Survey shows hidden benefits of volunteering

Issued for: Volunteers Week, 1-7 June 2005

Research published this month by the UK's leading family support charity has shown that the personal benefits of volunteering are significant, even if a volunteer's original motives were purely altruistic.

"Armbands in Deep Water", published by Home-Start is a summary report of original research funded by Nationwide Foundation. 1,000 active volunteers and 500 past volunteers were questioned. It was commissioned in the run up to Year of the Volunteer 2005 and is published for Volunteers Week (1-7 June). Results show volunteers' self esteem, self worth, social life, and confidence had all been boosted by their work with families.

Home-Start currently has 10,000 volunteers who support nearly 30,000 families and 64,000 children across the UK. The charity has offered support, friendship and practical help to parents with young children for more than 30 years.

The survey results showed that only 10 per cent of volunteers come forward because they 'needed something for me' or wanted to get work experience. The remaining 90 per cent came forward with the more traditional aims of helping others, doing something worthwhile, or working with children.

But after working with the charity, the volunteers say the benefits to them personally were significant. 70 per cent claimed it gave them a sense of purpose, 61.3 per cent benefited from meeting new people, 60.9 per cent felt valued and 58.2 per cent felt volunteering helped them learn more about life. Just over a quarter found volunteering looked great on their CV, 41 per cent said their confidence had increased and 30.7 per cent had their self-esteem boosted.

"As I supported families, I grew from being a victim of domestic violence to someone in control of her life. I'm still in contact with my first family - I'm so proud of her and me," said a volunteer who took part.

Another said, "It has been, and continues to be, a positive influence within my life, both personally and professionally".

Others surveyed said it's been a "roller coaster of experience - I've gained as much as I've given", and "I'm continually amazed at what I learn, especially about myself".

To find out more about volunteering with one of Home-Start's 337 local schemes phone 08000 68 63 68 or log on to www.home-start.org.uk.

ENDS

Further details from Home-Start press office

Since Home-Start began 32 years ago volunteers, who are parents themselves, have helped more than 250,000 families and 500,000 children in the UK and with British Forces in Germany and Cyprus. Home-Start International was established five years ago and now has volunteers supporting families in countries as diverse as Australia, Russia and Uganda.

In brief, other results from the survey were:

Age: nearly 62 per cent of those surveyed were more than 46 years old.

Length of service: most Home-Start volunteers stay with the organisation for between one and five years. Ten per cent of our volunteers have more than 10 years' service.

Gender: 96% of the volunteers surveyed were women. In an age when increasing numbers of men stay at home as the primary carer for their children, Home-Start is aware that the number of male volunteers is comparatively low. "It's an area we do need to consider," says Sue Everitt, Home-Star's Director of Policy, Planning and Practice. "But in some respects it's the person, their skills and experiences that you are looking to match to a family rather than their gender."

Future goals:
· 21 per cent wanted to become more involved with Home-Start.
· 44 per cent wanted to get experience for a future career
· 51 per cent wanted to broaden their experiences
· 38 per cent were looking for personal development.

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