Volunteering and Social Action Survey 2016

The Shropshire Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly (VCSA) is keen to collate information relating to volunteering and social action. Please fill in this questionnaire as thoroughly as you feel able. If you require a survey in a different format (pdf/paper) or have any questions please email vcsassembly@shropshire.gov.uk .

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* 1. Who is completing this survey?

Name:

Organisation:

Email:

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* 2. What is the legal status of your organisation (please tick all that apply)?

Informal community/voluntary organisation without a constitution

Community/voluntary organisation with a constitution

Registered Social Landlord

Registered Charity

Community Interest Company (CIC)

Co-operative

Company Limited by Guarantee

Charity Limited by Guarantee

Other (please specify)

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* 3. How long has your organisation been in existence?

Less than 1 year

1-4 years

5-10 years

More than 10 years

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* 4. In which geographical area does your organisation carry out its activities? (Please select all that apply)

Oswestry

Whitchurch

Market Drayton

Shrewsbury

Church Stretton

Craven Arms

Ludlow

Cleobury Mortimer

Bridgnorth

Much Wenlock

Bishop’s Castle

Albrighton

Shifnal

Telford

Other (please specify)

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* 5. Please select A) all the people who use and benefit from your organisation's services in Shropshire and then B) select ONE that best describes your main beneficiary group.

	Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Women	Women Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Women Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Men	Men Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Men Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Carers	Carers Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Carers Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Children under 5	Children under 5 Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Children under 5 Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Children aged 6 - 11	Children aged 6 - 11 Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Children aged 6 - 11 Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Young people aged 12 to 19	Young people aged 12 to 19 Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Young people aged 12 to 19 Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Older people aged 55 years+	Older people aged 55 years+ Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Older people aged 55 years+ Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Parents/families (including single parents	Parents/families (including single parents Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Parents/families (including single parents Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Disabled people (including physical, sensory)	Disabled people (including physical, sensory) Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Disabled people (including physical, sensory) Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
People with learning disabilities	People with learning disabilities Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	People with learning disabilities Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
People with long term conditions (i.e. Cancer, HIV, Stroke, heart condition)	People with long term conditions (i.e. Cancer, HIV, Stroke, heart condition) Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	People with long term conditions (i.e. Cancer, HIV, Stroke, heart condition) Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
People with mental ill-health	People with mental ill-health Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	People with mental ill-health Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
People misusing drugs/alcohol	People misusing drugs/alcohol Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	People misusing drugs/alcohol Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Refugees/Asylum seekers	Refugees/Asylum seekers Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Refugees/Asylum seekers Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Faith communities	Faith communities Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Faith communities Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Homeless/poorly housed people	Homeless/poorly housed people Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Homeless/poorly housed people Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Tenants and residents	Tenants and residents Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Tenants and residents Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Lesbian/gay/bisexual people/Transgender people	Lesbian/gay/bisexual people/Transgender people Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Lesbian/gay/bisexual people/Transgender people Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Black and Minority Ethnic People	Black and Minority Ethnic People Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Black and Minority Ethnic People Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Offenders	Offenders Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Offenders Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Socially excluded and their families	Socially excluded and their families Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Socially excluded and their families Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Unemployed/low income people	Unemployed/low income people Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Unemployed/low income people Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Victims of crime (including domestic violence)	Victims of crime (including domestic violence) Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Victims of crime (including domestic violence) Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)
Volunteers and Voluntary and Community sector organisations	Volunteers and Voluntary and Community sector organisations Use and benefit from our services (tick all that apply)	Volunteers and Voluntary and Community sector organisations Main beneficiary of our services (select just one)

Other (please specify user group and whether or not they are your main beneficiary)

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* 6. How many paid staff does your organisation employ?

Full time equivalent

Part time equivalent:

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* 7. How many of your paid staff operate in Shropshire? i.e. exclude paid staff working in other Local Authority areas/regions.

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* 8. Approximately how many of your paid staff are Shropshire residents?

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* 9. How many volunteers, including management committee members, trustees etc., are
regularly involved in the running of your organisation?

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* 10. How many of your volunteers operate in Shropshire? i.e. exclude those who volunteer in other Local Authority areas/regions.

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* 11. Approximately how many of your volunteers are Shropshire residents?

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* 12. Approximately, how many of your total number of volunteers are currently active (e.g. working with you regularly)?

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* 13. Which age bands do your volunteers fit into and approximately how many are male or female (tick all that apply)?

	25% male / 75% female	50% male / 50% female	75% male / 25% female	100% male	100% female	N/A
16-19	16-19 25% male / 75% female	16-19 50% male / 50% female	16-19 75% male / 25% female	16-19 100% male	16-19 100% female	16-19 N/A
20-24	20-24 25% male / 75% female	20-24 50% male / 50% female	20-24 75% male / 25% female	20-24 100% male	20-24 100% female	20-24 N/A
25-29	25-29 25% male / 75% female	25-29 50% male / 50% female	25-29 75% male / 25% female	25-29 100% male	25-29 100% female	25-29 N/A
30-34	30-34 25% male / 75% female	30-34 50% male / 50% female	30-34 75% male / 25% female	30-34 100% male	30-34 100% female	30-34 N/A
35-39	35-39 25% male / 75% female	35-39 50% male / 50% female	35-39 75% male / 25% female	35-39 100% male	35-39 100% female	35-39 N/A
40-44	40-44 25% male / 75% female	40-44 50% male / 50% female	40-44 75% male / 25% female	40-44 100% male	40-44 100% female	40-44 N/A
45-49	45-49 25% male / 75% female	45-49 50% male / 50% female	45-49 75% male / 25% female	45-49 100% male	45-49 100% female	45-49 N/A
50-54	50-54 25% male / 75% female	50-54 50% male / 50% female	50-54 75% male / 25% female	50-54 100% male	50-54 100% female	50-54 N/A
55-59	55-59 25% male / 75% female	55-59 50% male / 50% female	55-59 75% male / 25% female	55-59 100% male	55-59 100% female	55-59 N/A
60-64	60-64 25% male / 75% female	60-64 50% male / 50% female	60-64 75% male / 25% female	60-64 100% male	60-64 100% female	60-64 N/A
65-69	65-69 25% male / 75% female	65-69 50% male / 50% female	65-69 75% male / 25% female	65-69 100% male	65-69 100% female	65-69 N/A
70-74	70-74 25% male / 75% female	70-74 50% male / 50% female	70-74 75% male / 25% female	70-74 100% male	70-74 100% female	70-74 N/A
75-79	75-79 25% male / 75% female	75-79 50% male / 50% female	75-79 75% male / 25% female	75-79 100% male	75-79 100% female	75-79 N/A
80 or over	80 or over 25% male / 75% female	80 or over 50% male / 50% female	80 or over 75% male / 25% female	80 or over 100% male	80 or over 100% female	80 or over N/A

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* 14. Do any of your volunteers have a disability?

Yes

Don't know

If yes, please provide details of how you support tthem:

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* 15. Do you specifically offer volunteering opportunities for people with a disability?

Yes

Don't know

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* 16. On average, how many hours a week do your volunteers work (collectively)?

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* 17. Do you have any volunteers working out of hours or weekends?

Yes

Don't know

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* 18. How do you advertise and promote volunteering opportunities? Please describe.

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* 19. What roles do volunteers take on at your organisation?

Administration

General Helpers

Advisors

Befrienders

Peer supporters

Builders and maintenance

Performers

Caretaker

Physiotherapists

Carers

Caterers

Project workers

Chaperones

Cleaners

Refreshment sales

Support workers

Group organisers

Drivers

Trainers

Escorts

Tutors

Event management

Volunteer

Mediators

Fundraisers

Youth workers

Other (please specify)

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* 20. Do you have a paid member of staff responsible for the recruitment or management of volunteers?

Yes

If yes, please give detail (how many hours a week do they work in this role etc.)

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* 21. How is your volunteer support funded?

External funding

Income generation/trading

Contracts

Local grants

Donations

Not funded

Don’t have volunteer support

Other (please specify)

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* 22. In the last 12 months has the number of volunteers working within your organisation…

Increased

Decreased

Stayed the same

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* 23. Approximately how many volunteers joined your organisation within the last 12 months?

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* 24. Approximately how many volunteers have left your organisation within the last 12 months?

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* 25. Do you have any trouble recruiting volunteers?

Yes

If yes, please give more details (volunteers easier to find in some communities than others etc.)

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* 26. Have the characteristics of your volunteers changed?

Yes

If yes, please give more detail

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* 27. Does your organisation benefit from employee volunteering (via a local business etc.)?

Yes

Not sure

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* 28. Do you have any volunteers signposted from DWP/required to volunteer to qualify for benefits/welfare payments?

Yes

Not sure

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* 29. What reasons do volunteers give for volunteering?

Want to improve things/help people

The cause was important to them

Have spare time to do it

Use their existing skills

Meet people/make friends

Activity is connected to the needs of family or friends

There was a need in the community

Learn new skills

Friends and family did it/do it

Philosophy of life is to help people

Part of religious beliefs to help people

Help progress in career/ job

Felt that there was no one else to do it

A chance to get a recognised qualification

Other – please specify

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* 30. What reasons do volunteers give for leaving your organisation?

Not enough time – Due to changing home/work circumstances

It was a one-off activity or event

Declining in health

Taking on carer responsibilities

Not enough time – getting involved took up too much time

Moved away from area

Group/club/organisation finishes/closed

Group/club/organisation wasn’t relevant anymore

Lost interest

Activity linked to school/college/university/job and have had to leave

Felt they had done their bit/someone else’s turn to get involved

Felt efforts weren’t always appreciated

Didn’t get asked to do the things they liked to do

Felt that the club/group/organisation was badly organised

Too bureaucratic/too much concern about risk and liability

Got involved in another activity instead

Taken on too much/burnt out

Found employment

Other (please specify):

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* 31. What do you believe are the main barriers to volunteering?

Work commitments

Looking after children or families

Have other things to do in spare time

Haven’t heard about opportunities

Don’t know of groups that need help

Studying

Looking after or caring for someone else

New to the area

Have an illness or disability

Not the right age

Doesn’t feel responsible

Other (please specify)

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* 32. Do you feel that there is currently enough support for VCSE organisations in the recruitment and management of volunteers in Shropshire?

Yes

Don't know

If no, what support would you need?

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* 33. Please give us your views on volunteering – think about cultural factors, social, political and economic attitudes towards volunteering and what this means for the residents and organisations of Shropshire. We would like to use some of your comments as quotes, please state in the box below if you do not wish to share your comments.

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50% of survey complete.

Question Title

* 1. Who is completing this survey?

Question Title

* 2. What is the legal status of your organisation (please tick all that apply)?

Question Title

* 3. How long has your organisation been in existence?

Question Title

* 4. In which geographical area does your organisation carry out its activities? (Please select all that apply)

Question Title

* 5. Please select A) all the people who use and benefit from your organisation's services in Shropshire and then B) select ONE that best describes your main beneficiary group.

Question Title

* 6. How many paid staff does your organisation employ?

Question Title

* 7. How many of your paid staff operate in Shropshire? i.e. exclude paid staff working in other Local Authority areas/regions.

Question Title

* 8. Approximately how many of your paid staff are Shropshire residents?

Question Title

* 9. How many volunteers, including management committee members, trustees etc., are regularly involved in the running of your organisation?

Question Title

* 10. How many of your volunteers operate in Shropshire? i.e. exclude those who volunteer in other Local Authority areas/regions.

Question Title

* 11. Approximately how many of your volunteers are Shropshire residents?

Question Title

* 12. Approximately, how many of your total number of volunteers are currently active (e.g. working with you regularly)?

Question Title

* 13. Which age bands do your volunteers fit into and approximately how many are male or female (tick all that apply)?

Question Title

* 14. Do any of your volunteers have a disability?

Question Title

* 15. Do you specifically offer volunteering opportunities for people with a disability?

Question Title

* 16. On average, how many hours a week do your volunteers work (collectively)?

Question Title

* 17. Do you have any volunteers working out of hours or weekends?

Question Title

* 18. How do you advertise and promote volunteering opportunities? Please describe.

Question Title

* 19. What roles do volunteers take on at your organisation?

Question Title

* 20. Do you have a paid member of staff responsible for the recruitment or management of volunteers?

Question Title

* 21. How is your volunteer support funded?

Question Title

* 22. In the last 12 months has the number of volunteers working within your organisation…

Question Title

* 23. Approximately how many volunteers joined your organisation within the last 12 months?

Question Title

* 24. Approximately how many volunteers have left your organisation within the last 12 months?

Question Title

* 25. Do you have any trouble recruiting volunteers?

Question Title

* 26. Have the characteristics of your volunteers changed?

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* 27. Does your organisation benefit from employee volunteering (via a local business etc.)?

Question Title

* 28. Do you have any volunteers signposted from DWP/required to volunteer to qualify for benefits/welfare payments?

Question Title

* 29. What reasons do volunteers give for volunteering?

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* 30. What reasons do volunteers give for leaving your organisation?

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* 31. What do you believe are the main barriers to volunteering?

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* 32. Do you feel that there is currently enough support for VCSE organisations in the recruitment and management of volunteers in Shropshire?

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* 9. How many volunteers, including management committee members, trustees etc., are
regularly involved in the running of your organisation?