Volunteer Programs as ‘Third Places’

In this Research to Practice, Laurie Mook looks at a new way of viewing the role of volunteer programs, that of a ‘third place.’ While our lives are often looked at as being divided between home (‘first place’) and work (‘second place’), urban sociology now proposes a ‘third place’ to focus attention on places in between and the role these places play in community building. The research presented by Mook involves a case study of a volunteer-led DIY heritage institution in Australia, where researchers sought to understand how the organization might create a sense of community and promote wellbeing for its volunteers. Ideas to help volunteer resource managers cultivate a ‘third place’ are also provided.