Comhlรกmh SURVEY ON INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERING FROM IRELAND 2013
Presentation at the launch of the survey Report by Siobán O’Brien Green, Comhlámh Research and Policy Officer, 14th October 2014 in the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle.
Background Comhlámh commissioned two research reports in 2013. Models of International Volunteering: Trends, Innovation and Good Practice by VOSESA – focus on what types of volunteering are emerging and are recommended. Highlighted online volunteering. New Evidence on Overseas Volunteering from Ireland by Dr Pat McCloughan – focus on socio-economic impact of volunteering and Volunteer Sending Agencies (VSAs) in Ireland. Designed to assist Comhlámh in systematic information gathering about the sector and to be of help to VSAs in compiling information on their activities and volunteers.
2012 Survey Used online survey tool, launched January 2013 and issued to 78 VSAs to collate retrospective data from 2012. 46 VSAs completed the survey, survey closed after 5 weeks and report was launched in August 2013. Research provided important new data and analysis, as well as an estimation of the value to the Irish economy of international volunteering from Ireland.
2012 and 2013 Survey 2012 report recommended that Comhlámh conduct quantitative research on an annual basis capturing data relating to both volunteers and VSAs. Work on the 2013 survey began in January 2014. The objectives of repeating the research was to begin to establish the survey as an annual piece of data collection that would also encourage VSAs to collect and collate data internally and to participate in the Comhlámh survey. Also to begin longitudinal data collection on the sector.
Who is a VSA? Definition: agencies that arrange international volunteer placements mostly in developing countries. The agencies may be not-for-profit or for profit. Broaden definition for purposes of survey to include agencies whose “main business” may not be development work nor sending volunteering overseas.
Survey Inclusion Criteria “Are legally registered as either a company (with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) in the Republic of Ireland or in Northern Ireland with HM Revenue and Customs) and/or registered as a charity (with the Charities Section, Revenue Commissioners or in Northern Ireland with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland) And have sent volunteers overseas from Ireland in 2013.�
Building a Survey Sample Starting point was survey dissemination list from last year. But are there more VSAs? Extensive trawl of all possible lists and sources of VSAs undertaken. Result of 117. Cross-checking with CHY & CRO. Contact to determine if VSA met survey inclusion criteria which resulted in 63 VSAs or perhaps up to 79. Still an underestimation.
Why the difference in figures? Not all VSAs send volunteers overseas every year, some may send on a bi-annual basis; Some VSAs closed and ceased functioning during 2013 or early in 2014; Some VSAs had planned to send volunteers overseas in 2013 but due to security issues or natural disasters in intended host countries could not complete their volunteer programme;
Why the difference in figures? ď Ź Some VSAs have re-configured their operations to reduce numbers of volunteers they send and instead focus on local volunteers or employees in host countries; ď Ź Some of the VSAs did not meet the survey inclusion criteria in relation to CRO and CHY (or Northern Ireland equivalents) status. This is also a requirement of CoGP signatories.
Online survey ď Ź Choice of Survey Monkey was again utilised for the 2013 survey process due to cost, ease of use and familiarity for respondents with the interface of the previous 2012 survey and potential repeat future use. ď Ź Need for building and using a survey tool that can be re-utilised year on year at low cost but with a good level of functionality.
Questionnaire Design Detailed review of the 2012 questionnaire and the collated response data with a key focus on establishing: low response rate questions, clarifying question wording where necessary and determining new possible questions. Expert advice sought, including from Central Statistics Office and market research and data analysis experts. Question sequence, wording and response options were changed slightly and some were harmonised with CoGP self-audit tool for internal cross-referencing and in order to verify survey data, trends and reliability.
Questionnaire Design Efforts to increase individual question response rate were made by amending the question order, changing the question text for the purposes of clarity, adding a “Don’t know” or “Don’t collect this information” category to some questions (where appropriate) and allowing respondents to add comments to expand on or clarify their answers for suitable questions in order to reduce skipped questions.
Questionnaire Design Direct comparison for some question responses between the 2012 and 2013 surveys is not possible due to these changes. Piloting of questionnaire took place and amendments followed. Survey emailed to VSAs but also promoted through e-newsletters and disseminated the survey information and link through relevant networks.
Process and Results Survey issued to 117 potential VSAs later in calendar year (March to May). 49 final survey respondents. Longer time to participate in survey (6 weeks), phone and email reminders to VSAs. Increase in survey respondents. Increase in overall question responses.
Limitations Due to the confidential nature of the survey and how data were collected it is not possible to state that the same VSAs participated in the 2013 survey as in the 2012 survey, as a result although some comparisons can be made with question responses from the two surveys we cannot be fully sure that we are comparing like with like. Some caution needs to be applied when looking at trends emerging between the two surveys, but this should decrease with future Comhlámh VSA surveys. Need to be aware of VSAs constraints in questionnaire length and design.
Who was sending volunteers in 2013? Structure of VSAs. Types of volunteering offered. Where did they send volunteers? Demand for volunteering. Changes in interest in volunteering. Fees or contributions from volunteers.
VSAs in Ireland Year Organisation was Founded? Almost half of all VSAs were established in the first decade of this century, with a further 14% set up since 2010. 92% of respondents are not for profit organisations.
Types of Volunteering Offered
Types of International Volunteering Programmes Offered
Types of International Volunteering Programmes Offered Over 80% of VSAs offered youth volunteering. Other forms such as corporate (36%), diaspora (13%) and online (not asked in 2012 11%) modalities of volunteering are also offered. Growth in the numbers of VSAs offering corporate and diaspora volunteering programmes when the survey results for 2012 and 2013 are compared. Multiple choices possible for this question.
Number of Paid Staff in VSAs ď Ź Most VSAs have between 1 and 9 staff including both full and part time, based in Ireland. ď Ź But 10 VSAs who answered have no staff, implying that they are volunteer led and run.
Comhlámh Code of Good Practice 77% survey respondents are signatories to the CoGP. This high percentage of VSAs that are signatories to the CoGP demonstrates the commitment of many Irish VSAs to the CoGP principles and to working to ensure responsible, sustainable and responsive volunteering.
Applications to VSAs in 2013 A total of 3,950 applications for volunteer placements were received in 2013 by the 47 VSAs who answered this question (3,789 in 2012 ). This exceeded the number of volunteers that VSAs wanted to recruit in 2013 which was 2,270 (2,202 in 2012 ). This indicates a substantial interest in and demand for international volunteering placements in 2013 in Ireland.
Changes in Interest in Overseas Volunteering noted by VSAs between 2012 and 2013 ď Ź
Reasons for any changes noted ď Ź Most VSAs, 43%, reported no change in interest in volunteering between 2012 and 2013. ď Ź Reasons given for any reported decline in interest in volunteering from VSAs = the cost of volunteering and the impact of the economic crisis in Ireland including youth emigration. ď Ź Reasons given for reported increase = more targeted marketing and targeted recruitment by the VSA.
Funding sources for VSAs VSAs were asked: “How is your organisation funded? Please tick all that apply.” We can’t assess amounts or importance of funding streams, only the most frequently cited. VSAs rely on a variety of funding sources, the most important of which are donations from the public, fundraising events and volunteer contributions or placement fees. Similar to 2012 findings. Almost half of the 47 VSAs who responded receive some funding from Irish Aid.
Funding sources for VSAs Funding sources of VSAs 40
37
36
Number of VSAs
35 30 25
28 23
20 20
19
15
9
10
11 8 5
5
0
Funding sources
Contributions or fundraising from volunteers
Contributions or fundraising from volunteer Range of contribution or fundraising requirement vast from approximately €140 to €4,500 but it depends on many factors. VSAs leverage this contribution as an important funding source (3rd most frequently cited funding source). But it is mentioned as a reason for decrease in interest in volunteering by VSAs too.
Where did they go? Volunteers from Ireland travelled to 47 countries in 2013. The majority of countries were on the continent of Africa. All Irish Aid Key Partner countries (Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia) received volunteers from Ireland in 2013. Change in response options from 2012 survey which should allow in time more detailed analysis of recipient countries.
Where did they go? Countries but not #s of volunteers
Who volunteered in 2013?
Numbers of volunteers. What did they do? How long were they volunteering for? Age of volunteers. Education profile of volunteers. Prior experience of volunteering. Issues emerging or barriers to volunteering Lower response rates in this section of the survey. Comparisons with 2012 survey not always possible.
Who was volunteering?
ď Ź Responses range from 3 to 350 per VSA. ď Ź Demonstrates a small decrease in the total number of volunteers in 2013 when compared with 2012, from 2,120 volunteers in 2012 to 1,728 in 2013.
Why the difference? Low response rates to question 13 (38 VSAs compared to 47 for question 7). Some VSAs could not send volunteers overseas in 2013 due to natural disasters, infection outbreaks or civil unrest in countries; Feedback from open questions in 2012 and 2013 surveys suggest that the current economic situation in Ireland may make it more challenging for potential volunteers to take time away from their work, studies or job hunting to volunteer overseas; The skills required by VSAs for certain placements may not correlate with the skills applicant volunteers have, as a result applicants may not be suitable for the placements on offer.
But More applicants (3,950) than actual volunteers (1,728) in 2013. We can’t tell from the survey but possibly due to: Changing life circumstances during the volunteering application process which may occur for work, study, health or family related reasons. Rejection of the volunteer applicant by the VSA, because of a mismatch of volunteer skills and host partner or community skill requirement. Volunteers are applying to multiple VSAs for one volunteering placement initially.
What did they do? VSAs were asked to identify all the activities their volunteers participated in. The greatest numbers of responses were in the areas of: Teaching/training; Children/youth development; Capacity building; Medicine and healthcare; Community development.
Very wide range of activities represented. Changes from 2012 survey findings with less focus on building and construction and more focus on medicine and healthcare. Possibly due to different VSAs sending less or more volunteers in 2012 and 2013. High numbers of volunteers and VSAs active in the areas of teaching, children and youth development, disability and special needs advocacy in both 2013 and 2012.
Hours per week spent volunteering
How long were they there?
The majority of volunteers in 2013 were on placements for between two and four weeks duration (40% of volunteers). The second largest group of volunteers were overseas for less than two weeks (37% of volunteers). These findings are comparable to the 2012 data.
Age Profile
Age Profile The majority of volunteers from Ireland in 2013 (46%) were aged between 18 and 25 years. The second largest cohort of volunteers by age breakdown was those aged between 26 and 30 years at 15%. The vast majority, 71%, of volunteers in 2013 were aged less than 30 years. Smaller numbers in other age cohorts.
Nationality of Volunteers
Responses of interest to ensure volunteer cohort from Ireland reflects changes in Irish population as seen in Census 2011 and 2006. Should be useful to track Diaspora volunteering trends over time from Ireland. Wide range of nationalities of volunteers but very small numbers.
Status of Volunteers
Status of Volunteers The majority of volunteers were classified as students (numbering 645 or 54%). The second most popular classification was employed (numbering 393 or 33%). Status may feed into demand for short-term volunteering placements. Corresponds to corporate volunteering opportunities? Low response rate and many VSAs do not collect this information.
Prior Volunteering Experience
Prior Volunteering Experience
Education Profile of Volunteers Very low response rate and many VSAs do not collect this data. Cannot draw conclusions from the level of responses provided. Overall the majority of volunteers as recorded in the responses to question 22 have some sort of third level education qualification
Issues emerging for VSAs What explanations for differences in numbers wanted by VSAs and numbers sent overseas in 2013? ď Ź Financial concerns from volunteers, including difficulty in fundraising; ď Ź Difficulty in getting leave from work to volunteer or the length of time of a volunteer placement is perceived as being problematic as it is too long; ď Ź VSAs needing volunteers with a specific set of skills and not being able to find volunteers with these skills.
Observations from the survey Youth. Child Protection. Predominance of very short-term volunteering. Need to encourage and support participation in the survey and in house data collection by VSAs. But with awareness of pressures on VSAs both staff and resources.
Looking to 2015 and beyond Comhlámh plans to conduct this survey on an annual basis with VSAs in order to collect comparable longitudinal data, develop a sound evidence base on VSAs and volunteers and capture trends in overseas volunteering from Ireland. The data from annual surveys will assist in informing international volunteering practice in Ireland and will support Comhlámh’s work with and for volunteers before, during and after their volunteering placements in addition to work with VSAs in relation to the CoGP.
Thank you VSAs for engaging with the survey. Comhlámh Research and Policy Expert Advisory Group. Colleagues and Staff in Comhlámh. Questions, comments, queries?