Posted on 21st September 2011
A 30-month research project has revealed the key triggers for why people take part in civic society, including donating to charity.
Pathways through Participation concluded that government policy is focused too much on tools such as technology to promote volunteering and giving opportunities without addressing the underlying ‘causes’ of why people don’t participate, such as lack of resources or confidence.
Triggers for participation were divided into three areas:
- An emotional reaction such as anger at a local decision
- A personal life event such as ill health or having children
- An external influence such as a natural disaster or just being asked.
The report says that individuals who act as 'bridge builders' within communities were an important enabling factor. “They brought people together and facilitated access to opportunities and routes into participation.”
Some people participate for altruistic reasons but others want to gain something for themselves. Some found the experience life enhancing but others had negative reactions, for example, difficulties with clashing or dominant personalities, the development of cliques or disagreements about how to achieve missions.
The authors add that participation is “shaped by their circumstances and capabilities, as well as the personal, practical and political opportunities and barriers they face”.
The report says: “We found that deeper and more entrenched issues in society are reflected in disparities in the practice of participation. Issues of power and inequality in society are critical to understanding how and why people get involved and stay involved.”
The research project was conducted by The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), the Institute for Volunteering Research (IVR) and Involve. It is based on interviews with 101 people. As well as looking at how and why they participate in society, it studies how their involvement changes over time, and what pathways, if any, exist between different types of activities.
The definition of participation was categorised under three headings:
- Social – collective activities, for example, being a trustee or member of a residents’ association
- Public – democratic activities such as campaigning, lobbying, demonstrating
- Individual – for example, buying fair trade products, recycling, giving to charity.
The authors say: “Recent policy developments around localism, the Big Society, outsourcing public services, encouraging charitable giving and the role of the voluntary sector have made questions about participation more topical than ever.”
