Volunteering Policy - Rural Needs Assessment

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Volunteering Policy Rural Needs Impact Assessment

SECTION 1 - Defining the activity subject to Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016

1A. Name of Public Authority.
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.


1B. Please provide a short title which describes the activity being undertaken by the Public Authority that is subject to Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016.
Draft Volunteering Policy


1C. Please indicate which category the activity specified in Section 1B above relates to.
Developing a Policy ☒ Strategy ☐ Plan ☐ Adopting a Policy ☐ Strategy ☐ Plan ☐ Implementing a Policy ☐ Strategy ☐ Plan ☐ Revising a Policy ☐ Strategy ☐ Plan ☐ Designing a Public Service ☐ Delivering a Public Service ☐


1D. Please provide the official title (if any) of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service document or initiative relating to the category indicated in Section 1C above.
Draft Volunteering Policy


1E. Please provide details of the aims and/or objectives of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service.
The purpose of the Volunteering Policy is to enable Council to involve and value volunteers and to achieve clear, workable principles and guidelines to which volunteers all can follow. It sets out guidelines in relation to equality of opportunity, recruitment, training, support and development of volunteers within a service. The policy also recognises the commitment given to and the value achieved from a dedicated team of volunteers and it recognises the importance of building on the relationship between volunteers and those who engage with them. The policy demonstrates how council employees have the opportunity to volunteer and the beneficial experience gained for employees through Employer Supported Volunteering.


1F. What definition of ‘rural’ is the Public Authority using in respect of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service?
Population Settlements of less than 5,000 (Default definition). ☒ Other Definition (Provide details and the rationale below). ☐ A definition of ‘rural’ is not applicable. ☐

Details of alternative definition of ‘rural’ used.
N/A

Rationale for using alternative definition of ‘rural’.
N/A

Reasons why a definition of ‘rural’ is not applicable.
N/A



SECTION 2 - Understanding the impact of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service


2A. Is the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service likely to impact on people in rural areas?
Yes ☒ No ☐ If the response is NO GO TO Section 2E.


2B. Please explain how the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to impact on people in rural areas.
Using the default position of population living in settlements of less than 5,000, a large proportion of the borough of Causeway Coast and Glens is classified as rural. (Towns with a population of 5,000 and over being Coleraine, Ballymoney, Limavady, Ballycastle, Portstewart, Portrush). The Policy lays out how Council will provide opportunities for citizens to take up volunteering roles within Council as well as for Council employees to carry out volunteering activities supported by Council. This will impact on people in both rural and urban areas. In general the Policy will not impact on people in rural areas differently than urban areas, although many of the volunteering opportunities in Council may involve travel for people living in rural areas.


2C. If the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to impact on people in rural areas differently from people in urban areas, please explain how it is likely to impact on people in rural areas differently.
Volunteering opportunities within Council are more likely to be based in Council buildings; in most cases these are located in urban areas and would involve travel for volunteers living in rural areas. However the issue of travel has been considered and the approach is being taken that potential volunteers should not be out of pocket while volunteering for Council. As a result travel costs will be covered, although this relies on people having access to their own transport or appropriate public transport provision which suits their route to the volunteering opportunity.


2D. Please indicate which of the following rural policy areas the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to primarily impact on.
Rural Businesses	☐
Rural Tourism	☐
Rural Housing	☐
Jobs or Employment in Rural Areas	☐
Education or Training in Rural Areas	☒
Broadband or Mobile Communications in Rural Areas	☐
Transport Services or Infrastructure in Rural Areas	☐
Health or Social Care Services in Rural Areas	☒
Poverty in Rural Areas	☒
Deprivation in Rural Areas	☒
Rural Crime or Community Safety	☐
Rural Development	☒
Agri-Environment	☐
Other (Please state):
If the response to Section 2A was YES GO TO Section 3A.


2E. Please explain why the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is NOT likely to impact on people in rural areas.
N/A



SECTION 3 - Identifying the Social and Economic Needs of Persons in Rural Areas


3A. Has the Public Authority taken steps to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas that are relevant to the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service?
Yes ☒ No ☐ If the response is NO GO TO Section 3E.


3B. Please indicate which of the following methods or information sources were used by the Public Authority to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas.
Consultation with Rural Stakeholders ☒ Published Statistics ☒ Consultation with Other Organisations ☒ Research Papers ☐ Surveys or Questionnaires ☒ Other Publications ☐ Other Methods or Information Sources (include details in Question 3C below). ☐


3C. Please provide details of the methods and information sources used to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas including relevant dates, names of organisations, titles of publications, website references, details of surveys or consultations undertaken etc.
Engagement meetings took place with the following stakeholders representing potential volunteers and community organisations across the Borough initially to discuss development of the Policy: Causeway Volunteer Centre Limavady Volunteer Centre Northern Area Community Network Building Communities Resource Centre Causeway Rural & Urban Network. The Volunteering Policy was then developed in association with the two local Volunteer Centres, Causeway Volunteer Centre and Limavady Volunteer Centre who will work closely with Councils Community Development Team to promote and recruit for volunteering opportunities within Council as well as providing support with good practice and recognition for volunteers. Volunteer Now has designed a Council Volunteer Policy Procedures Framework to cover standard volunteer policy information for volunteers involved in supporting Council services, as well as employer supported volunteering. Council sought input from Volunteer Now into best practice in relation to Council Volunteering Policies as well as gathering learning from other Councils which are currently implementing such policies. Documentation from DAERA website was considered including Key Rural Issues, Northern Ireland 2019 https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/daera/Key%20Rural%20Issues.pdf Engagement findings from the extensive consultation exercise undertaken to develop Council’s Community Development Strategy between Sept – Dec 2019 were also considered.


3D. Please provide details of the social and economic needs of people in rural areas which have been identified by the Public Authority?
Through the consultation process for development of the draft Community Development Strategy the following are the social and economic needs that were specifically evident in rural areas: • Great levels of social isolation • Poor provision of facilities for leisure activities, sporting activities, training, health etc • Longer distance to travel to access Council facilities • Longer distance to travel to access health and other facilities • Poor pubic transport links • Increased costs for groups as a result of transport hire costs • Poor broadband and in some cases mobile phone coverage • Most Council provided community centres are in urban areas (although this differs between legacy Council area) so many rural community groups provide their own community centres, the costs of which are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.
If the response to Section 3A was YES GO TO Section 4A.


3E. Please explain why no steps were taken by the Public Authority to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas?




SECTION 4 - Considering the Social and Economic Needs of Persons in Rural Areas


4A. Please provide details of the issues considered in relation to the social and economic needs of people in rural areas.
Consideration has been given to the barriers that may affect the ability of people in rural areas to undertake volunteering roles. Volunteering opportunities within Council are more likely to be based in Council buildings; in most cases these are located in urban areas and would involve travel for volunteers living in rural areas. The issue of travel has been considered and the approach is being taken that potential volunteers should not be out of pocket while volunteering for Council. As a result, volunteer travel costs will be covered by Council. However access to transport is a further barrier and volunteers will have to have access to their own transport or appropriate public transport provision which suits their route to the volunteering opportunity and in some cases this may prove a difficulty. Council will work with the 2 local Volunteer Centres (Causeway VC and Limavady VC) to support potential volunteers and with line managers to try to address such barriers perhaps in relation to the location or a volunteer role or flexibility with working hours around public transport times.




SECTION 5 - Influencing the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service


5A. Has the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or delivery of the Public Service, been influenced by the rural needs identified?
Yes ☒ No ☐ If the response is NO GO TO Section 5C.


5B. Please explain how the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or delivery of the Public Service, has been influenced by the rural needs identified.
The rural needs identified have influenced the development of the Policy in relation to support to potential volunteers to overcome accessibility issues by involving the local Volunteer Centres. In addition, coverage of transport expenses for potential volunteers so that they will not be out of pocket while volunteering for Council, and a flexible approach to hours worked and locations, has also been as a result of consideration of accessibility issues for rural volunteers.
If the response to Section 5A was YES GO TO Section 6A.


5C. Please explain why the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or the delivery of the Public Service, has NOT been influenced by the rural needs identified.



SECTION 6 - Documenting and Recording


6A. Please tick below to confirm that the RNIA Template will be retained by the Public Authority and relevant information on the Section 1 activity compiled in accordance with paragraph 6.7 of the guidance.
I confirm that the RNIA Template will be retained and relevant information compiled. ☒


Rural Needs Impact Assessment undertaken by:	Community Development Manager
Division/Branch	Leisure & Development / Community & Culture
Date:	09.02.21 updated 04.04.21


Rural Needs Impact Assessment approved by:	Head of Service
Division/Branch	Leisure & Development / Community & Culture
Date:	04.04.21