Vasgrav’s Weblog

The area of the charities presents a big problem. People trust less the charities than before and at the same time they found them boring and old-fashioned. This is one point that charities cant engage with young people. But young people are the hope for the future of charities. Young people believe that charities have the power to contribute to society and to change the conditions in a better way. But the problem is that charities can not approach young people. The services and the applications that they provide to them cant cover the needs and the wants of this group.

To make donations is something difficult and impossible for the majority of young people and the volunteering is the only way to support them. So in this phase I created a questionnaire about the volunteering. It was published in Bath Spa University and the sample are 300 students (16-25 years old). The questionnaire was divided in two parts. The first one was for people who are not volunteers and the second who are. The reason that I created this questionnaire was that I need to realize the needs and the wants of my focus group. What are their opinions about the volunteering and what do they expect for this area.

http://vasgrav.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/surveysummary_040720081.pdf

From the first questionnaire which was for people who are not volunteers the results showed me that main reason is the time. Young people they dont have enough time to spent for volunteering. Studies and working are the two basic reasons who spend they time. But on the other hand they mentioned that if they had the opportunity to be volunteers they would prefer to learn skills through this experience. This point shows that young people are not interested in the way and the image of the volunteering these days. They need to spend the only free time that they have in something more useful about their life. Of course the cause and to help people is the first priority t be volunteer but if we see again the results of the “UK Giving 07″, we conclude that it is not enough for them.

http://vasgrav.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/surveysummary_040720085.pdf

The second questionnaire was for people who are volunteers and the spotlights of this research showed that charities need a better communication system and also a better structure. About the communication, the responders mentioned that they were informed about the volunteering with the word of mouth. This means that charities dont have a good communication system to transmit their actions. Also they mentioned that they found difficult to leave a charity. They have the feeling of working.

The evaluation of the information leads to realize what exactly young people expect through the volunteering. We are in a nodal point which means that we talk about a new generation of volunteers. To build a wall, to carry a table or to give prospectus in the streets are not something exciting for the next generation. They need something more tangible. Something relevant with their skills….