Why volunteering matters: Key statistics
Giving up our time to help others in some form of voluntary capacity is becoming increasingly popular. Did you know that 27% of people over 16 years old in England volunteered formally with a group, club or organisation at least once in 2021/22? Based on ONS population estimates, this means 12 million people in England have formally volunteered at least once in the last year, which is an estimated 14.2 million people in the UK.
The statistics for informal volunteering (giving unpaid help without being involved in a group or club) are less visible but perhaps more surprising. In 2021/22, 46% of the population (approximately 21 million people in England, 25 million in the UK) volunteered informally at least once a year and 26% (12 million in England, 14.2 million in the UK) did so at least once a month.
Our time is precious, so why do people give up their time (either formally or informally)?
The benefits of volunteering for individuals
According to the NCVO (the membership community for charities, voluntary organisations and community groups in England), the majority (48%) of formal volunteers in England say they volunteer because they want to improve things or to help people. Other reasons to volunteer include having a personal connection to the cause (33%) and having spare time to volunteer (30%).
These top three reasons have remained relatively unchanged over the years and certainly seem to be borne out by Accuracy Matters’ own staff who volunteer.
Helen is on the committee of her local residents’ association, responsible for their comms and producing the quarterly village newsletter. She’s also in the local parish council’s comms working group.
‘I volunteer because I’m passionate about making the village a better place. Plus, I want to engage residents to appreciate what they have around them, help each other out and to know that they can make a difference,’ explains Helen. ‘In return, I get to meet new people, learn things about the history of the village and hear about people’s interesting lives!’
Elaine is a weekly volunteer reader at her children’s primary school. She reads with children on a one-to-one basis, helping them with their comprehension skills and phonics. She says: ‘I volunteer because reading is a really important skill. It unlocks so much of the world to the children, as well as helping them learn new words and find ways to express themselves.’
Elaine also gets a lot out of her time at school: ‘It’s reminded me of the joys of reading:; falling into a good story and being carried away by the words, eager to find out what is going to happen next. It’s a very joyful thing to do.’
For over a decade, Angela has been volunteering for The Food Chain, a charity that provides year-round nutritional support services, grocery deliveries, cooking and food education classes, and social eating events – all aimed at enhancing the health and well–being of people living with HIV.
‘I originally started volunteering because I had time and a love of cooking and wanted to use that knowledge and enthusiasm to give back,’ says Angela. ‘I also clearly remember the late 80s/early 90s AIDS crisis and the stigma surrounding that. As the years have gone on, I have learned more about how and why these services are still vital – and I’ve made some really good friends along the way.’” You can read more about Angela’s work with The Food Chain in her blog entry here.
How volunteering benefits the workplace
The benefits to the individual are clear. But perhaps what is less obvious are the benefits that volunteering can bring to the workplace.
Winston Churchill once said: ‘You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.’ This is becoming recognized by the increasing number of employers who are offering employer-supported volunteering (sometimes called corporate volunteering), when employers support their employees to take part in volunteering, usually during working hours. Volunteering opportunities can be practical (such as delivering food parcels to a local food bank) or skills-based (such as designing a website for a charity).
Greenhounds out of the trap…
One of our clients – Friend Studio – is one such employer that is sold on the value of employer-supported volunteering. They have formed a working group – the Greenhounds – which is making a difference to the external environment around their offices.
Their work as the Greenhounds initially began as part of a drive to improve Friend’s sustainability practices a couple of years ago. Aisling Hamill, project manager, explains: ‘Our sustainability work involved reviewing Friend’s consumption, waste generation and, procurement practices, helping our clients make more sustainable choices, and helping out with local initiatives, like our work with Hackney Parks.
‘We started off with a few litter picks in Haggerston Park, local to our office. We arrange them on our team office days (when we’re all in the office and not remote working), and we walk as a group from the office to the park. It takes about half of our working day, so we also try and plan the sessions for quieter work days.’
Successful litter picks expanded into gardening at Albion Square Gardens. ‘The Hackney Parks team were in the middle of preparing the park for its Green Flag assessment, so it was great to help out. Sprucing up the park was fun and satisfying, and a nice way to spend a sunny day,’ says Aisling.
‘We have found all our volunteering really rewarding. A lot of us work remotely, so it’s nice to get together – and it’s been really great for introducing new members to the team. It’s nice to get acquainted with the local area, and park users often stop to say hello and thank us for our work!’
The whole team clearly benefits at a personal level, as Verena Rechmann, account director, explains: ‘It’s surprisingly satisfying to see the immediate impact your actions have on your direct community, so I’ve been hooked since the first litter pick (in the pouring rain). We all love it, and this is proven by the way that colleagues keep coming back for more.’
At a company level, the Greenhounds are helping to bring their environmental policy to life. ‘We work in reporting,’ says Verena, ‘so we are aware of how important it is for companies to demonstrate the value they add to society. For some sectors, like manufacturing, the links can be fairly straightforward to see, but as an office-based agency, it’s a little trickier for us.. With the help of environmental consultancy Natural Distinction, we reviewed our impact and developed an environmental road map. Volunteering is just one part of the bigger picture.’
In the future, the Greenhounds are hoping to do more work with local schools. A team from Friend recently volunteered at a careers fair to tell students about career paths in corporate communications and graphic design.
How to get started with volunteering
If you’re keen to try volunteering and don’t know where to start, think about what interests or excites you, and consider what time or skills you can offer.
There are lots of organisations and databases to search, including:
- CharityJob, the UK’s largest and most specialized job board for the voluntary sector.
- Step on Board, a programme designed to train and help senior employees and leaders take up trustee roles on boards of charities and other organisations.
- Volunteer centres, an online database which aims to match your interests with opportunities in your local area.
However you decide to volunteer, every hour can make a difference, and every gesture will be gratefully received.
As Oscar Wilde said: ‘The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.’
