Valuing Volunteering in Health

and Social Care: Using Research

to make the case for investment.
On Thursday 2nd October 2014 a practice based symposium was
held in Leeds. Hosted by Leeds Beckett University, CSV, the Health and
Social Care Volunteering Fund and Volunteurope, it aimed to explore how the voluntary,
community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector can use research to demonstrate the impact
of volunteering to commissioners and funders in the health and care economy.
Over 70 people attended from voluntary / community, local government and health and social
care sectors. Oonagh Aitken of CSV and Jane South of Leeds Beckett University started the
proceedings by welcoming delegates and emphasising their commitment to helping VCSE
organisations provide evidence on the value of their work.

Presentations
All powerpoint presentations are available at
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wfyrger753j50qj/AADlsB3qZiNIFshk7h0GME41a?dl=0

Session 1: Using research to measure the impact of volunteering

Challenge your assumptions; ask the right questions using theory of change to look
at the impact of volunteering
Sian Whyte, Citizens Advice
Measuring the economic impact of third sector activity
Annette Bauer, London School of Economics and Political Science
Assessing how volunteers make a difference to patients experience in hospital using
qualitative research.
Joanna Goodrich, the Kings Fund
Challenges and opportunities of measuring volunteer impact in the Netherlands: the
case of Humanitas
Sofie Vriends, Humanitas
A range of methodologies for valuing volunteering were presented in this session. Speakers
discussed the challenges inherent in measuring impact along with the strategies they had
used to help overcome these. The importance of planning, challenging assumptions, drawing
evidence from other relevant work and focusing evaluation efforts was highlighted. One
speaker described having an effective evaluation strategy as a sign of a well-run ship.

Session 2: Using evidence to influence

commissioning
Volunteering is a serious business using evidence on
volunteering to influence
Mark Gamsu, Leeds Beckett University
Steps to Community Commissioning
Lisa Swainston, Doncaster Council
Mark Gamsu urged the VCSE sector to think creatively about
how to influence funders. He argued that instead of focusing just
on demonstrating value to commissioners they needed to use a
bigger tool-kit including influencing local politicians and providers
and working to demonstrate their competence. Ensuring the
stories and voices of service users reached commissioners helps
them feel the work.
Lisa Swainston gave a fascinating overview of how Doncaster Council has radically
reconfigured their services to empower communities. Local people have become not just
consultees but co-producers, working with the council to deliver new and innovative support
and improve health and wellbeing.

Points of discussion
Amongst the delegates and speakers there was recognition that evaluation / measuring
impact was vital both for funders and for organisations own continuous improvement and
ownership. Some felt there needed to be a cultural change towards it being normal to
evaluate.
Many people felt that a broader perspective on the value of volunteering was needed to, for
example, capture added social value and working with volunteers from marginalised groups.
Similarly the importance of focusing on quality evidence, rather than quantity, was stated with
peoples stories described as evocative and powerful. Capturing large quantities of data
was seen as particularly difficult for smaller organisations using evidence that already exists,
or working with other organisations operating in similar areas, was seen as a practical way
forward.
How pliant the VCSE sector should be in terms of the provision of evidence of impact for
commissioners was debated towards the end of the day. It was felt there was potential for
VCSE organisations to take more ownership in regards to how best to gather evidence of
effectiveness. They needed to help funders understand the sector more fully, encourage them
to appreciate other types of data and agree what information is important to collect.
Establishing a partnership with funders/commissioners regarding appropriate evidence was
highlighted as critical.

Next Steps
Duncan Tree of CSV facilitated the final session. It was agreed that establishing a framework
of principles for evaluating the impact of volunteering was a positive way forward. It was
agreed to progress this as a group, with all attendees welcome to participate.

Useful Links
Organisations involved in the event:
www.csv.org.uk
www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/vfp/
www.volunteeringfund.com
www.volonteurope.eu/
Mark Gamsus blog:
http://localdemocracyandhealth.com
Research:
CAB volunteering how everyone benefits
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/aboutus/impact_of_citize
ns_advice_service/impact_of_citizens_advice_service_soci
al_value.htmtm

Volunteering in Health and Care (the Kings Fund)

www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/volunteering-health-and-care
Volunteering in acute trusts in England
www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/volunteering-acute-trusts-england
Knapp, M. Bauer, A. Perkins, M. Snell, T. (2013) Building community capital in social care: is
there an economic case? Community Development Journal, 48 (3). 313-331.
http://cdj.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/09/26/cdj.bss021
Evaluation:
A list of impact measurement tools: http://inspiringimpact.org/listings/
The funders pledge to good impact principles: http://inspiringimpact.org/pledge/
The Inspiring Impacts self-assessment tool: http://inspiringimpact.org/measuringup/

Campaigns / Associations:
For more information about:
NNVIA (The Network of National Volunteer-Involving Agencies) see www.csv.org.uk/aboutus/strategic-partnerships/nnvia#NNVIAmembers
The Common Good see www.csv.org.uk/call-action-common-good-report-launched-1