Author(s): MacNeela, P. O’Meara, J. and Tierney, E.

Department: Research Department, COPE Foundation; Carried out in Conjunction with DCU School of Nursing.

Key Words: Volunteers, organisational culture

Reported: MacNeela, P. (2003) Individuals and Organisations: An Exploration of the Volunteering Process in Health and Social Care Groups - Final report to the 3rd Sector Research Programme, Royal Irish Academy.

Volunteers comprise an important resource for groups in the voluntary sector in Ireland. Regardless of their current level of reliance on volunteer resources, voluntary groups generally have volunteering roots, arising through social action (e.g., the Simon Community), religious influences (e.g., the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul), concern over a particular issue (e.g., the Samaritans), or through mutual needs and interests (e.g., parents’ groups developing into organisations to assist children with a learning disability). This report presents interim findings of a study of volunteering at COPE Foundation conducted jointly with the School of Nursing, Dublin City University. The aim of the study was to identify the current place of volunteering in COPE Foundation. These roots are likely to help shape the culture of the organisation (e.g., commonly goals, norms, and communications).
This report explores these relationships in a cross section of voluntary bodies across the country.
Word count 146