Focus Study: Volunteering, Wellbeing and Civic Pride

Volunteers at the Party on the Green, Tile Hill (Photograph: Dylan Parrin)

Report and Seminar

The Volunteering, Wellbeing and Civic Pride focus study report was released in February 2023. It is one of a series of focus study reports.

The research team presented its results at a seminar on Wednesday 2 November 2022.

What Works Wellbeing Theory of Change

What Works Wellbeing Theory of Change

Approach

This focus study used a mixed-methods approach. This included a secondary analysis of data collected from City Hosts in a series of surveys conducted by the monitoring and evaluation team in August and November 2021 and April 2022. This was complimented with analysis of qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews, conducted by the research team.

Quantitative data suggests that City Hosts had measurably higher mental wellbeing than the general population of Coventry, including the subset of Coventry residents who take part in other volunteering.

Due to various methodological limitations this is difficult to interpret on its own, but taken alongside the qualitative data, it does seem likely that City Hosts had better wellbeing than the general population of Coventry, and it also seems likely that it was taking part in the City Host programme that was at least partly responsible for their better wellbeing.

All the ‘mechanisms of change’ theorised in the What Works Centre for Wellbeing Theory of Change were supported by the focus study’s data. One additional mechanism of change was ‘exposure to culture’.

Findings

There was an association between volunteering and civic pride in the study’s quantitative analysis. Qualitative data suggested that many City Hosts had pre-existing high levels of civic pride, or positive feelings towards Coventry, but that this may have been strengthened through City Host volunteering.

The strengths of the City Host programme, that likely helped to drive wellbeing benefits, and therefore recommendations for other volunteering programmes, include:

1. Paying attention to all the mechanisms of change that mediate improved wellbeing for volunteers, particularly:
   • including opportunities for volunteers to make social connections
   • developing a strong role and group identity
2. Flexibility around what volunteers do, how much, and how often.

Weaknesses of the City Host programme, for other volunteering programmes to avoid include:

1. Instances of a lack of activities or responsibilities for volunteers
2. Some perceived unfairness of shift distribution.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the focus study suggests that the City Host programme increased City Hosts’ wellbeing and that this was achieved through many mechanisms, particularly through increasing social connectedness and sense of belonging.

Strengths of the City Host programme have been identified that other volunteer programmes could emulate to promote positive outcomes for their volunteers.