The special position of volunteers in the formation of social capital

Jenny Onyx, Rosemary Leonard, Helen Hayward-Brown

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

    Abstract

    This article examines the special role of volunteers in the formation of social capital. While there is a growing recognition that volunteering is important and does contribute to social capital, there is very little understanding of the micro-processes involved. A qualitative study of volunteers and their clients examines these processes. The argument of the article is fourfold. Firstly, that volunteers play a key role as community builders by creating new organisations and services. Secondly, that volunteers play a key role in developing bonding, intra-community links. Thirdly, that volunteers play a mediating role in community networks, particularly between professional and lay networks. Fourthly, that, given their key location in community networks, they also play a key role in developing bridging links with other organisations and communities of interest. Given this key position, they may be instrumental in creating, or alternatively obstructing, broader community networks. That is, they play a potential bridge-builder or gatekeeper role in network building - a role that may facilitate or impede inclusiveness.
    Original languageEnglish
    Number of pages16
    JournalVoluntary action : the journal of the Institute for Volunteering Research
    Publication statusPublished - 2003

    Keywords

    • social capital (sociology)
    • Social aspects
    • Community development
    • Volunteer workers in social service
    • volunteers
    • voluntarism

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