlights the potential impact on people, organisations, and communities and suggest areas for action.
Areas for Action – the ‘Top Ten’
- Ensuring VIOs’ volunteering is supported financially – including an extension of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme beyond six months for the third sector; and a new fund to support the implementation of specific actions, such as 3 and 4 below.
- Responding to increased demand for services – through the development of creative solutions between the voluntary sector and partners.
- Increasing the recruitment, and improving the retention, of formal volunteers – by addressing recruitment methods and the resources required.
- Investing in volunteer management – provision of a fund and other support to help VIOs manage and coordinate their volunteering function more effectively.
- Protecting the health and wellbeing of volunteers – provision of guidance and support for VIOs to help them protect their volunteers’ health and wellbeing.
- Focusing volunteering support where it is needed most – targeting support at deprived areas where poverty is greatest; and at disadvantaged groups such as disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.
- Ensuring volunteers do not replace paid roles – all VIOs should adhere to the principles of the ‘Volunteer Charter’.
- Facilitating the engagement of informal volunteers – review the scope for targeted communication campaigns to help inform local communities how they can best help each other.
- Influencing Government policy – the contribution of formal and informal volunteering in helping to address the crisis has to be communicated to both the UK and Scottish Governments’.
- Filling the evidence gaps – to identify research gaps and address these as appropriate during the course of the crisis
