This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
This module will give an advanced level overview of the current state of volunteering in the UK. Aimed at those working in or seeking to work in the voluntary sector, it will cover a range of topics which will facilitate a detailed and critical analysis of the role of volunteering in society. It will allow students to explore this knowledge through its application in real life contexts that they encounter in their professional practice. The module will cover academic approaches to volunteering from a range of disciplinary viewpoints and how these seek to explore who volunteers (and who does not) and what volunteers do.
To enable this advanced level knowledge to be used in practice, the module will explore the current debates in volunteer management, debates on policy regarding volunteering and its management, legal studies on volunteering and on ways in which the impact that volunteers have can be managed. Students will gain from all of this a critical understanding of volunteering and its role in society, and the ways in which volunteers can be supported.
Contact hours: 43
Private study hours: 157
Total hours: 200
MA Philanthropic Studies (Also available as a wild module)
Main assessment methods
Essay, 2,000 words (40%)
Volunteer policy document, 2,000 words (40%)
Online forum participation (20%)
Reassessment methods
100% Coursework
Eliasoph, N. (2013) The Politics of Volunteering. Cambridge: Polity.
Hedley, R. and Davis Smith, J. (Eds.) (1992) Volunteering and Society: Principles and Practice. London: NCVO.
McCurley, S., Lynch, R. and Jackson, R. The Complete Volunteer Management Handbook. London: Directory for Social Change.
Musick, M. and Wilson, J. (2007) Volunteers: A Social Profile. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Rochester, C. (2013) Rediscovering Voluntary Action: The beat of a different drum. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Rochester, C., Ellis Paine, A. and Howlett, S. (2011) Volunteering and Society in the 21st Century. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
8.1 Demonstrate an advanced critical understanding of the range of theories and key conceptual approaches to volunteering.
8.2 Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the evolution of volunteering and the voluntary sector in the United Kingdom and beyond and
be able to critically evaluate the impact of this on current debates.
8.3 Demonstrate a critical awareness of the role of the policy environment in which volunteering exists and the role government actors play in
shaping the legal, fiscal and cultural context of volunteering.
8.4 Systematically evaluate the literature on why people volunteer and apply this to analysis and evaluation of the range of methods for
recruiting volunteers in a range of contexts.
8.5 Evaluate the different models and methods of volunteer management and be able to produce reasoned, justified and creative opinions on
a range of contemporary issues relating to volunteer management.
8.6 Act autonomously in creating and presenting critical ideas for applying theoretical, empirical and practical knowledge in the tackling and
solving of specific volunteering and volunteer management tasks.
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
9.1 Make critical evaluations in order to effectively gather appropriate and reliable library and web-based resources for postgraduate study.
9.2 Act autonomously in using web-based resources to augment knowledge gained from online seminars and web-based study materials.
9.3 Demonstrate self-direction, critical judgement, and theoretical knowledge in accessing, interpreting and analysing data.
9.4 Use selected resources to construct critical arguments and be able to communicate these conclusions clearly to specialist and non-
specialist audiences.
9.5 Apply problem solving skills in the planning and implementation of professional practice based tasks.
9.6 Apply critical reflection to both individual and organisational practice.
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