Research
v releases formative evaluation findings
v is delighted to release the findings of its formative evaluation. This report has been three years in the making and has been an engaging and thought provoking process. We actively encourage other organisations to follow suit and to consider conducting formative evaluations of their own.
The findings are extremely positive and include: a robust and very conservative Social Return on Investment ratio of £5.80 for every pound invested; evidence that v has engaged a diverse range of young volunteers and; confirmation that v created and filled over one million volunteering opportunities for young people aged 16 - 25.
With the scale of research required it is unsurprising that the final report is so detailed but, to help make the findings more accessible, we have produced two summaries one covering key findings and the other examining the implications.
In her Afterword v Chief Executive Terry Ryall asserts that "the findings are helping us to shape our future activities by building on strong foundations and enhancing areas we can improve. We have learnt a great deal about our impact but more importantly what we need to do to be able to tell an even more persuasive story"
Formative Evaluation of v - Findings Summary
Formative Evaluation of v - Implications Summary
v is committed to research that demonstrates the impacts of volunteering individuals, communities and wider society. Our research programme is dedicated to exploring new and innovative ways to measure and capture immediate and long term outcomes of volunteering. For 2010/11 the research programme focuses on three key themes:
- Impact of volunteering on young people
- Impact of volunteering on communities
- Understanding the relationship between volunteering and employment
You can read more about v's current projects and partners here and on our research blog
v is committed to sharing our insights with others. We run a number of events to promote and discuss our recent publications. If you would like to join our research mailing list to be kept up to date with new reports, events and seminars please contact research@vinspired.com.
v is really excited to announce the launch of a new network connecting individuals and organisations in the volunteering and social action fields to strengthen the knowledge base of the effects of volunteering.
v hopes that the network will be able to continue the positive progress that our longitudinal research, into the long term effects of volunteering, with NFER has made. Report author Professor David Kerr said:
"it would appear from our analyses that volunteering has a genuine impact on educational and professional success and on broader life-chances of young people. However, we need more longitudinal research on volunteering to confirm what the real outcomes and impact are over time. This is something I hope the new Volunteering Knowledge Network, comprising key figures and organisations in the field, will take a lead on. A strong evidence base is vital in ensuring that the government's pro-volunteering policy is securely grounded and heading in the right direction."
Click on the video below to hear from volunteers themselves on the long term effects that volunteering has had on them.
For more information about v's research programme please email research@vinspired.com or call us on 0207 960 7000
