Volunteering Research Project
Quantifying the extent and value of volunteering in relation to inland waterways
The results of this research project, commissioned by AINA with funding support from Defra, are now available. The research was carried out on behalf of AINA by consultants Ecorys Ltd.
This project was undertaken during a period of changing policy context under the coalition Government and the emergence of the ‘Big Society’ agenda which involves a renewed interest in citizenship and participation, as well as a shift away from support and infrastructure for civil society towards a focus on service delivery. In parallel, large-scale cutbacks are transforming many aspects of the public sector. Specifically, the timing of this study is pertinent given the planned transfer of ownership of those waterways in England and Wales cared by British Waterways to a new charitable body within civil society in 2012.
Headline figures within the report include:
- There are around 21,000 regular volunteers undertaking work on or because of inland waterways
- Volunteers spend an estimated 11,000 volunteer days per month with inland waterway organisations
- An analysis of volunteer demographics shows a predominance of volunteers who are white (94%), male (68%) and aged over 35 (85%), with a ‘dip’ in the 25-34 age bracket coinciding with the coveted ‘Generation Y’
- The time spent by volunteers working on or because of inland waterways is estimated to be worth £10 million per year.
- A social return on investment (SROI) analysis estimated an additional value of £700,000 per year for waterway-related volunteering.
The report concludes that there is significant potential for the waterways to build on its established volunteer base and, by cross referencing the results of this project with IWAC’s 2010 report on how to attract, integrate and retain volunteers on the waterways, makes ten specific recommendations for inland waterways organisations.
Click here to view/download the report.