Explore / What role should volunteers play in parks? / Mobile Volunteering

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Mobile Volunteering

One option to meet the maintenance needs of Newcastle Parks is to make volunteering mobile across the city. However, this may discourage volunteers who want to work in a specific park, or who feel this sounds too much like being ‘given a job’. 

If you were a volunteer in your local park and were asked to volunteer at a different park more in need of maintenance…

What would you do?

How would you improve this or do it differently?

Share your ideas and opinions to shape the future of our parks!

Civic Centre Workshop Two

Civic Centre Workshop Two
24/04/2017

"Mobile volunteering could work if it’s done right and with balance. Central resources would be necessary to give expert advice (eg. tree planting, etc.). Local people should be given the opportunity to volunteer for local parks but mobile volunteering should not be ruled out. Still it would need to be run and managed well (for example in relation to health and safety issues). Rewards for volunteers should be in place." —Workshop Team Two

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Stephanie Mosley

Stephanie Mosley
21/04/2017

I imagine a combination of the two as well as engaging with local schools and community groups and buisnesses to have a rolling programme of volunteers to their local park

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Peter Morrill

Peter Morrill
21/04/2017

Being sent to another park is just replacing redundant council staff. Volunteering in one place, gives a sense of ownership and pride in your local community.

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Mark Ryan

Mark Ryan
21/04/2017

Most volunteering opportunities seem to have been in the past open in office hours? A full weekend driven programme would allow those who aren't retired to volunteer. Could a Scout programme be devised running in conjunction with the parks to get young kids volunteering. Scout numbers are on the rise in a big way.

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john blakemore

john blakemore
17/04/2017

Some people prefer to be locally associated with where they voile need. For example adopt a plot

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sarah brigham

sarah brigham
16/04/2017

Will be totally different for each person. Again you need someone to coordinate all of this. But you can't force someone to volunteer in a different area if they don't want to.

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Ed Scott

Ed Scott
16/04/2017

Why can't volunteers choose whether they want to be linked to their local chosen park or be city wide? It will depend on people's motivation for volunteering. Why does it have to be one or the other?

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Allan Rowell

Allan Rowell
08/04/2017

I think that there may be individuals/groups who would not mind travelling to other areas if it was to take part in particular schemes within these parks, such as developing community orchards/growing areas.

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Allan Rowell

Allan Rowell
08/04/2017

Test

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Jesmond Dene Workshop

Jesmond Dene Workshop
23/03/2017

"I personally don’t mind volunteering in various locations but I think that there may be people who have an affinity for a particular park and may be put off by the idea of mobile volunteering. " — Workshop Participant

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Jesmond Dene Workshop

Jesmond Dene Workshop
23/03/2017

"More effort should be made to raise awareness about issues regarding parks so that people might be more willing to volunteer. We generally agree that on having a mobile volunteering scheme but volunteers should be able to choose to join such scheme.
Corporate volunteers seem to be left out of these discussions while they could be a good resource. Still training is required for volunteering jobs so a possible trust should create a team and train them so that they can go to other local areas and teach other people. Also, parks could be working more closely with youth councils." — Workshop Team 3

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Jesmond Dene Workshop

Jesmond Dene Workshop
23/03/2017

"This scenario raises questions around transport issues and the need to have dedicated volunteers in a dedicated park. Mobile volunteering will help in less affluent areas, but volunteers should be given a choice where to volunteer. Volunteers should be coordinated by one person and options for volunteering dates and places should be given to all.
Volunteers should be allowed to choose either: 1) volunteering in a specific park; 2) volunteering in a number of city parks; 3) volunteer in an adopt the plot scheme or 4) volunteer in all of the above." — Workshop Team 2

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Jesmond Dene Workshop

Jesmond Dene Workshop
23/03/2017

"Volunteers may volunteer in their local park in order to develop and nurture a sense of ownership. Mobile volunteering could lead to potential disengagement. Currently we have some mobile volunteering – this could be expanded but in addition to parks specific groups and in addition to maintenance staff." — Workshop Team 1

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Jesmond Dene Workshop

Jesmond Dene Workshop
23/03/2017

"Volunteering should always be a choice. Volunteer love to work in their parks so they should be able to continue to do so. However, there could be a place for a mobile volunteering scheme as well – whereby a booking system (similar to the wildlifetrust.org) could open up opportunities for people who wish to volunteer in other parks. A Trust should take into consideration issues relating to training volunteers who are mobile." — Workshop Team 4

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Twitter

Twitter
23/03/2017

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Twitter

Twitter
23/03/2017

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Dave Poste

Dave Poste
22/03/2017

I think that volunteers should be given the choice of whether they want to do voluntary work in there local park or if they want to be part of a mobile group that works in several locations. That way you won't drive away people who are only interested in their local park. There is already a group of volunteers based in Jesmond Dene that, as well as doing work in the Dene also does work in Heaton Park, Walker Riverside Park, Havannah and Big Waters. Those who don't want to travel to those locations don't have to. I personally would welcome the chance to visit other locations.

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Leazes Park Workshop

Leazes Park Workshop
21/03/2017

"We are not in favour of moving volunteers around. Each park is unique in its own volunteers. Volunteers cannot be relied on – basic parks’ maintenance needs paid staff – who coordinate and are responsible for the running of the parks." — Workshop Team 2

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Leazes Park Workshop

Leazes Park Workshop
21/03/2017

"As a one off or for large groups is possible. But it wouldn’t be good for regular volunteering as they prefer routines community, rituals and a sense of deeper involvement." — Workshop Team 3

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Leazes Park Workshop

Leazes Park Workshop
21/03/2017

"Additional capacity to support volunteers would be needed for such a scheme as well as additional resources such as a bus for example. Already the Parks’ staff have a small-scale volunteer scheme for those who are happy to volunteer in different parks.
However, many volunteers prefer to do activities in their park and engage meaningfully with both their locality and their volunteer groups.
Volunteers should not replace the staff, but be given opportunities to use their existing skills (rather than simply litter pick)." — Workshop Team 4

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Tyne Riverside Country Park Workshop

Tyne Riverside Country Park Workshop
21/03/2017

"Mobile volunteering should be part of the scheme but not exclusive. What is needed are locally based volunteers as well with their local knowledge and attachments to their local parks." — Workshop participant

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Tyne Riverside Country Park Workshop

Tyne Riverside Country Park Workshop
21/03/2017

"Most people want to work in their local area. Continuity is important. There could be a place for mobile volunteering but there will be a cost involved for transport and additional staff. There could be a possibility to use corporate volunteers for this purpose, but staff would still be necessary for this." — Workshop Team 1

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Great North Museum Workshop

Great North Museum Workshop
01/12/2016

“Ensure volunteers have choice” – Workshop Participant

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Great North Museum Workshop

Great North Museum Workshop
01/12/2016

“Ensure there is a backup in place in the case volunteers groups fall through” – Workshop Participant

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