Volunteering and the Historic Environment estimates the scale and range of volunteering activity and demonstrates its positive impact and potential for the people of Scotland. There is also an executive summary of this research.
The key findings from the survey are:
- Scotland’s historic environment engaged at least 17,000 volunteers in 2015.
- Volunteers provided over 121,000 days, an average of 7 days per volunteer in 2015.
- The economic value of this contribution is £14.7  million in 2015.
- 40% of organisations surveyed had increased their volunteer numbers during 2015.
- 54% would like to increase their volunteer numbers in 2016.
- The ratio of paid staff to volunteers is 1 to 1.6 in 2015.
- 46% of organisations surveyed were run entirely by volunteers in 2015.
The full report provides:
- evidence that the sector is very positive regarding the volunteering contribution which is reinforced by their desire to further increase volunteer numbers, the diversity of volunteers and the roles they can play in the future.
- a wealth of data on the challenges facing volunteering in the historic environment sector as well as constructive solutions.
- ten case studies of detailed evidence of good practice and lessons learned from volunteering in a range of organisations. Seven themes were identified, which reinforce the qualitative evidence.
Executive Summary:https://www.historicenvironment.scot/archives-and-research/publications/publication/?publicationId=e378fd13-4742-4315-961d-a61700de4798
1-12 June is Volunteers’ Week in Scotland. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of volunteers, to thank them personally, and to increase the benefits of volunteering.   We encourage you to thank your own volunteers. This link provides lots of useful material to enable this http://www.volunteerscotland.net/volunteer/volunteers-week-2016-who-would-you-like-to-thank/.
