Evaluation of the DCMS 50+ volunteering programme: final report

Author(s)

NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY. Nottingham Business School

Publisher(s):

GREAT BRITAIN. Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Publication year:

2021

This report brings together the learning from across the 50+ volunteering programme and evaluates its impact. The evaluation combined a variety of different methods including a meta-analysis of learning partner evaluations, analysis of monitoring data, qualitative interviews with grantees and in-depth case studies with four projects. The programme was a government initiative focused on harnessing the skills and experiences of those aged 50 and over. In total, £5.2 million was awarded to projects over the three-year 50+ volunteering programme, supporting 39 organisations to test and develop ideas or grow existing models involving volunteers aged 50+. The findings on what the 50+ volunteering programme achieved and the difference it made reveals a mixed picture. In terms of successes, the programme enabled a wide range of organisations to test new ideas and grow social action projects to reach new areas, more beneficiaries and volunteers. Overall, the 39 projects mobilised over 25,320 new volunteers who, in turn, supported over 474,730 new beneficiaries. The programme enabled organisations to test different ideas and models for involving 50+ volunteers, from projects focused on building community action around clean air issues to those setting up repair parties to reduce waste and promote social connectedness. The programme has resulted in different examples of projects involving volunteers across different public service areas. (Edited publisher abstract)