An exploration of the impact of Effective Volunteer Management in relation to the recruitment and retention of volunteers
Author
Gyngell, Lydia
Date
2014Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The aim of the following study was to explore the impact of effective volunteer
management on the recruitment and retention of volunteers within sport. Current
literature recognises the value of volunteers in sport (Adams and Dean, 2009;
Cuskelly, Hoye and Auld, 2006; Hylton and Braham, 2008; Hylton, 2013; Kim,
Chelladurai and Trail, 2007; Robinson et.al., 2012; Sport England, 2013), and how
pressure to professionalise would result in a greater reliance on the voluntary
workforce (Sport England, 2002; Houlihan and White, 2002; King, 2009; Trimble
et.al., 2010; Wolsey et.al., 2012; Morgan, 2013). Effective volunteer management
could be used to ensure the sustainability of this workforce by ensuring recruitment
is efficient and retention is effective across sporting organisations.
A qualitative research study was devised and, following a pilot, semi
structured interviews were conducted with five participants who worked as providers
of voluntary opportunities or as volunteer managers within local authorities and
Governing Bodies of Sport. Analysis of the interviews found five key themes, the
value of volunteers, the commitment of volunteers, the professionalisation of the
sector, the recruitment and retention of volunteers and the use of effective volunteer
management. Interviewees recognised the value of volunteers in their work,
understood the potential impacts of professionalisation and suggested that
volunteers who felt unsupported, unappreciated and overworked were likely to
become unmotivated and quit.
Ultimately, the research suggested that providers who utilise Effective
Volunteer Management were more likely to recruit and retain a highly committed and
reliable work force; this was needed in order to sustain sporting opportunities within
a professionalised sector. The implication of such results for development officers
could demonstrate that the use of Effective Volunteer Management is worth
investment and deployment within sporting organisations. Further research could
focus on the use of it in order to create a sustainable and committed voluntary
workforce.
Description
DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS)
SPORT DEVELOPMENT
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