To continue and refresh this process an annual survey of volunteers and staff will be sent out to get a snapshot of data and feedback.

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1 Volunteering survey 2016 A survey to volunteers and staff was sent out during Volunteers Week 2016 and the volunteer survey a further couple times when some issues were identified and resolved. This is a short report on that survey and the results and potential outcomes. To continue and refresh this process an annual survey of volunteers and staff will be sent out to get a snapshot of data and feedback. Volunteers Survey In June 2016 the number of surveys sent out: Electronically paper copies were posted to individuals with no listed on the database, and through supervisors where it was known that on-line survey would be difficult. The response back: Papercopies = 23 Surveymonkey = 186 Other responses = 3 (conversations or ) Or 57% of registered volunteers The survey asked a number of key questions to: Collect base line details on length of volunteering, type of volunteering, time given, motivation for volunteering, male/female, age Satisfaction and experience levels Feedback on what was the most important focus for volunteer development Q1. How long have you been volunteering for the Sussex Wildlife Trust? The response was given in years and months. How long have you been volunteering for The Sussex Wildlife Trust? Answer Options Response Percent Response Count Years 90.4% 188 Months 38.5% 80 answered question 208 skipped question 2 The number of years/month varied from 1 month to 40 years with 15 people showing a history of 25+ years

2 Q2 On average how often do you volunteer for our organisation? Answer Options Response Percent Response Count More than once a week 15.8% 33 Once a week 25.8% 54 Once every fortnight 12.0% 25 Once a month 23.0% 48 Every couple of months 10.5% 22 Very occasionally 5.3% 11 I haven't been for ages 6.7% 14 I've registered but never attended 1.0% 2 answered question 209 skipped question 1 Results show Over 25% of volunteers volunteer once a week, with a further 15% volunteer more than once a week 23% once a month. 6% said they hadn t volunteered for ages and this is usually due to age or health only 1% had registered and not actually volunteered On average how often do you volunteer for our organisation? More than once a week Once a week Once every fortnight Once a month Every couple of months Very occasionally I haven't been for ages I've registered but never attended

3 To help protect wildlife and For social reasons, For the chance to exercise I hoped it would help For the personal To learn through I hoped it would be a To aid recovery For Duke of Edinburgh For fresh air and exercise Other (please specify) Q3 When you joined the Trust what was your main motivation? The reasons why people volunteer are, frequently, for more than one reason and therefore in this question respondents were able to pick more than one option The highest category (83%) of respondents cited To help protect wildlife and the environment in Sussex, with for a personal challenge, to feel good or useful as the second highest (50%), closely followed by for fresh air and exercise (48%). When you joined the Trust what were your main motivations for volunteering? (tick one or more answers) 100.0% 50.0% 0.0% S The rest in descending order were: For social reasons, making new friends, and meeting like-minded people To learn through direct, hands on experience For the chance to exercise my knowledge, skill and abilities that might otherwise go unpractised Other reasons specified I hoped it would help me gain career related experience I hoped it would be a good escape from my troubles To aid recovery from illness For Duke of Edinburgh Award (zero responses to this category)

4 Q4 in what role is the majority of your volunteering carried out? A list of different activities, not unsurprisingly practical conservation was the highest scoring category with nearly 60% of respondents; Education came second with nearly 20% and Other listing a variety of different roles, or that they did more than one role at 14%. The remaining 6% being made up of trustees, surveys, events, membership, fundraising and administration/operations. In what role is the majority of your volunteering carried out? Practical conservation Wildlife surveys Education Events Administration Fundraising Membership Trustees Other (please specify) This indicates the potential for areas where volunteers could make a significant difference in the four lowest being events, membership, fundraising, and operations. Q5 What have you enjoyed about your volunteering and what have you least enjoyed? 189 people answered this question and 21 skipped it. The vast majority of comments were positive and centred around the activities undertaken and how much they enjoyed them that and those spending time with those people that they were volunteering with. The least enjoyed was sometimes the weather and some of activities undertaken. However the vast majority had only positive things to say. A list of all 189 can be provided if requested

5 I get regular news/communications and know what is going on. My help is valued and appreciated Staff and volunteers work together as one team I feel SWT takes good care of my health, safety and wellbeing Q6 How do you feel about your experience as a volunteer with Sussex Wildlife Trust? The volunteers were asked a number of questions where they were asked to respond with a range of answers from strongly agree, to neutral to strongly disagree, with option of not applicable. How do you feel about your experience as a volunteer with Sussex Wildlife Trust? Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree N/A Answer Options Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree N/A Respo nse Count I get regular news/communications and know what is going on I feel supported by staff My help is valued and appreciated My skills and knowledge are utilised Staff and volunteers work together as one team There are opportunities for me to express my opinions and am able to give feedback I feel SWT takes good care of my health, safety and wellbeing answered question 208 skipped question 2

6 To the question; I get regular news/communication and know what is going on 80% strongly agreed or agreed, 14% were neutral with 4% disagree or strongly disagree, 2% didn t answer I feel supported by staff 80% strongly agreed or agreed, 13% neutral with 3.5% disagree or strongly disagree, 3.5% didn t answer My help is valued and appreciated 90% strongly agreed or agreed, 8% neutral with 1% disagree or strongly disagree, 1% didn t answer My skills and knowledge are utilised Only 73% strongly agreed or agreed, 22% neutral with 1.5% disagree or strongly disagree, 3.5% didn t answer Staff and volunteers work as one team 82% strongly agreed or agreed, 13% neutral with 2% disagree or strongly disagree, 3% didn t answer the question There are opportunities for me to express my opinions and am able to give feedback 70% strongly agreed or agreed, 22% neutral with 5% disagree or strongly disagree, 3% didn t answer the question I feel SWT take good care of my health, safety and well being 79% strongly agreed or agreed, 12% neutral with 2.5% disagree or strongly disagree, 6.5% didn t answer the question It would appear that the majority of people are happy about their experience as a volunteer, although some comments in Q8 show areas were we could improve these ratings Q7 How satisfied do you feel with your experiences as a volunteer? Volunteers were asked to rate their satisfaction from extremely to not at all satisfied with the option of other to comment. How satisfied do you feel with your experience as a volunteer? Extremely satisfied Very satisfied Moderately satisfied Slightly satisfied Not at all satisfied Other (please specify)

7 49% very satisfied, 32% were extremely satisfied, 12% moderately satisfied, 1% slightly satisfied, 0.5% not satisfied. 5% or 11 listed other comments summarised as: on getting to old, not enough time to do surveys, requests for more news/better communication querying the accuracy of the database Q8 What are the most important things that Sussex Wildlife Trust could improve for its volunteers over the next three years This is a key question to understand how the volunteers perceived The Trusts performance to engage with its volunteers and how that performance could possibly (if practical) be improved. 194 people answered the question with 15 skipping. The most popular responses at nearly 25% the option other(please specify). This enabled the respondent to cite more than one issue. Volunteers taking the option other(please specify) suggested multiply reasons including Requested better tools, Training, Get togethers, More communication from Woods Mill/HQ, Middle management acknowledgement Opportunities to go on courses. What are the most important things that Sussex Wildlife Trust could improve for its volunteers over the next three years? Consistent and regular communication Practical guidance from staff Appreciation and recognition from staff, trustees, and other volunteers Opportunities for informal learning that support volunteering Publicity to increase number of volunteers Further or more regular training opportunities Opportunities for volunteers to meet up in the form of get-togethers Other (please specify)

8 Individual responses that were equally popular were Consistent and regular communications (15%) Publicity to increase number of volunteers (16%) Further or more training opportunities (10%) Opportunities for volunteers to meet up in form of get-togethers (8%) Appreciation and recognition from staff, trustees, and other volunteers (5%) Practical guidance from staff (4%) Q9 and Q10 were around gender and age. 56% are male and 44% female. 211 people answered the age question and 1 skipped. What is your gender? Female Male Prefer not to say

9 What is already known that we have an aging volunteering population 79% are over the age of 55 years What is your age group volunteer? Under % of our volunteers are over the age of 66 (12% 75+) 25%, of our volunteers are 55 to 65 years old 14% of our volunteers are 46 to 55 years old 15% of our volunteers are 18 to 45 year old Just over 1% under 18 Action points Increase the breadth of volunteering opportunities to the areas that are currently under represented Market volunteering opportunities more widely Increase the younger ages to volunteer, adapting and being open. Review benefits for volunteering including training, clothing and places on courses open to the public Better communications ebriefings/newsletter, social media etc Six monthly get togethers/training across the county Recognition of volunteers who have volunteered for 20+ years plus annual recognition of all volunteers