The impact on learning outcomes was significant
To assess the impact on learning 20 criterion were measured (5 for each capacity in the Curriculum for Excellence). Youth volunteers were asked to rate their abilities on a scale from 1=low to 5=high both before and after joining PSYV [see chart above].
Findings indicate an improvement was made in all four capacities, with youth volunteers achieving a cumulative mean score of 70.19 (out of a maximum of 100) before joining PSYV rising to a mean of 83.09 after joining PSYV ( an increase of 12.9 points).
The most significant improvement was in relation to becoming effective contributors, with an improvement of 4.32 points. This was followed by the capacity relating to becoming confident individuals which improved by 3.55 points overall. The overall rate of improvement was slightly less on becoming responsible citizens and becoming successful learners with an increase of 2.55 and 2.48 respectively.
In relation to becoming successful learners, gaining new skills was the criterion that improved the most from 3.79 to 4.49 (<0.7)
In relation to becoming confident individuals, it was youth volunteers’ confidence that improved the most, with the lowest mean score of 2.98 before joining PSYV, which rose to 4.2 after joining PSYV (<1.22).
In relation to becoming responsible citizens, most progress is made in regard to what youth volunteers knew about their community and Scotland which achieved a mean score of 2.93 before joining PSYV, rising to a mean of 3.9 after joining PSYV (<0.97).
In relation to being effective contributors, the greatest improvement is in youth volunteers’ ability to communicate in different ways which had a mean score of 3.14 before joining PSYV rising to 4.22 after joining PSYV (<1.08).
Findings confirm that taking part in PSYV enhances young people's skills and aptitudes.