Volunteering and Social Inclusion

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• Volunteering and Social Inclusion
• By Mark Creyton
• Manager Education and Research
• Volunteering Queensland

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Definitions

• An individual is socially excluded if he / she
  does not participate in key activities in the
  society in which he /she lives
• ?? disengagement lack of participation in
  social and community activities
• ?? service exclusion lack of adequate access to
  key services when needed
• ?? economic exclusion restricted access to
  economic resources and low economic capacity
• (Burchardt, L LeGrand and Piachaud, 2002 Social
  Policy Research Centre, 2007)

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The power of volunteering

• Access to networks / social connection
• A sense of agency taking action
• Be a part of community/ies
• Enhancing confidence and self-esteem
• Opportunities for learning and development
• Improve employability

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Social inclusion and organisations

• Benefits and challenges

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At our best .

• It happens everyday
• Focus on social justice / human centred
• Innovative, flexible and local approaches
• Open to partnerships

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Imagining inclusive communities

• Communities are to be distinguished by the
  style in which they are imagined Benedict
  Anderson
• Our ideas, our hopes, our beliefs, give shape to
  our imagined communities and our lives and
  practices give substance, shape and meaning to
  our community
• Communities in which we can make a difference -
  play a part in inclusion with imagination and
  courage.