We were delighted to have worked with The Wales Centre for Public Policy to undertake a rapid scan and synthesis of the evidence which has emerged over the last year on the relationship between volunteering (both formal and informal), and individual and collective wellbeing. It is well documented that volunteering has played a crucial role in supporting communities during the pandemic. Interest in volunteering saw a dramatic spike early in the pandemic, and volunteers helped meet people’s emotional and physical needs during the crisis. The Wales Centre for Public policy noted widespread interest from policymakers and practitioners in maintaining this activity to contribute to a wellbeing-led recovery in Wales.
To inform this recovery planning, they conducted two studies on the contribution of volunteering to individual and community wellbeing during the pandemic. Firstly, a synthesis of 50 practice-based case studies using a case study synthesis method (Part 1: Learning from practice). And secondly, a rapid evidence review (Part 2: Rapid evidence review), which we conducted here at The Young Foundation. You can read more about the project here: https://www.wcpp.org.uk/publication/volunteering-and-wellbeing-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/ and download our contribution here: https://www.not_youngfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Volunteering-and-wellbeing-in-the-pandemic.-Part-2-Rapid-evidence-review.pdf”
The project was led by the WCVA, in partnership with the Wales Centre for Public Policy (WCPP) and WLGA. It was funded by the Welsh Government’s Coronavirus Recovery Grant for Volunteering 2020/21. The project builds on the work of the Third Sector Partnership Council’s Covid recovery sub-group, informing the Welsh Government’s work on enabling the voluntary sector and volunteering to contribute to a recovery that supports the goals of the Well-being of Future Generations Act (2015).
Posted on: 7 June 2021 Authors: Victoria Boelman,