Sam Richardson is studying the MA Youth and Community Work. Here he gives an overview of his research and experience as a student studying with the Creative Communities Unit.
Title of study: How relevant is the Giving White Paper (2011) in supporting a local youth work volunteer programme?
The study examined what role the Giving White Paper (Cabinet Office, 2011) had in supporting a local youth work volunteer programme. Specifically, the study looked to analyse the Giving White Paper’s (2011) recommendations for how volunteering could be made easier and more compelling, and analyse how these recommendations compared to what a local youth work volunteer programme was doing in making volunteering easier and compelling.
Case study methodology along with a range of qualitative mixed methods were administered during the study. The methods administered were document analysis, semi-structured interviews, focus groups and a creative tool, while thematic analysis was administered to analyse the data.
The results revealed that although many of the Giving White Paper’s (2011) recommendations had some connection or relevance to how the volunteer programme was making volunteering easier and compelling; the volunteer programme were also found to be using a number of other successful approaches in making volunteering easier and compelling.
From undertaking the MA Degree in Youth and Community Work my academic skills and knowledge have developed, and the skills and knowledge I have gained has been invaluable in developing my practice. Looking ahead my current plans are to pursue my research further and undertake a PhD.