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The Saffery Rotary Walk was the perfect event for the end of Volunteers Week, with 1,258 walkers, supported by 100 volunteers and 9 corporate sponsors, raising an estimated £100,000 for 21 local charities.
After 26 years, this was a record number of walkers and, on the face of it, an indication of a vibrant community and volunteer sector. Or was it?
In many ways the success of the short, sharp activity whether for raising significant funds or for volunteers giving up their time, perhaps in some cases with the support of their employer, highlights the shifting pattern of people’s interest in volunteering. It’s these societal changes that make it harder to find the long-term volunteers, committing on a regular basis, that are at the core of many services and activities we take for granted, whether it’s Meals on Wheels, Scout and Guide activities, sports clubs, social activities for the elderly or the volunteers who run family support groups such as HomeStart.
The most recent survey of local charities told us that 41% of our charities are currently experiencing increased difficulties in recruiting and retaining volunteers. There is an added risk of course that increasingly these services struggling to find volunteers may need to be undertaken by paid staff, assuming they are available, which would put an even further strain on the finances of charities, where we already know that 29% are experienced a funding shortfall last year.
As part of its work to help charities improve their own operations and effectiveness, the Association of Guernsey Charities has commissioned research into volunteering in the Bailiwick with the purpose of developing a strategy to help address this shortage. After working with UK volunteering consultant, Dan O’Driscoll, and as part of developing the strategy the Association has launched a public survey aimed at those who presently volunteer, have volunteered but stopped, and those who have not considered volunteering at all.
Whilst there is general data available elsewhere, the Association is keen to hear the views of those in our local community so that it can continue to work with charities to address any local areas highlighted in the survey.
The survey is available at charity.org.gg and will be open until 23 June 2024. Please do complete it and help us ensure the activities our community rely on, can continue.
Wayne Bulpitt
Chair, Association of Guernsey Charities
