6 Summary
This week you have explored different aspects of values and the different levels (personal, organisational, voluntary sector) at which they operate in the context of voluntary organisations and your work, volunteering or general interest. You have learned that the concept of values is not straightforward and that values play a role in how organisations manage their activities and communicate their purpose to staff, volunteers, beneficiaries, other stakeholders, funders and the public. The idea of a value-driven sector was examined this week by looking at shared values and also the threats to those values. Furthermore, the activities this week should have helped you to reflect on what is important to you and how this relates to your work or volunteering with voluntary or community organisations.
In Week 2, you have learned about:
- how the concept of value has been applied to the voluntary sector
- what values are
- the different levels at which values operate and how they interact
- how to reflect on your own individual values and how they relate to behaviour
- what organisational values are
- how organisational values are communicated
- how conflict over values can arise
- what the values of the voluntary sector are and how they are under threat.
Next week you will explore data about the contribution of the voluntary sector and also learn about some differences within the sector.
You can now go to Week 3.