Volunteering and public service reform: what can we learn from rural Scotland?

Alasdair Rutherford presenting along with co-author Mike Woolvin (University of Dundee)  at the Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference on 10th -11th September 2013

 

 

Volunteering and public service reform: what can we learn from rural Scotland?

There are higher rates of volunteering in rural Scotland, relative to more urban areas. Volunteering is also increasingly central in the reform of public services and discourses of localism. This paper therefore examines whether the nature of volunteering varies with rurality and what this means for a sustainable and realistic programme of public service reform. It draws on literature review, and analysis of both the ‘Volunteering in Scottish Charities 2011’ survey undertaken by Volunteer Development Scotland and of the Scottish Household Survey (2007 – 2011). Variations in areas of work, staff involvement, recruitment challenges, and stability of volunteering emerge. Further, much volunteering in rural areas appears service based, and more likely to be generalist. Distinctions between ‘broad’ and ‘deep’ activity, as well as ‘substitutional’ and ‘additional’ activity, are therefore important. A geographically sensitive approach to both involving volunteers, and supporting volunteer-involving organisations, appears justified.

For further details please contact Alasdair : alasdair.rutherford@stir.ac.uk