City Research Online

Abstract

Purpose
Understanding the interplay of factors that affect the contribution of volunteering to residential care homes for older people is complex. Using a realist approach, this paper aims to identify the contexts, mechanisms and outcomes which explain the differentiated experiences and outcomes of volunteering in such settings.

Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative case studies with five residential care homes were undertaken to gather perspectives from volunteers and care home staff. These accounts were augmented with interviews with people running programmes designed to recruit and train volunteers and wider stakeholders. In total, 42 interviews were completed, and a realist analysis was undertaken.

Findings
Key areas were identified which condition the effectiveness of volunteering in improving residents’ life experiences: policy and resources; ethos and approach to volunteering; planning and managing volunteering; and motivation and life experience. The authors developed a programme theory to explain the connections between the context, mechanisms and outcomes from the data.

Originality/value
This paper’s originality comes from its realist approach, and the novel programme theory it develops to explain “what works” for volunteering in care homes. It provides insights for policymakers and those working in, and with, residential care homes, identifying the key factors that can support volunteering in these settings.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2026 Mark Llewellyn, Helen Timbrell, Angela Ellis-Paine, Jo Stuart, Sion Tetlow and Carolyn Wallace. Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence maybe seen at Link to the terms of the CC BY 4.0 licenceLink to the terms of the CC BY 4.0 licence.
Publisher Keywords:	UK, Qualitative research, Volunteering, Social care, Wales, Realist analysis, Residential care homes
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Departments:	Bayes Business School Bayes Business School > Faculty of Management
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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