BHM Social Impact Report - incorporating BHM 2nd review

What’s the social impact of
volunteering with Big Help Mob?
Findings from the Big Help Mob
Evaluation 2014
The Foundation for Young Australians
July 2014
Commercial in confidence © Foundation for Young Australians 2014 1

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Prepared by Tessa Hillgrove, Olivia Killeen, and Naomi Berman
Contact researchteam@fya.org.au or 03 9670 5436
July 2014
Acknowlegement
The authors would like to thank the staff and volunteers of Big Help
Mob, who spent considerable time conducing interviews and surveys
to gather the stories presented in this report, as well as the
volunteers who generously shared their experiences. We would also
like to thank Big Help Mob for the opportunity to complete this
research.
We thank Jeanette Pope and Rachel Mutch from FYA for their
thoughtful comments on earlier drafts of this report.
Copyright & Disclaimer
The materials presented in this report are for information purposes only. The information is
provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessments
of the matters discussed and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and
information and obtain independent advice before acting on any information contained in or in
connection with this report. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information
is accurate the Foundation for Young Australians will not accept any liability for any loss or
damage which may be incurred by any person acting in reliance upon the information.

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Executive Summary
Big Help Mob (BHM) arose from Useful’s idea that helping people to contribute to addressing bigger-
then-self issues could change the way people engage with their world. The program has a particular
focus on harnessing the efforts of young people through assembling a group of volunteers primarily
aged 18-30, mobilised to achieve a social purpose while creating positive experiences of volunteering.
Big Help Mob’s volunteers make a substantial contribution to their community through the missions
they undertake with local organisations. However, the experience is likely to have a personal impact
on many of those who take part. This evaluation aimed to measure the social impact of BHM’s
efforts for the individuals who volunteer through the organisation, with a focus on changes that
took place in volunteers’ lives, shifts in their worldviews, or new self-perceptions that resulted
from their volunteering.
This report has shown that the experience of volunteering with Big Help Mob has a highly beneficial
impact for the majority of volunteers, with most reporting positive life changes and increased pro-
social attitudes following on from their volunteer experience.
Those who volunteer for Big Help Mob experience:
1. personal benefits: feeling good about themselves, feeling useful, meeting new people,
feeling a part of their community, getting exposure to new activities and learning new skills,
and developing new perspectives and ideas as a result of their volunteering.
2. positive life changes: engaging in more volunteering; gaining new ideas and perspectives;
building new networks and feeling part of a community; changing jobs to something more
aligned with their interests; starting new courses to take them in a new direction; feeling
inspired and empowered; improving wellbeing; and developing personal.
The components particularly important for creating change are:
1. exposure to a network of like-minded, enthusiastic young volunteers provides a sense of
belonging for new volunteers, and sets a strong example, both in their life choices and in
their volunteering behaviour, which inspires new ideas and encourages further volunteering.
2. highly accessible and meaningful volunteer opportunities reduce many traditional
barriers to young people volunteering such as a lack of time, not having skills, or not knowing
people who already volunteer.
3. exposure to new populations provides opportunities to interact with groups in the
community volunteers might previously never had direct contact with.

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Background
Big Help Mob (BHM) arose through Useful Inc.’s passion and commitment to create a generation
actively working to solve bigger-than-self issues. The Western Australian-based organisation aims to
foster volunteer experiences that capture people’s energy, excitement and passion, by creating an
online platform that allows individuals to propose, organise and join short term, ad hoc volunteering
events known as missions.
BHM missions begin with a request from a community organisation for volunteers to assist with a
project. The mission is then organised by a captain, who takes responsibility for the logistical
arrangement of the mission and recruitment of volunteers (called sidekicks).
Upcoming missions are advertised on the digital platform and potential sidekicks can volunteer for
specific missions until the mission reaches its capacity. Missions are designed to be completed in one
day, and do not require any particular skills or experience from volunteers.
Examples of recent missions include painting a stairwell for a community organisation, preparing and
serving a National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) week breakfast for
200 people, and supporting activities in a school holiday program for children with autism.
A further component of Big Help Mob’s activities is the Unternship program, where 18-25 year olds
join BHM for a structured six-month development program, responsible for generating new missions
and recruiting volunteers while gaining valuable organisational and communication skills.
BHM has a particular focus on harnessing the efforts of the community through assembling an
'army' of volunteers mobilised to have great expereince in the helping the community and achieving
a social impact for community organisations.
In doing this, BHM connects people to bigger-than-self issues in their own local community and
causes increased pro-social behaviours and civic participation.
The stated objectives of Big Help Mob are:
1. Create happier and healthier communities by creating a cultural change that sees the
majority of people directly engaged in solving bigger-than-self issues.
2. Connect people who are looking for meaning and purpose with purpose-driven
organisations who are looking for people.
3. Increase the volunteering capacities of not-for-profit agencies/organisations notably in
next generation volunteering.

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4. Develop more engaged volunteers by enhancing the enjoyment of the volunteering
experience.
Big Help Mob’s volunteers make a substantial contribution to their community through the missions
they undertake with local organisations. However, in addition the experience of joining a mission and
working alongside other like-minded volunteers to help others is likely to have a personal impact on
many of those who take part.
This evaluation aimed to measure the social impact of BHM’s efforts for the individuals who
volunteer with Big Help Mob, with a focus on changes that took place in volunteers’ lives, shifts in
their worldviews, or new self-perceptions that resulted from their volunteering.
The key research question addressed in this evaluation is: Does the experience of Big Help Mob lead
to further action and if so, what components of Big Help Mob are most influential and why?

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What social impacts could be expected from volunteering with Big
Help Mob? A review of the literature
This section provides a context to the findings of this evaluation by providing a summary of selected
literature exploring the how and why young people volunteer, barriers to participation, benefits of
volunteering, the rise of episodic volunteering, and the impact of social participation on the
formation of a civic identity. The review focuses on the personal benefits and social impacts, such as
changes in behaviour and attitudes experienced by individuals when they engage in formal
volunteering, with a particular emphasis on young people.
The next generation of volunteers
Young people are frequently accused of being less willing to volunteer or engage in other forms of
civic action than older groups. This is part of a broader international political and social discourse that
describes young people as apathetic, cynical and disengaged, lacking important civic and political
knowledge and making a lesser contribution to society than older citizens (e.g. Campbell 2006; Crick
1998; Mellor et al. 2001; Muir et al. 2009; Torney-Purta et al. 2001).
However, these findings are contradicted by studies that show many young Australians volunteer.
According to Australian census data, in 2011 just over one in five young people (21%) aged between
12 and 25, volunteered (ABS 2011), which is somewhat but not substantially lower than the rate
amongst older Australians, which is remarkable given young people often have more constraints on
participation, such as cost or lack of transport. In 2008, Australia ranked fourth out of 28 countries for
the percentage of young people participating in voluntary activities (ARACY 2008).
Studies suggest that young people are most attracted to volunteering opportunities that:
• engage their interests and values and enable them to put these into action in meaningful
ways
• meet a real and objective need and enable them to see the impact of their volunteering on
this need
• are intended to benefit other young people e.g. youth programs and camps
• offer them the opportunity to meet or work with high profile groups or individuals (Ferrier et
al 2004).

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These studies are part of a wider body of research that suggests young Australians are eager to
influence a range of social, political and economic issues (Arvanitakis & Marren 2009; Ferrier et al
2004; Horsley & Costley 2008; Manning & Ryan 2004; Mission Australia 2011). This research indicates
that young people in Australia are increasingly seeking alternate modes of participation and active
citizenship, eschewing traditional or formal modes such as voting or membership of political parties
(Arvanitakis & Sidoti 2011; Harris et al. 2010; Schulz et al. 2010; Vromen & Collin 2010; Walsh & Black
2011). These alternate modes of participation are understood to include volunteering.
The benefits of volunteering and community participation
A significant body of research illustrates the social benefits of volunteerism. Boessler and Ding (2010)
examined an Australian St Johns Ambulance volunteer program, with a view to understanding the
motivations, benefits and barriers to young people volunteering. Their research found that the
motivations for young people volunteering are to connect with people; use existing skills and develop
new ones; personal fulfilment and personal values; and expectations of others, including family and
Barriers to the next generation volunteering
While many young people contribute to their community, overall, this age group is less likely to
volunteer than older age groups (ABS 2011). Lower rates of volunteering by young people have
been found in a range of Australian studies over time (Baum et al. 1999, Ironmonger &
Soupourmas 2002; Ferrier et al. 2004; Pope 2005b; ABS 2006; ABS 2011).
A population survey in Victoria found a lack of interest is not a reason for low rates of
volunteering in any population group, including young people (Pope 2005b). Lower rates were
more likely to be the result of other barriers such as time or cost (Pope 2005b). This study also
showed around 22% of people think about volunteering, but don’t do it.
The biggest barriers to volunteering reported in the general population (all age groups) have been
(in order):
• being too busy
• not knowing about opportunities or routes into volunteering, and
• cost/access issues, such as transport (Ferrier et al. 2004; Ellis 2004; Pope 2005b; ACFID
2012).
Excerpt from FYA (Foundation for Young Australians) (2014 forthcoming) Unlimited Potential:
a data and information resource on young Australians. Foundation for Young Australians:
Melbourne.

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compulsory school programs. The benefits included both personal and professional outcomes. Young
people reported enjoying the experience, feeling valued, meeting new people and feeling a sense of
accomplishment. The authors concluded that volunteering might also provide young people with the
opportunity to utilise and improve skills they already have, develop new skills and increase their job
opportunities. However, a significant barrier existed in feelings of not being valued. For example, not
being involved in decisions that affect them, not being trusted, listened to or acknowledged, lack of
support and being given jobs that no one else wants to do.
A recent systematic review (Jenkinsen et al. 2013) explored the impact of formal volunteering on
physical and mental health. Volunteering was associated with a number of benefits, including greater
wellbeing, reduced stress, and more physical activity (all demonstrated in experimental studies) and
increased longevity, improved mental health, greater quality life, and higher satisfaction with life (all
demonstrated in other types of studies). It is worth noting that review primarily included research on
populations aged over 50, which reflects the limited research conducted on the benefits of
volunteering for younger populations, and that most, though not all, groups studied were regular
rather than episodic volunteers.
There were, however, two studies included in the review that featured a younger population and
therefore have relevance for BHM. The first study featured a broad age range (19-60) of volunteers
engaged in a variety of volunteering activities through a social welfare program, and found that
relative to those in the program who were not volunteering, volunteers experienced a greater sense
of empowerment (Cohen 2010). The second study demonstrates that the positive effects of
volunteering at a young age can have lasting impact (Bowman 2010). University students who
volunteered during their student years were found to have greater levels of well-being (specifically
personal growth, environmental mastery, life purpose and life satisfaction). Volunteering as a young
person influenced later well-being in two ways: by increasing the likelihood of volunteering as adults;
and by influencing attitudes and values collectively known as a “pro-social orientation”.

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The benefits of community participation for young people
Community participation has been shown to generate benefits in young people including:
 Higher self-esteem, a sense of belonging and meaning and purpose (Johnston et al.
2004; Volunteering Australia 2011; UNV 2011; Oaktree Foundation 2012; Mundle et
al. 2012).
 An increased sense of wellbeing and better physical and mental health (Young &
Glasgow 1998; Berkman & Glass 2000; Pope 2005a; Giles et al. 2005; Egan et al.
2008; Mundle et al. 2012).
 Higher rates of healthy behaviours and lower rates of risk behaviours including:
o Improved: relationships with parents/teachers/friends; self-confidence;
control and awareness of the need to take responsibility; involvement
in/enjoyment of school; homework; positive risk-taking; and understanding
the transferability of skills and knowledge in different contexts (Harrison &
Narayan 2002; Davis Smith 2000, Wikeley et al. 2009), and
o Decreased: truancy, smoking, drug use, vandalism, fights, sexual activity and
sad or suicidal thoughts (Harrison & Narayan 2002; Alperstein & Raman
2003; Mundle et al. 2012).
 Success in learning (Wikeley et al. 2009). Young people’s connections with adults in
clubs and activities outside of family and school have been shown to provide role
models, specialist expertise/skills, and opportunities to develop fresh and broader
perspectives on issues (Wikeley et al. 2009). This has been shown to give young
people a more positive appreciation of school and an increased ability to negotiate
their schooling with teachers (Wikeley et al. 2009).
 Connection to better career paths. Networks developed through volunteering have
been shown to be important for connecting people to career paths and to labour
markets that are better paid and more stable (Granovetter 1983; Menchik &
Weisbrod 1987; Davis Smith 2000; Chapple 2002; Sacerdote & Marmos 2006).
Networks provide more opportunity, compensate for less experience and
qualifications, and attach people to jobs with longer tenure (Granovetter 1983;
Chapple 2002; Finneran & Kelly 2003; Ioannides & Loury 2004; Oaktree Foundation
2012).
Excerpt from Pope J (2011) Indicators of Community Strength: framework and evidence.
Department of Planning and Community Development: Melbourne.

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New forms of volunteering- episodic volunteering
Literature surrounding volunteering in recent decades has shown the rise of ‘episodic volunteering’, a
term coined by Nancy Macduff in 1991 (cited in Bryen & Madden 2006). Macduff suggested that
people increasingly preferred to volunteer on a short-term basis, rather than in traditional, long term
roles. The development of episodic volunteering has been further discussed in the literature, and is
claimed to be increasing in popularity (Macduff 2005; Smith et al. 2010; Cnaan & Handy 2005; Handy,
Brodeur & Cnaan 2006; Hustinx & Lammertyn 2003; Haski-Leventhal et al. 2008; Bryen & Madden
2006).
Episodic volunteering is seen to occur on a continuum, and includes a broad scope of activities (Bryen
& Madden 2006). Episodic volunteering is not entirely replacing traditional volunteering; however, it
is becoming a more popular form, as people have the ability to select appropriate opportunities that
fit into their lives, and do not require a large time committment (Macduff 2005). This is becoming
increasingly common amongst young people (Smith et al. 2010), and the shift is unsurprising given
the new ways that young people take action in their communities, which includes responding to
needs as they arise, being project oriented, and finding opportunties through their networks rather
than traditional ways such as joining groups or political afiliations (Loader, 2014).
While there is an extensive literature on the motivations of regular volunteers, as well as the benefits
experienced through undertaking the activity, it is unclear whether episodic volunteers have different
motivations to participate. Handy, Brodeur and Cnaan explored this question through a study of
volunteers at summer festival events in Canada, which found three distinct groups of volunteers
(2006). These were:
1) Long-term Committed Volunteers (LTVs) – engaged in long-term, regular, committed
volunteering
2) Habitual Episodic Volunteers (HEVs) – volunteer for multiple episodic opportunities (three or
more) within a year
3) Genuine Episodic Volunteers (GEVs) – volunteer for two for fewer volunteer episodes in a
year

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By these definitions, the majority of participants in Big Help Mob missions can be seen as HEVs or
GEVs, depending on their individual
involvement, and those engaged in the
Unternship program (highly-engaged
volunteers undertaking a 6-month
program with the organisation) could be
seen as LTVs. One hypothesis of Handy
and colleagues’ study was that the LTVs
would report being more motivated by
altruistic motives than utilitarian, self-
serving motives than the HEVs, followed
by the GEVs (Handy, Brodeur & Cnaan
2006). However, this was not proven, as
there were no significant differences
between the three groups in terms of
reporting self-serving motives.
Additionally, when altruistic motives were
the dependent variable; any differences
being reported also disappeared (Handy,
Brodeur & Cnaan 2006). This suggests that
episodic volunteers experience similar
motivations as those engaged in more
traditional, committed forms of
volunteering.
Many organisations rely on episodic
volunteers to achieve their aims. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that episodic volunteers return
to the organisation and continue their involvement for such organisations to be successful. This was
explored in an Australian study of an environmental group by Bryen and Madden (2006). Volunteers
identified a number of factors as important for retention:
• feeling rewarded by the nature of the work
• feeling appreciated for their efforts by the organisation
• ensuring volunteers felt welcomed and valued
However, the two most important reasons in this study were:
• being personally asked to return
Motivation for volunteering
Generally, people volunteer for four main reasons:
• wanting to help/give back or connecting with
a cause – the main reason for all age groups
• maintaining a service a member of the family
is consuming, for example, where a child plays
sport and volunteers are needed to run it
• personal reasons: satisfaction, making friends
or feeling useful – a reason more common in
older people, and
• improving skills for career development
(maintaining/ developing work habits, skills,
contacts/ networks, paid work opportunities)
– a reason increasing for young people
(Bussell & Forbes 2002; Eley 2003; Ellis 2004;
Pope 2005b).
Excerpt from FYA (Foundation for Young Australians)
(2014 forthcoming) Unlimited Potential: a data and
information resource on young Australians.
Foundation for Young Australians: Melbourne.

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• the perception that they made a tangible difference to the physical area in which they
worked.
Ultimately, the amount of satisfaction this group of volunteers received in their perceived protection
of the environment appeared to have the greatest influence on ‘bounce-back’ of volunteers (Bryen &
Madden 2006). This then suggests that feelings of making a difference are extremely important in
retaining episodic volunteers, and more research is needed in this area involving other types of
community groups to support these findings.
Developing a civic identity through volunteering
The work of Youniss, McLellan and Yates (1997) explored the development of civic mindedness in
young people by examining the link between civic participation and the development of a civic
identity. They argued that through their involvement in youth programs, young people are exposed
to a broad range of worldviews and communitarian beliefs which assimilate with their own process of
identity construction. In a second study, Youniss and Yates (1997) examine the pathways of young
people who completed a year of service learning as part of school-based social justice studies. They
found that service learning programs deliver three key outcomes; a sense of agency, that one can
make a difference or effect change; social responsibility or having a concern for other individuals or
general societal well-being; and political-moral awareness, which refers to having a capacity to
identify problems within the existing social and political order, and to then question or challenge that
order. For Youniss and Yates, these three outcomes help explain the relationship between
participation in civic activities as a young person and future participation as an adult. The mechanism
for this change was through the exposure to ‘explicit ideological orientations or worldviews’ that
young people gained through involvement in civic organisations (Youniss & Yates 1997, 3).
Youniss and Yates conclude that involvement in civic activities not only structures the shape and form
of a young person’s civic identity but also has a long lasting effect:
By offering youth meaningful participatory experiences, we allow them to discover
their potency, asses their responsibility, acquire a sense of political processes, and
commit to moral-ethical ideology (Youniss and Yates 1997, 5).
This interest in the social, cognitive and civic development of young people who participate in civic
activities is also reflected in research by Waldstein and Reiher (2001) who found that for young
people engaging in both community and service learning activities, their appreciation of these
activities transcended the nature of the activity itself. Rather, it was in the actual participation in the
activities that produced a sense of meaning or achievement.

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Furthermore, Larson (1994) contends that these activities perform the dual functions of acting as
vehicles for both social and psychological integration. Participation in some activities provides a
unique opportunity for development of intrinsic motivation and personal agency (Larson 1994, 47).
While his analysis refers to school-related and extracurricular activities such as sports, hobbies and
organisation based activities, the principles can equally be applied to volunteering. It follows that
social integration is encouraged when such activities provide an opportunity for contact with other
participants, which often comes with support, mentoring and role modelling. Specifically,
participation in youth activities encourages/promotes/denotes membership into a:
subcultural enclave which provides a reference group and set of mores that
one carries (or that carries one) through the transition into adulthood
(Larson 1994, 50).
In summary, this literature suggests that participating in voluntary activities as a young person
contributes to the development of a civic identity, which in turn influences future pro-social
behaviour. This civic identity is formed through exposure to new worldviews and beliefs; exposure to
others who encourage and model pro-social behaviours, and provide the individual with a sense of
belonging to a caring and helpful volunteer community; as well as first-hand experience of being able
to make a difference to an issue that they care about. These findings highlight some of the factors
which may contribute to the decision to pursue future civic pursuits (such as more volunteering) after
a Big Help Mob experience.

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Methods
This evaluation report draws on four data sources, which were all collected by BHM staff and
volunteers based on surveys and interview guidelines developed by the Foundation for Young
Australians (FYA) research team. The data sources were:
 8 semi-structured interviews undertaken with individuals who had participated in missions
with BHM, and one who was yet to undertake a mission
 80 survey respondents, made up of 63 people who had previously undertaken a mission with
BHM, and for comparison purposes, 17 people who had registered with BHM but were yet to
undertake a mission
 5 interviews with stakeholders working for organisations who have benefited from a BHM
mission
 One Most Significant Change (adapted) group session conducted with 8 “Unterns”. These
were a group of highly-engaged volunteers currently undertaking a 6-month program with
the organisation, in which they were responsible for generating new missions and recruiting
new volunteers, all the while building employability skills (such as leadership and
communication skills).
Guided by the project brief, this evaluation focused on two aspects of the volunteer experience:
1. Impacts experienced by individuals that resulted from volunteering with BHM
2. The mechanism that contributed to the impact.
Social impacts were broadly defined in the project scope, with potential impacts including further
volunteering, changes to identity, and increased happiness. However, the evaluation team
considered all benefits and changes reported by respondents as impacts. The interview transcripts
were systematically coded, as well as the open-ended survey response questions, to explore the
range of impacts experienced by BHM volunteers. Where available, we also explored volunteers’
explanations of what caused the change. Data was grouped into themes and explored for patterns.
Survey data was analysed using SPSS v21.

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Results
Summary of survey participants
Table 1 summarises the demographic characteristics of survey participants, divided into those who
had joined a BHM mission vs. those who had yet to take part. Respondents were predominantly
female, aged between 18-29, and most likely to be full time students. This respondents matched the
age profile of all those registered with Big Help Mob (45.8% aged 18-29 in the BHM database) but
females were more likely to participate (with males making up 72.2% of the BHM database).
Table 1: Demographic characteristics of survey respondents*,
**
Previous BHM
volunteer
(n=63)
Not yet
volunteered BHM
(n=17)
Gender
% male 20.6% 11.8%
% female 66.7% 82.4%
Age
% aged <18 7.9% 17.6%
% aged 18-29 71.4% 47.1%
% aged >=30 7.9% 29.4%
Employment status
% full time student (with any employment) 36.5% 64.7%
% employed (full time) 23.8% 23.5%
% employed (part time or casual) 25.4% 0.0%
% unemployed 1.6% 5.9%

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Table 2 shows the volunteering backgrounds of participants from each group. Of those who had
volunteered with BHM, most had undertaken at least two missions, and at least half had been on a
mission within the previous three months (the survey did not allow us to break down the number of
missions completed beyond this distinction).
The frequency of previous volunteering efforts was explored for each group. Survey respondents in
both groups were, in general, highly engaged volunteers. Both groups had high levels of volunteering,
with just over three quarters of BHM volunteers having volunteered elsewhere before their BHM
mission, compared to approximately 9 out of 10 of those not yet joining a mission. When asked about
their volunteer activities during the last 12 months, the most common response for both groups
indicated a sporadic, ad hoc volunteering style (multiple organisations, with a less frequent
commitment).
Table 2: Volunteering backgrounds of survey respondents*,
**
Previous BHM
volunteer
(n=63)
Not yet
volunteered
BHM
(n=17)
Volunteering with BHM
Yet to complete a mission - 100%
1 missions 28.6% -
2 or more missions 61.9% -
When was last BHM mission?
<3 months ago 50.8% -
3-6 months ago 22.2% -
6-12 months ago 7.9% -
>12 months ago 11.1% -
Volunteered previously (before BHM)?

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Yes, has volunteered elsewhere 77.8% 88.2%
Has not volunteered elsewhere 22.2% 11.8%
How many organisations (last 12 months)?
None 6.3% 17.6%
One 20.6% 23.5%
Two 31.7% 23.5%
Three or more 41.3% 35.3%
How often do you volunteer (last 12 months)
Once per week 20.6% 23.5%
Once per fortnight 25.4% 17.6%
Less often than once per month 50.8% 41.2%
Never 3.2% 17.6%
Hours spent volunteering in previous 4 weeks
< One hour 27.0% 58.8%
1-5 hours 31.7% 17.6%
6+ hours 41.3% 23.5%
*Note: a high proportion of categories have <5 respondents in any given category (insufficient cell size), so statistics were not able to be
computed for demographics or volunteering history.
** numbers will not add up to 100% for each category, as missing responses were not removed from analysis (up to 10% for any given
question

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Changes experienced by Big Help Mob volunteers
Survey respondents were asked about changes that occurred in their life since volunteering with
BHM “What important actions or decisions have you taken/made since participating in BHM?”, and in
a follow up question, whether they attributed the changes to their BHM experience. In a later
question, they were asked “In what way (if any) has your experience with BHM caused you to think or
feel differently about yourself or your world views?” Given the considerable cross-over in the
responses given, responses for these questions were considered together.
Overall, the large majority of BHM volunteers participating in this evaluation experienced some
kind of positive change that they directly attributed to their BHM volunteering experience. A large
proportion reported new activities or directions since they began volunteering with BHM, such as
changing job, going back to study, or more volunteering (51 survey respondents, or 81%), and three
quarters of those experiencing changes (38 survey respondents) attributed some or all of those
changes to their BHM experience.
When asked specifically about any changes to the way volunteers saw themselves or the world
around them, a total of 39 respondents described changes (62% of BHM survey respondents).
Responses from interviews and group discussion participants followed similar patterns: of the 16
participants who had undertaken missions, 13 spoke of changes that had occurred subsequently.
When responses were considered together, a total of 61 BHM volunteers (76%) reported at least
one positive impact occurring for them as a result of their volunteer experience.
The positive impacts experienced are presented in order of those most commonly reported
(volunteers could nominate more than one area of change). Proportions presented here are for
survey respondents only, however quotes from interview participants are included where they help
provide context. Only quotes from those attributing their reported changes to their engagement with
BHM have been presented.
More volunteering
For many, joining a BHM mission ignited a stronger interest in and commitment to volunteering. Just
over half (n=32) of all surveyed BHM volunteers had increased their volunteering since their first
BHM experience, or were considering how to do so, with a sizeable majority (80%) of volunteers
attributing this change to the BHM experience. New volunteering opportunities ranged from doing
more BHM missions, signing up for regular volunteering with organisations they first met through
BHM, through to branching out and taking committed volunteer roles with external organisations.
I make more effort to be more involved in volunteering with BHM or with other
organizations (BHM volunteer, survey)

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To volunteer for Save the Children on one of their local programmes (BHM
volunteer, survey)
Since first volunteering with BHM (over a year ago now), I signed up to volunteer
regularly with two volunteering organisations. (BHM volunteer, survey)
For one survey respondent, volunteering became a full-time commitment when he left a paid
position to take up a voluntary position in a not-for profit agency.
Left full-time paid employment to pursue a full-time volunteer role with an
incredible organisation in a different city to the one I was currently living. I cannot
ascribe all of this decision to BHM, but I am sure it was an influence. (Or perhaps
more accurately Useful was an influence). (BHM volunteer, survey)
Gaining new ideas and perspectives
Seventeen volunteers described developing new ideas and perspectives through volunteering with
BHM. New ideas included different ways they could combine work and volunteering, new attitudes
to consumption, new views on issues and not-for profit organisations, and changed attitudes to
others. All but two believed BHM helped them develop these new ideas (with the remainder unsure).
It has been a positive reinforcement of my world outlook. I have been more aware
of making more sustainable choices and choices in regards to how I spent some of
my spare time. I try to be more open minded about people in general after getting
to meet a range of volunteers and not for profit staff (BHM volunteer, survey)
I've become more aware of my impact of society (BHM volunteer, survey)
Learnt that kids with autism aren’t so scary after all (BHM volunteer, survey)
I am more optimistic about the future of humanity (BHM volunteer, survey)
Change of job
Nine respondents reported changing their work since they commenced volunteering with BHM, with
six attributing the change to their experience. Volunteers commonly moved to jobs that more closely
aligned with their passions and often with reduced hours, allowing time for them to engage with
other meaningful activities
Thinking more deeply about the work I do and the impact I have - has driven me to
change jobs (BHM volunteer, survey)

PROPOSAL HEADING
Applied for a job with less hours and closer to my personal passions (BHM
volunteer, survey)
Additionally, one of the interviewees spoke about his decision to cut back to part-time work, leaving
them more time to volunteer amongst other activities.
I’ve quit my full-time job and started doing stuff- doing part-time instead which I
guess is partially related to the volunteering experiences, because I figured I want
a bit more time to be able to do other things and potentially do some more
volunteering stuff (BHM volunteer, interview)
New areas of study
Seven respondents had engaged in new study (either starting a new course, or choosing particular
subjects), with five of the seven reporting that volunteering with BHM influenced their decision.
Started a diploma in child care…I found out I love volunteering and helping people
(BHM volunteer, survey)
I have decided to study occupational therapy…BHM made me realise that I wanted
to help people for the rest of my life (BHM volunteer, survey)
Changes to the way they see themselves and the world
Changes to the way BHM volunteers see themselves and the world around them fell into five main
themes: realising volunteering is possible within the context of their lives; feeling inspired for further
action; changes to identity and sense of self; empowerment; and improved wellbeing.
Volunteering is possible for me
Eight survey respondents described how the BHM experience had shifted their views on volunteering
itself- that the activity was more accessible, required less commitment, and there was a wider range
of ways to help than previously thought. Commonly, volunteers noted that BHM caused them to
rethink the time and effort required to make a positive impact.
My perspective on life in general and work-life balance has really been shaped by
the idea of being able to 'do good' in small ways. (BHM volunteer, survey)
Yes it made me realise volunteering is accessible and doesn't require a big
commitment. (BHM volunteer, survey)
It is a lot easier to volunteer than one might think especially with short term
opportunities. And there are various ways to do so which I was less aware of prior
to BHM. (BHM volunteer, survey)

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Changes to identity/ sense of self
Seven respondents reported changing their sense of self or identity, with all but one attributing their
change to their BHM experience. Seven volunteers additionally mentioned that they had experienced
personal development since undertaking their first mission.
I became more confident and tried new things, I put myself out there more and
just became a better person (BHM volunteer, survey)
Less cynical/fearful/resigned about 'the world' and my role/potential. (BHM
volunteer, survey)
I feel more confident within myself and think about the bigger picture a lot more
Two survey respondents described how they left unhappy relationships after a period of reflection,
which for both was attributed to meeting like-minded people who encouraged them to reflect on
their lives and the impact they wanted to have.
Breaking a long term relationship because of seeking more in a partner - who
considers their actions and the impact in the world in a deeper way
Additionally, two of the interviewees spoke about how the experience of volunteering positively
impacted on their communication skills, empathy and ability to confidently express themselves.
I used to be really worried to talk to kids in front of adults in case the adults, (as in)
you’re doing it wrong or you’re being patronising or overprotective, but then from
doing that I’ve grown more confident to talk to kids around other people…. I feel
like I’ve learnt…to put myself in other peoples’ shoes more than I did before I went
there [to the mission]. (BHM volunteer, 2 missions, interview)
I feel more at ease to express opinions, share ideas and tell others what I think. So
the main change is more open to people’s views and ideas and a new way of doing
business. (BHM volunteer, Untern group discussion)
Feeling empowered
Twelve volunteers spoke of having a greater sense of their own capacity to make a difference after
volunteering with BHM. They reported feeling more useful, more accomplished, and had a greater
sense that their contribution was important.
I feel more accomplished (BHM volunteer, survey)

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That you can be of use in different fields, regardless of your educational
background or experience (BHM volunteer, survey)
I feel that by getting involved in the community, I am able to make a true
difference (BHM volunteer, survey)
Improved wellbeing
Eight volunteers described how volunteering had increased their wellbeing, improved their mood and
made them feel better about themselves. Two described a substantial improvement in their mental
health following their engagement with BHM.
I'm a nicer person, less judgmental, less angry, less depressed, and more confident
A significant way. On a slightly serious note, I've struggled with mental health due
to feeling different to the world, like I was alone. BHM has helped reduce my
thoughts of suicide by making me feel part of a group who wants to better the
world (BHM volunteer, survey)
I feel better about myself because I have been volunteering more and this makes
me feel more selfless and helpful (BHM volunteer, survey)
Feeling inspired
Eight volunteers described how they felt inspired by their volunteering experience.
Since planting trees with BHM I realise there’s a world outside of me that needs
help (BHM volunteer, survey)
I met people from France, Germany and other exotic places in the few times I've
volunteered with BMH and what I learn is that people come from anywhere, and
we could come together just to clean up the beach or plant trees ...No matter
where you are from, people want to do something about the society we live in,
even if they don't live here long term (BHM volunteer, survey)
New networks
One of the strongest messages from BHM volunteers was the importance of the new networks of
passionate, like-minded people they met through missions. Many were inspired by the examples set
by other volunteers, both in terms of helping others, and the way they live their everyday lives:

PROPOSAL HEADING
Volunteering with BHM made me feel better about people and more motivated to
help others when I saw other people being so enthusiastic and passionate (BHM
volunteer, survey)
Getting to meet other people who think deeply about the impact of their daily
actions is inspiring and makes me reflect on my own decisions. (BHM volunteer,
survey)
Being involved in core team means being influenced by a range of incredibly
diverse and intelligent individuals who challenge me to think more deeply about
the choices I make and the impact it can have.
Volunteering alongside others also allowed people to challenge their perceptions of others, or
reinforce their good opinions of those around them.
It has opened me up to many more opportunities and opinions and people which
has allowed me to be more accepting and understanding of different people.
I think the positive experience has perhaps just reinforced my views that people
can be nice and doing good things is enjoyable.
Meeting other volunteers helped some respondents feel more a part of the community.
As an international student, I feel out of place in Perth, but BHM has given me the
opportunity to integrate myself more and make me feel comfortable being in a
foreign country on my own. In a way, I now feel less insecure about myself and
what differences I might have compared to others. (BHM volunteer, survey)
For highly engaged BHM volunteers, who had taken on roles in the in the core groups or joined the
Unternship program, the support network they were able to access through their work appeared to
be the strongest influence any subsequent changes.
Lots of things have changed since I started here and I think they were related. I
went back to uni, I got a job in a not-for-profit, I made a tonne of new friends and
that kind of thing but one of the things that I think this did more than anything
else was like give me a support network which allowed me to feel comfortable to
actually try things that I might not have done before. (BHM volunteer, Untern
group)

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Who does not experience positive impacts from Big Help Mob
Volunteering?
Nearly one in four (22%) survey respondents did not experience any personal changes or shifts in
their attitudes, or reported changes that they did not attribute to their experience with BHM. The
evaluation team ran analysis to explore whether any volunteer characteristics were associated with
experiencing changes. Only one attribute was found to be associated with experiencing changes: that
the most recent BHM mission was within the previous 12 months (p<0.05). Other characteristics of
volunteers, such as being satisfied with most recent BHM experience, having undertaken more than
one BHM mission, having regular volunteering patterns in the last 12 months, having volunteered
elsewhere prior to BHM, reporting meaningful volunteer experience in the past, being female, or
belonging to any particular age group, were not associated with experiencing changes. However, it is
worth noting that the numbers are small, meaning statistics cannot be reliably calculated for all
comparisons.
A small number of volunteers went on to describe why they did not attribute the changes in their
lives to their BHM experience. Commonly, respondents said major life decisions would have
happened regardless of their volunteering experience. However, a small group of BHM volunteers
noted that BHM was just one of a range of volunteering activities they were engaged in, and their
other activities were likely to have a larger influence on them.
These opportunities did not come out of BHM. Unfortunately, I need reminders to
even go onto BHM because I am so busy with other volunteer events! (BHM
volunteer, survey)
I have done a lot of volunteering before, so it is not a new experience for me.
However, it is really affirming to see lots of people out and about just helping out
others. (BHM volunteer, survey)

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What is it about Big Help Mob volunteering that creates change?
The BHM model allows potential volunteers to become engaged in a range of ways:
1) joining missions, which enables a sporadic approach to helping, as the volunteer can join
missions when they have time and interest without ongoing commitment;
2) taking on more responsibility by organising missions within a core team (still without an
ongoing commitment); and,
3) in a highly engaged way, through the formal Unternship program.
It is worth noting that volunteers at all levels of engagement reported positive and substantial
impacts from volunteering with the program.
Respondents who reported that changes had taken place in their lives were asked to reflect on what
it was about the experience that led to the decision to make changes. This section outlines the ways
in which BHM volunteering experience impacted on participants.
A facilitated, easy and convenient volunteer experience
By far, the most common response (20 survey respondents) was that the BHM approach to
volunteering worked extremely well for the volunteers. BHM provided a way for individuals to help
others in a way that did not require an ongoing commitment, and could easily fit around their other
activities.
Enjoying the volunteer experience, particularly the BHM version which doesn't
require set, ongoing commitments has made me want to do more. (BHM
volunteer, survey)
Before volunteering with BHM, I was a bit hesitant about what volunteering would
be like, but volunteering for just a one-day mission (where there's no ongoing
obligation and the people are friendly) helped me overcome that. (BHM volunteer,
survey)
I want to be able to be volunteer my time in some way and I find it’s a really good
way to be able to do that but it’s flexible, which I find’s really important. (BHM
volunteer, 4 missions, interview)
Joining a mission was a very low barrier activity, with participants noting that the sign up process was
straight forward and required no pre-existing skills or experience.

PROPOSAL HEADING
Knowing how one can help the community, without the need of specific skills (or
training). (BHM volunteer, survey)
BHM introduced me to things I could do, (whereas previously I had made
assumptions about what might be required). (BHM volunteer, survey)
Volunteer opportunities were facilitated, meaning people could access opportunities that they
otherwise would not have sought or felt comfortable engaging in.
BHM gives me the chance to volunteer in places I would have never gone to due to
safety, time or distance reasons. I know that I could participate safely and it gives
me more confidence to step out of my comfort zone.
Missions presented a fun, warm and encouraging environment in which to help others.
After being welcomed into a volunteering position so warmly by BHM, I feel more
motivated and more confident to take on more volunteering positions. (BHM
volunteer, survey)
It made me realise that there are opportunities out there for young people that
are like, fun and stuff but you know, also meaningful which was really cool. (BHM
volunteer, Untern group discussion)
Experience of new activities and exposure to new populations
Volunteering with BHM exposed young people to new tasks, new community organisations, and new
population groups within the community.
Volunteering provides me with that hands on experience and allows me to
interface with people when I work, which reminds me how much I enjoy that kind
of work. (BHM volunteer, survey)
I used to just do simple volunteering such as ushering at a production or helping
supervise and teach little kids. Since the mission I attended helping the elderly and
disabled with their gardens, I have tried to help people who benefit more from my
help such as giving a performance at an elderly care home and helping children at
a school for the autistic. (BHM volunteer, survey)
Awareness of [international NGO] through BHM, (and the) realisation that I wasn’t
happy in my old job based on the experiences I had through volunteering with
BHM. (BHM volunteer, survey)

PROPOSAL HEADING
An Untern in the group discussions highlighted how her decision to enrol in a new course the
following year was influenced by her exposure to working directly with young people.
I’d always liked the idea of maybe becoming a teacher, but I was a bit of a fence
sitter, I wasn’t entirely sure if that was something I wanted to do…I want to be
helping these kids to grow and find something they really enjoy…so that’s where I
sort of got that idea from, so that was sort of how that mission changed me….I am
going to do a Diploma of Education next year, and continue to try and work with
youth. (BHM volunteer, Untern group)
Exposure to other volunteers
As described previously, other volunteers proved to be an exceptionally strong influence on BHM
volunteers. For some, particularly those who became highly engaged in the BHM organisation (as
Unterns or members of core teams), the BHM volunteer network provided a strong sense of
belonging, and the opinions and examples given by other group members proved highly influential on
volunteers’ worldviews and subsequent life decisions.
Getting to meet other people who think deeply about the impact of their daily
actions is inspiring and makes me reflect on my own decisions. (BHM volunteer,
survey)
Being involved in core team means being influenced by a range of incredibly
diverse and intelligent individuals who challenge me to think more deeply about
the choices I make and the impact it can have.
Experiencing the benefits of volunteering
Some volunteers noted that experiencing the benefits of volunteering was what contributed to
changes in their lives.
Doing a mission reminded me of some of the benefits of volunteering (particularly
with BHM!) and I guess made me keener to find a way to have more time available
to volunteer or even just work on things that I am passionate about. (BHM
volunteer, survey)
The benefits experienced by volunteers was measured in a survey questions: “What benefits do you
feel you get from volunteering?”, with all respondents asked to describe benefits gained from any
volunteering (not only their contributions through BHM). Responses outlining a broad range of
individual benefits were common, such as:

PROPOSAL HEADING
I feel that I belong to the volunteering community and am part of something
bigger than just a group or a club. I get opportunities to engage with really
passionate people in their fields of interest. I am also able to do work that I see the
tangible benefits of. (BHM volunteer, survey)
Personally, I feel happy to simply know I've made a difference. It's always good to
know that you are helping others. You also, usually, get to be with like-minded
people, and so you can make friends that you can set up more voluntary work at
later times (Yet to volunteer with BHM, survey)
Figure 1 shows a word cloud of responses to this question, with the size of the word indicating the
frequency of response.
Figure 1: What benefits do volunteers experience?
The responses are summarised here. While there is considerable overlap with the changes resulting
from BHM volunteering, the benefits described do not directly corresponded with the changes and
impacts described previously. The evaluation team explored differences between the benefits
reported by BHM volunteers and those who had yet to undertake a mission, as well as differences
between volunteers with a regular commitment to those with a more sporadic recent volunteering

PROPOSAL HEADING
pattern, however in both analysis, there was no differences between groups. Summaries of the
proportion of all survey respondents reporting different benefits are presented here:
 Feeling helpful and useful (39 respondents, 49%)
 Feeling good about themselves (39 respondents, 49%)
 Meeting new people (32 respondents, 40%)
 Building and contributing to the community, a sense of belonging (24 respondents, 30%)
 Learning new skills (14 respondents, 18%)
 New activities (13 respondents, 16%)
 A sense of purpose (11 respondents, 14%)
 Gaining new ideas and perspectives (9 respondents, 11%)
A summary of the inputs of BHM volunteering – that is, what BHM provides to individuals through
the volunteer experience- and the outcomes experienced by volunteers, is presented in Figure 2.
Figure 2: A summary of the impact of volunteering with Big Help Mob on individual volunteers
What volunteering
with BHM provides Intermediate change Impact

PROPOSAL HEADING
Summary and Discussion
This evaluation has found that those who volunteer with Big Help Mob experience a number of
personal benefits. They described feeling good about themselves, feeling useful, meeting new
people, feeling a part of their community, getting exposure to new activities and learning new skills,
and developing new perspectives and ideas as a result of their volunteering.
The focus of this evaluation was the question “Does the experience of Big Help Mob lead to further
action and if so, what components of Big Help Mob are most influential and why?”
This report has shown that the experience of volunteering with Big Help Mob has a highly beneficial
impact for the majority of volunteers, with many reporting positive life changes and increased pro-
social attitudes following on from their volunteer experience.
Some of the changes experienced include: engaging in more volunteering, both with BHM and with
other organisations; gaining new ideas and perspectives, especially around the impact their choices
and actions can make; building new networks and feeling part of a community; changing their job to
something more aligned with their interests, or cutting back work commitments to free up time for
other passions; starting new courses or taking on subjects to take them in a new direction; feeling
inspired and empowered; improving wellbeing; and developing personal skills to be better
communicators and feel more confident.
There are a number of components of the Big Help Mob experience that seem particularly important
for creating these changes. First, BHM provides opportunities that are highly accessible, meaningful
volunteer roles that overcomes many traditional barriers to volunteering for young people, such as
lack of time for a regular commitment or knowledge around finding suitable opportunities. BHM’s
activities do not depend on having a particular skill set, or knowing people who already volunteer.
This allows individuals to help out when they have time, and when a cause resonates with them,
without having to seek the opportunity themselves or make long-term commitments they may not be
able to fulfil. In this way, BHM shifts perceptions of volunteering, as it demonstrates that helping the
community can be easily fit into young people’s lives.
Perhaps most importantly, BHM provides exposure to a network of like-minded, enthusiastic young
volunteers. This supportive community provides a sense of belonging for new volunteers, and sets a
strong example, both in their life choices and in their volunteering behaviour, which inspires new
ideas and encourages further volunteering.
Finally, BHM volunteering activities provide exposure to new populations (such working directly with
children), activities and community organisations, which provides volunteers with new experiences
and chances to interact with groups in the community they might previously never had direct contact

PROPOSAL HEADING
with. This exposure appears to inspire volunteers to consider new direction for work, study and
further volunteering opportunities.
Given the short-duration of exposure to volunteer activities, the wide-ranging and, in some cases,
substantial impacts described in this evaluation are noteworthy, as they have previously been found
in research on regular volunteering. For example, many BHM volunteers report feeling empowered,
which was also found by Cohen (2010), and volunteers were more likely to take up more
volunteering after their initial contact with the organisation, in line with Bowman’s findings of
university-aged volunteers (2010). The reported changes to volunteer’s sense of self was in line the
literature on the development of civic identity (for example, Youniss and Yates, 1997). A number of
young people report a greater sense of wellbeing and improved mental health, which has also been
widely found in the literature (Jenkinsen et al. 2013).
The design of this evaluation does not allow us to attribute all of the reported changes to
volunteering with BHM, to determine direct causality between Big Help Mob’s activities and
subsequent impacts, or to fully understand the mechanism for any change. This evaluation does,
however, indicate that episodic volunteers engaged with Big Help Mob can also experience the wide-
ranging benefits associated with more regular, sustained volunteering commitments, and that the
organisation creates a substantial social impact for those who voluntarily contribute to its missions.

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