Volunteering and employability : the roles and experiences of volunteer-involving organisations and employers in Scotland

Volunteering is viewed as having a role to play in meeting policy objectives of Government at a local, Scottish, UK and EU level. One of those roles is in preparing people for paid employment. Some research has suggested that volunteering enhances employability, and this has become something of a universal truth. However, the majority of research on volunteering and employability is based upon the experience of the individual who has been volunteering. The perspective of other players in the labour market has typically not been taken into consideration. This research aims to fill this gap in knowledge by considering the roles played in employability by the employer, and by labour market intermediaries, specifically volunteer-involving organisations. Drawing on existing models of employability which demonstrate the importance of the labour market context, this qualitative research aims to better understand experiences of volunteering and employability that go beyond the individual volunteer. Taking a critical realist approach, the research is based upon in-depth interviews, and, in the case of employers, a pre-interview online survey. The data was analysed thematically to draw out themes within and across participating organisations. The research has found that volunteer-involving organisations are providing a key specialist role in employability provision, offering coaching and support to volunteers. Funding available for employability has allowed these organisations to become more financially sustainable, but there are tensions relating to the impact on volunteering, and balancing the needs of organisations with the demands of Government programmes and the needs of volunteers. From a labour market viewpoint, while third sector employers actively seek volunteering experience, public and private sector employers demonstrate an ambivalence towards volunteering; suggesting that while it can provide experience for those outwith the labour market, it does not form a part of the recruitment process, except where applicants are able to demonstrate its relevanc

Teachers and information literacy: Understandings and perceptions of the concept

Building on our 2017 article focussing on school library staff perceptions of teachers’ information literacy, this article reports on the information literacy (IL) understandings and skills of teachers in post-primary schools (the age range for pupils in post-primary schools is 11–18) throughout Northern Ireland. Results of a comprehensive online teacher survey (n=426) indicated that, despite misplaced confidence in their own skills, teachers’ IL understandings and skills were underdeveloped. The majority of respondents had neither received IL training nor included IL instruction in their teaching. The significance of these findings for theory, practice and policy relating to the teaching of IL skills, which are intended to equip young people to become active citizens and members of a skilled workforce, is discussed

Improving the Success of Non-Traditional Students in an Introductory Computing Course

This Work in Progress Research to Practice paper presents a redesign of an introduction to computing course at a public, minority serving institution in the United States with a majority of non-traditional students. The course redesign was motivated by the desire to improve the success of the students in this course and in the major. Active learning during class and required attendance were the major components of the course redesign. The course policies included flexibility for the occasional absences that are expected with non-traditional students. A comparison of student performance in the experimental and control sections indicated that the requirement of active participation during class is not detrimental to students’ performance in the course

EXPANDING FOOD SECURITY THROUGH THE BREAKFAST IN THE CLASSROOM PROGRAM IN A RURAL NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

Throughout the United States, households with children experience disparate rates of food insecurity. In Cleveland County, North Carolina (NC), 23.3% of households with children are food insecure, compared to 16.4% of all county residents. Many food insecure children rely on school meals for food that they may not have access to at home. The Federally Funded School Breakfast Program (SBP) reduces marginal food insecurity, but it is underutilized due to barriers such as stigma and the inability to arrive early to school to participate. Innovative models, such as Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC), alleviate barriers to utilization and have been shown to increase participation up to 88%. Through a partnership between the Cleveland County Commissioners, the faculty, staff and administration of the Cleveland County Public School System, No Kid Hungry NC and families of Cleveland County, the BIC will be implemented to reduce food insecurity among children.Master of Public Healt

EXPANDING FOOD SECURITY THROUGH THE BREAKFAST IN THE CLASSROOM PROGRAM IN A RURAL NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

Throughout the United States, households with children experience disparate rates of food insecurity. In Cleveland County, North Carolina (NC), 23.3% of households with children are food insecure, compared to 16.4% of all county residents. Many food insecure children rely on school meals for food that they may not have access to at home. The Federally Funded School Breakfast Program (SBP) reduces marginal food insecurity, but it is underutilized due to barriers such as stigma and the inability to arrive early to school to participate. Innovative models, such as Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC), alleviate barriers to utilization and have been shown to increase participation up to 88%. Through a partnership between the Cleveland County Commissioners, the faculty, staff and administration of the Cleveland County Public School System, No Kid Hungry NC and families of Cleveland County, the BIC will be implemented to reduce food insecurity among children.Master of Public Healt

EXPANDING FOOD SECURITY THROUGH THE BREAKFAST IN THE CLASSROOM PROGRAM IN A RURAL NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

Throughout the United States, households with children experience disparate rates of food insecurity. In Cleveland County, North Carolina (NC), 23.3% of households with children are food insecure, compared to 16.4% of all county residents. Many food-insecure children rely on school meals for food that they may not have access to at home. The Federally Funded School Breakfast Program (SBP) reduces marginal food insecurity, but it is underutilized due to barriers such as stigma and the inability to arrive early to school to participate. Innovative models, such as Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC), alleviate barriers to utilization and have been shown to increase participation up to 88%. Through a partnership between the Cleveland County Commissioners, the faculty, staff, administration of the Cleveland County Public School System, No Kid Hungry NC, and families of Cleveland County, the BIC will be implemented to reduce food insecurity among children.Master of Public Healt

Results from the Sweden 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

Background: The Sweden 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity (PA) for Children and Youth is a unique compilation of the existing physical and health related data in Sweden. The aim of this paper is to summarize the procedure and results from the report card. Methods: Nationally representative surveys and individual studies between 2005-2015 were included. Eleven PA and health indicators were graded using the Active Healthy Kids Canada grading system. Grades were assigned based on the percentage of children/youth meeting a defined benchmark (A: 81-100%, B: 61-80%, C: 41-60%, D: 21-40%, F: 0-20%, or incomplete (INC). Results: The assigned grades were: Overall Physical Activity, D; Organized Sport Participation, B+; Active Play, INC; Active Transportation, C+; Sedentary Behaviors, C; Family and Peers, INC; School, C+; Community and the Built Environment, B; Government Strategies and Investments, B; Diet, C-; and Obesity, D. Conclusion: The included data provides some support that overall PA is too low and sedentary behavior is too high for almost all age groups in Sweden, even with the many national policies as well as an environment that is favorable to the promotion of PA