Abstract Volunteering is associated with health-promoting benefits for both recipients and volunteers and may contribute to a more inclusive society. However, studies have shown a persistent pattern ...of social inequality among those who volunteer, and immigrants participate as volunteers less than the majority population. To date, approaches for recruiting immigrant populations have not been sufficiently examined, even though multicultural societies are becoming increasingly diverse. This study investigates how recruitment is carried out in voluntary organizations and how volunteers who are involved in recruitment reflect on the inclusion of citizens with immigrant backgrounds. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 18 volunteers and three employees with recruitment responsibility at five voluntary organizations engaged in welfare and community-related activities in a semirural district in Norway. Our findings show that different structural factors and individual aspects of the recruiter influence the recruitment of immigrants as volunteers. Large-scale organizations are more professionalized and more directed by fundings and frameworks and demand more qualifications due to their volunteer tasks. This might make inclusive recruitment more challenging. Small-scale organizations have more flexibility and less professionalized volunteer activities, making recruitment more inclusive. In addition, if the small-scale organizations are minority driven, it seems to positively influence the recruitment of immigrants through increased diversity sensitivity and more connections with immigrants through their social network.
We propose that voluntary sector geographies are best understood using a systematic relational approach, drawing upon neo-Marxist and symbiotic perspectives. We focus on relations between the ...voluntary sector and the (shadow) state, internal spaces of client interaction, and external urban spaces. Our relational approach advances alternative understandings of the voluntary sector: ones that are partly but not fully in the orbit of the shadow state; more mediator than conduit for neoliberal policies; partly punitive, yet firmly in relation with other ambivalent measures for clients; and both spatially uneven and fixed, but always unbounded in its practices.
In this article we show the potential of using documents to answer research questions pertinent to nonprofit and voluntary sector studies. We start by introducing what the methodological literature ...has to say about how documents are employed as a data source, along with their strengths and weaknesses. Then, we review 178 articles in three main nonprofit journals to analyze how researchers have used documents to understand nonprofit and voluntary sector organizations. We also provide a case example of document analysis to reveal the processes involved in using documents as a source of evidence. We emphasize that situating documents in a field of action invites researchers to pay attention not only to the information they contain but also what their production and consumption reveal about organizational life. Finally, we conclude with the implications and considerations for using documents in nonprofit and voluntary sector research.
Previous studies have shown that formal social participation may reduce the risk of developing chronic conditions. Yet, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. In this study, we assessed the ...potential mediating roles of quality of life and depressive symptoms using longitudinal data.
We analyzed nationally representative data from three consecutive waves (2011, 2013, 2015) of the SHARE survey, including 28,982 adults from 12 European countries aged 50 years and above at baseline. Measures were self-reported and included formal social participation (i.e. active participation within volunteer organizations, educational institutions, clubs, religious organizations, or political/civic groups), quality of life (CASP-12), depressive symptoms (EURO-D), and chronic conditions. Structural equation modeling was used to construct a focused longitudinal path model.
Formal social participation at baseline was inversely associated with the number of chronic conditions at 4-year follow-up. We identified two significant longitudinal mediation patterns: 1) formal social participation predicted higher levels of quality of life, which in turn, predicted lower levels of chronic conditions; and 2) formal social participation predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms, which, in turn, also predicted lower levels of chronic conditions.
Formal social participation functions as a protective factor against the onset or development of chronic conditions. This association is partially explained by enhanced quality of life and diminished depressive symptoms.
•The protective benefit of formal social participation against chronic conditions was examined.•The outcome was 13 chronic conditions (summed up to a continuous score) at four-year follow-up.•A large nationally-representative sample of older adults (50+) in 12 European countries was used.•Formal social participation at baseline was inversely related to the number of chronic conditions at follow-up.•The association was mediated by higher levels of quality of life and lower levels of depressive symptoms.
Partnership among institutions have been globally recognised as useful tool for effective extension for development of agriculture and rural dwellers. This have been proved through a national level ...public-private partnership-based technology dissemination extension model that was executed across 15 states of India categorized into six regions for the period from 2009-10 to 2015-16. There were 13 public institutions (9 SAUs and 4 ICAR institutes) and 41 voluntary organizations involved in this project with ICAR-IARI, New Delhi as the nucleus institution from where the multi-disciplinary integrated technology and packages were disseminated. The programme was monitored and evaluated through a well-structured inbuilt mechanism of annual review workshop, project area visits; monthly, six monthly and annual progress reporting and contingency field level workshop. During the period of six years, 21211 on-farm technology demonstrations were conducted which covered 6565 ha of area. About 30000 farmers across 15 selected states were directly and indirectly benefitted from different interventions of the project.The farmer level feedback helped to evolve two new varieties of paddy and participatory on-farm seed production ensured self-sufficiency by way of generating the quality seed pool for paddy (4526 q), wheat (7965 q) and vegetables (15 q). Based on the experiences, expected potential of the outcome have been implicated.
This paper develops the argument that post-COVID-19 recovery strategies need to focus on building back fairer cities and communities, and that this requires a strong embedding of ‘age-friendly’ ...principles to support marginalised groups of older people, especially those living in deprived urban neighbourhoods, trapped in poor quality housing. It shows that older people living in such areas are likely to experience a ‘double lockdown’ as a result of restrictions imposed by social distancing combined with the intensification of social and spatial inequalities. This argument is presented as follows: first, the paper examines the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on older people, highlighting how the pandemic is both creating new and reinforcing existing inequalities in ageing along the lines of gender, class, ethnicity, race, ability and sexuality. Second, the paper explores the role of spatial inequalities in the context of COVID-19, highlighting how the pandemic is having a disproportionate impact on deprived urban areas already affected by cuts to public services, the loss of social infrastructure and pressures on the voluntary sector. Finally, the paper examines how interrelated social inequalities at both the individual and spatial level are affecting the lives of older people living in deprived urban neighbourhoods during the pandemic. The paper concludes by developing six principles for ‘age-friendly’ community recovery planning aimed at maintaining and improving the quality of life and wellbeing of older residents in the post-pandemic city.
The much-vaunted Social Impact Bond (SIB) approach is typically understood as a form of public service arrangement were social investment backs the voluntary sector's delivery of outcomes contracts. ...This straighforward definition conceals considerable variation across programmes adopting the SIB label. Broadly, the promise of the SIB approach lies in the improved achievement of social outcomes derived from linking payment to performance yet experience suggests that there is considerable stretchiness in the model.
Abstract
Introduction
Frailty is a condition that makes it increasingly difficult for individuals to recover from adverse health events and gradually erodes independence. NHS interventions in England ...have focused on those with more severe frailty. We tested HomeHealth, a home-based, tailored, multi-domain (six-session) behaviour change intervention to promote independence in the over-65s living with mild frailty, in a RCT recruiting 388 people (intervention 195; control 193). HomeHealth was delivered by the voluntary sector in three diverse areas and addressed mobility, nutrition, socialising, and psychological goals, among other domains. We aimed to explore acceptability, participant engagement, and experiences of delivering and receiving the service.
Methods
Following a mixed-methods approach, we extracted quantitative data on types of goals and progress towards goals from Health and Wellbeing plans and appointment checklists. Between July 2022 and May 2023, we interviewed 49 older participants, 7 HomeHealth workers and 8 stakeholders. Older people were purposively sampled for diversity in socio-demographic characteristics, cognitive and physical functioning, intervention adherence and allocated HomeHealth worker. Interviews explored their motivations to engage; experience of participation, delivery and study support followed by their suggestions for improvement. We analysed qualitative data thematically and quantitative data descriptively.
Results
Most participants set mobility goals (49%), followed by a combination of goals (31%), and made moderate progress towards these. The intervention (completed by 93.3% participants) was positively received, boosted participants’ confidence, and provided emotional support. Participants reported that sometimes behaviour was maintained post-intervention, but further appointments would have been welcomed to fill the gap in other services. However, some people found it difficult to identify goals to work on, particularly when they already felt independent and well supported.
Conclusions
Services to support older people with mild frailty are acceptable, have good engagement, and can lead to behaviour change, particularly among those who self-identify a need for change.
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