Volunteer Victoria Senior Volunteering Project: The Impact of COVID and Pandemic Precautions on Senior Volunteers

Welcome! You are invited to complete the following survey about the impacts of COVID on seniors who volunteer in Greater Victoria. It should take 8-10 minutes to complete. If you prefer, you can complete an interview with a volunteer on the phone, in person, or over Zoom. To arrange an interview please call 250.386.2269, email maryann@volunteervictoria.bc.ca, or fill in the contact information below.

Why: Volunteer Victoria is interested in learning about the supports that could make volunteer experiences easier, safer, and better as the pandemic continues to affect our lives.

Who: We are conducting this project with volunteers who are 55 years of age or older. The final report will be made available on the Volunteer Victoria website in April 2022 for participants, other volunteers, and volunteer-led organizations.

Time period: We are focusing on the period just before the pandemic precautions began in March 2020 to now, the day you fill out the questionnaire.

Confidentiality and anonymity: Your participation in this survey is completely voluntary. You can withdraw at any time or decide which questions you do or do not wish to answer. All information is gathered confidentially and no identifying information about individuals or specific organizations will be included in the final report.

Definitions: For the purposes of our project we define:

A. “Seniors” as anyone 55 years or older
B. “Volunteers” as people who complete activities for others for free
C. “Volunteer activity” as any action in partnership with formal organizations (such as a charity), with informal groups (such as with groups of neighbours), or as individuals acting alone (such as helping a friend with shopping).

This project is funded by the Government of Canada New Horizons for Seniors, and the District of Saanich, City of Colwood, and City of Victoria.

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* 1. Since the pandemic precautions began in March 2020, have you given any voluntary help in the following ways? Please check ALL that apply

Through a formally organised agency, charity, group, organisation, or club?

Through an informal group set up by people in your local area or neighbourhood to support and help others in your local community

As a private individual not associated with either a formal or informal group

I have not volunteered since the precautions began

Other (please specify)

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* 2. How many different volunteer organizations were you volunteering with just before the pandemic precautions began in March 2020 and how many now (today)?

	Just Before Precautions	Now (Today)
0	0 Just Before Precautions	0 Now (Today)
1	1 Just Before Precautions	1 Now (Today)
2	2 Just Before Precautions	2 Now (Today)
3 or more	3 or more Just Before Precautions	3 or more Now (Today)

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* 3. How concerned are you about the risk of either getting or transmitting COVID-19 while volunteering?

Not at all concerned

Somewhat concerned

Very concerned

Extremely concerned

If you like, please share more about your concerns:

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* 4. Since the pandemic precautions began in March 2020, which of the following statements best describe your volunteer activities? Please check ALL that apply:

I continued my volunteer activities much the same as before

I continued my volunteer activities but in a different format (ie. zoom)

I reduced some of my volunteering activities

I stopped all of my volunteering activities

I began some new volunteering activities

I restarted some of my previous volunteering activities that had stopped

I am currently looking for new volunteering opportunities

I was neither volunteering nor did I seek to volunteer when the pandemic started

None of the above

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* 5. Since the pandemic precautions began in March 2020, what types of organizations, groups, clubs or charities have you volunteered with? Please check ALL that apply:

Arts, culture and entertainment (such as a museum, theatre group etc.)

Social, emotional support, and other basic needs (such as food, counseling housing etc)

Recreation and education (such as coaching, tutoring etc.)

Health and healthcare, including long term care (such as medical driving, visitation etc.)

Business and commercial (such as charity thrift stores, business associations etc.)

Environmental (such as gardening, recycling, invasive species removal etc.)

I volunteered as an individual and did not partner with a formal or informal organization

Other (please specify)

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* 6. We are interested in knowing the types of volunteering activities you may have been involved with over three points in time: 1. just before pandemic precautions started in March 2020; 2. after the restrictions came into place; and 3. as of today. Please check the appropriate boxes of ALL that apply to your experiences.

	Before March 2020	During Pandemic Precautions	At this time (today)
Personal assistance with independent living of others (e.g. -- shopping, household tasks, transportation to appointments, etc.)	Personal assistance with independent living of others (e.g. -- shopping, household tasks, transportation to appointments, etc.) Before March 2020	Personal assistance with independent living of others (e.g. -- shopping, household tasks, transportation to appointments, etc.) During Pandemic Precautions	Personal assistance with independent living of others (e.g. -- shopping, household tasks, transportation to appointments, etc.) At this time (today)
Providing support through social service organizations (e.g. -- food banks, helping people who face challenges such as poverty, disability, homelessness, etc.)	Providing support through social service organizations (e.g. -- food banks, helping people who face challenges such as poverty, disability, homelessness, etc.) Before March 2020	Providing support through social service organizations (e.g. -- food banks, helping people who face challenges such as poverty, disability, homelessness, etc.) During Pandemic Precautions	Providing support through social service organizations (e.g. -- food banks, helping people who face challenges such as poverty, disability, homelessness, etc.) At this time (today)
Serving on a Board, Committee or supervisory role	Serving on a Board, Committee or supervisory role Before March 2020	Serving on a Board, Committee or supervisory role During Pandemic Precautions	Serving on a Board, Committee or supervisory role At this time (today)
Assisting with outdoors or environmental organizations	Assisting with outdoors or environmental organizations Before March 2020	Assisting with outdoors or environmental organizations During Pandemic Precautions	Assisting with outdoors or environmental organizations At this time (today)
Providing administrative or clerical support (e.g. -- telephone, office, on-line, etc.)	Providing administrative or clerical support (e.g. -- telephone, office, on-line, etc.) Before March 2020	Providing administrative or clerical support (e.g. -- telephone, office, on-line, etc.) During Pandemic Precautions	Providing administrative or clerical support (e.g. -- telephone, office, on-line, etc.) At this time (today)
Supporting with trades, technical, computer, IT services and guidance, teaching or tutoring	Supporting with trades, technical, computer, IT services and guidance, teaching or tutoring Before March 2020	Supporting with trades, technical, computer, IT services and guidance, teaching or tutoring During Pandemic Precautions	Supporting with trades, technical, computer, IT services and guidance, teaching or tutoring At this time (today)
Assisting organizations with fund-raising and special events	Assisting organizations with fund-raising and special events Before March 2020	Assisting organizations with fund-raising and special events During Pandemic Precautions	Assisting organizations with fund-raising and special events At this time (today)
Other types of volunteer activity	Other types of volunteer activity Before March 2020	Other types of volunteer activity During Pandemic Precautions	Other types of volunteer activity At this time (today)

Other types of volunteer activity. Please specify what the activity is.

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* 7. Compared to before the pandemic precautions began in March 2020, how did your volunteering change? Please check ALL that apply:

	Did Not Change	Increased	Decreased	Stopped
The time I spent volunteering	The time I spent volunteering Did Not Change	The time I spent volunteering Increased	The time I spent volunteering Decreased	The time I spent volunteering Stopped
The number of my volunteer role(s)	The number of my volunteer role(s) Did Not Change	The number of my volunteer role(s) Increased	The number of my volunteer role(s) Decreased	The number of my volunteer role(s) Stopped
My direct contact with others while volunteering	My direct contact with others while volunteering Did Not Change	My direct contact with others while volunteering Increased	My direct contact with others while volunteering Decreased	My direct contact with others while volunteering Stopped
The satisfaction I get from volunteering	The satisfaction I get from volunteering Did Not Change	The satisfaction I get from volunteering Increased	The satisfaction I get from volunteering Decreased	The satisfaction I get from volunteering Stopped
My commitment to volunteering	My commitment to volunteering Did Not Change	My commitment to volunteering Increased	My commitment to volunteering Decreased	My commitment to volunteering Stopped
My value to the organization where I volunteer	My value to the organization where I volunteer Did Not Change	My value to the organization where I volunteer Increased	My value to the organization where I volunteer Decreased	My value to the organization where I volunteer Stopped

Are there other things that changed as a volunteer? (describe below)

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* 8. If you decreased or stopped some of your volunteer activities after the pandemic precautions began in March 2020 please tell us why. Please check ALL that apply.

I did not decrease or stop volunteering

An organization I volunteered for closed or greatly reduced its programs

The volunteer activities I had been doing ended

The volunteer activities I had been doing changed

I was concerned about the risk of catching or spreading the virus to others

I just wanted a break from volunteering

Are there other things that made you change, stop, or reduce your volunteering with the same or a different organization?

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* 9. We want to learn from your experience in order to make everyone’s volunteering safer and better. Assuming you were volunteering with an organization, you probably noticed some things that they did that helped you in your volunteering efforts, and some things they could have done differently.

Based on your experience please rate each of the following supports for volunteers.

	Very Important	Moderately Important	Slightly Important	Not Important
Organizations make role expectations clear and show how roles fit into the mission of the organization	Organizations make role expectations clear and show how roles fit into the mission of the organization Very Important	Organizations make role expectations clear and show how roles fit into the mission of the organization Moderately Important	Organizations make role expectations clear and show how roles fit into the mission of the organization Slightly Important	Organizations make role expectations clear and show how roles fit into the mission of the organization Not Important
Volunteering is easily scheduled and flexible	Volunteering is easily scheduled and flexible Very Important	Volunteering is easily scheduled and flexible Moderately Important	Volunteering is easily scheduled and flexible Slightly Important	Volunteering is easily scheduled and flexible Not Important
Volunteers comply with all pandemic precautions	Volunteers comply with all pandemic precautions Very Important	Volunteers comply with all pandemic precautions Moderately Important	Volunteers comply with all pandemic precautions Slightly Important	Volunteers comply with all pandemic precautions Not Important
Organizations have someone to support volunteers, provide regular and meaningful communication, and two-way check-ins	Organizations have someone to support volunteers, provide regular and meaningful communication, and two-way check-ins Very Important	Organizations have someone to support volunteers, provide regular and meaningful communication, and two-way check-ins Moderately Important	Organizations have someone to support volunteers, provide regular and meaningful communication, and two-way check-ins Slightly Important	Organizations have someone to support volunteers, provide regular and meaningful communication, and two-way check-ins Not Important
Clear guidelines and expectations about pandemic precautions and safety for volunteers, staff, and clients	Clear guidelines and expectations about pandemic precautions and safety for volunteers, staff, and clients Very Important	Clear guidelines and expectations about pandemic precautions and safety for volunteers, staff, and clients Moderately Important	Clear guidelines and expectations about pandemic precautions and safety for volunteers, staff, and clients Slightly Important	Clear guidelines and expectations about pandemic precautions and safety for volunteers, staff, and clients Not Important
Comprehensive orientation and ongoing training for volunteers including cell phone and computer training	Comprehensive orientation and ongoing training for volunteers including cell phone and computer training Very Important	Comprehensive orientation and ongoing training for volunteers including cell phone and computer training Moderately Important	Comprehensive orientation and ongoing training for volunteers including cell phone and computer training Slightly Important	Comprehensive orientation and ongoing training for volunteers including cell phone and computer training Not Important
Careful matching of my skills, experience, and interests to volunteer opportunities	Careful matching of my skills, experience, and interests to volunteer opportunities Very Important	Careful matching of my skills, experience, and interests to volunteer opportunities Moderately Important	Careful matching of my skills, experience, and interests to volunteer opportunities Slightly Important	Careful matching of my skills, experience, and interests to volunteer opportunities Not Important
Opportunities to meet and socialize with other volunteers	Opportunities to meet and socialize with other volunteers Very Important	Opportunities to meet and socialize with other volunteers Moderately Important	Opportunities to meet and socialize with other volunteers Slightly Important	Opportunities to meet and socialize with other volunteers Not Important
Chances to try out different roles over time to help me develop my volunteering skills	Chances to try out different roles over time to help me develop my volunteering skills Very Important	Chances to try out different roles over time to help me develop my volunteering skills Moderately Important	Chances to try out different roles over time to help me develop my volunteering skills Slightly Important	Chances to try out different roles over time to help me develop my volunteering skills Not Important

What other things do you believe could help support your volunteer role?

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* 10. When you think about volunteering now or in the near future, please complete the following sentence. I would prefer to volunteer in:

no contact volunteer positions (e.g. volunteer online, over the phone, or in a position where I volunteer alone)

low contact volunteer positions (a position where other people are present but there is very limited contact e.g. outdoors)

regular contact volunteering positions (working with safety protocols, but in a team environment where face to face interactions will happen

Other (please specify)

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* 11. How do you describe your gender?

Female

Male

I prefer not to say

I describe my gender as:

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* 12. Which age group are you part of?

55 to 65

66 to 75

76 to 85

86 and over

Prefer not to answer

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* 13. Would you like to tell us anything else about either the impact of pandemic precautions on your volunteering or what would help support your volunteering.

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* 14. (Optional) If you would like to speak with someone at Volunteer Victoria about your volunteering experiences or be interviewed in more detail (confidentially) please call 250.386.2269, email maryann@volunteervictoria.bc.ca, or complete the contact form below and we will be in touch with you.

On behalf of everyone at Volunteer Victoria, thank you for your participation in this survey!

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