Understanding the role of volunteering in social care
We’re excited to announce a new research study commissioned by Social Care Wales to understand how volunteering contributes to social care.
The research is funded by Welsh Government's Volunteering Wales Strategic Grant, administered by the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA).
The study will run until early 2025 and we’ll be working with the University of South Wales, the Welsh Institute for Health and Social Care and the Centre for Charity Effectiveness at Bayes Business School to carry out this work.
Together, our three partners provide a broad range of skills and valuable experience in volunteer research, engagement and leadership.
“This work will give us a deeper understanding of how volunteering contributes to the delivery of social care services and to the lives of people accessing care and support. We want to highlight good practice in volunteer involvement but also understand where challenges exist and where lessons can be learnt.” (Sue Evans, Chief Executive Officer, Social Care Wales)
We’re doing this work as part of a commitment set out in our health and social care workforce strategy, which calls for greater understanding of volunteering in social care.
Through this research study, we’ll learn more about the benefits and opportunities created by volunteering. We can also get a better understanding of the challenges of volunteering and working with volunteers in social care, particularly in adult residential care settings in Wales.
The findings of the research can influence the type of support that’s put in place for volunteering. And we can use what we learn to promote and develop a sustainable and positive model that recognises existing good practice and the valuable contribution of volunteering within the sector.
Get involved: take part in a case study this summer!
If you work with volunteers in an adult residential care setting, you could play an important role in our research by agreeing to help us with a case study. We'd like to visit you at your care home for one day between July and September 2024.
We're planning to carry out seven case studies across Wales at care homes that support older people, people with mental health problems and those who have a learning disability.
We want to hear about the opportunities created by volunteers and volunteering, and learn from any challenges you've faced.
You can register your interest between 24 June and 17 July here.
For more information on this study and its progress
The Social Care Wales lead on this research study is Research Manager Emma Taylor-Collins.
