Volunteerism is a topic of increasing importance in this age of budget
cuts, declining employment and amid the threat posed by other competing
leisure pursuits. There are both social and economic benefits of
volunteering. As we are becoming more reliant on volunteers, there is a
need for a better understanding of why people take up volunteering, and
how to recruit, manage, motivate, and support volunteers most
effectively. In order for organisations that host volunteers to achieve
the most from their volunteers, they must understand how to give them
the best "leisure" experience. This book examines critical aspects of
contemporary volunteerism, from the perspective of a variety of
volunteering contexts. It will appeal to academic researchers and
students in disciplines such as leisure, recreation, tourism, management
and sociology as well as practitioners in the voluntary sector
(including volunteers), National and Local Government and those
organizing special events that depend on voluntary support.