Key Volunteering Statistics

On this page you will find lots of interesting facts and figures, which might change the way you think about volunteering.

You can also visit the Institute for Volunteering Research at www.ivr.org.uk for more reports on volunteering.

• Around 18.8 million people were engaged in active community participation (civic participation, informal & formal volunteering) in 2001, compared to 20.3 million in 2003, a rise of more than one and a half million

Formal Volunteering

• 11.1 million people involved in formal volunteering at least once a month are most likely to be involved in: organising or helping to run an activity or event (57%), raising or handling money (54%), leading a group/ being a member of a committee, giving other practical help (32%)

• They were most likely to be working in the following areas: sports & exercise (43%), hobbies, recreation, arts, social clubs (40%), children’s education (37%), religion (37%)

Informal Volunteering

• Younger people aged 16-24, were more likely to be involved in informal volunteering than any other age group

• Highest motivation for do-it.org.uk volunteers is wanting to help other people (23%), closely followed by wanting to try something new (18%) and improving their CV (17%.)
• The most important aspect of the volunteering opportunity was that is was training in a future career (36%), closely followed by wanting to make a difference (27%).
• Rewarding, challenging and interesting were the top three words used by do-it.org.uk users to describe their volunteering experience

People from across Britain were asked to rank the top three things they would most like to change in their local communities. On issues regarding crime and anti-social behaviour the results reveal:

• 63% want street crime reduced
• 55% want to see local drug problems cleaned up
• 55% want binge drinking reduced
• 54% want to see yob culture tackled
• 27% want to see a reduction in gun crime
• 21% want to stop people urinating in public

The same sample of people was also asked to rank the top three things they would most like to change in their local communities regarding the environment. The results reveal:

• 65% want to see litter cleaned up
• 55% want to see fly-tipping tackled
• 54% want to see dog mess cleaned up

Other environmental concerns include:

• 37% want to see graffiti cleaned up
• 35% want to see a reduction in air pollution
• 30% want to see a reduction in noise pollution

See www.csv.org.uk/News/Crime+and+Grime.htm for more information.

The Great British Time Survey, conducted by ICM and commissioned by CSV, shows how people spend their time and how everyone has skills that can benefit others, including gamblers who can help children with numeracy, shopaholics who can help a disabled person with their retail needs, and gardeners who can rejuvenate local ‘grot spots’.

The CSV Make a Difference Day research reveals:

• 42% of 18-24 year olds spend at least two hours a week dating
• 90% of the population spend two or more hours a week watching TV
• 55% of the population spend two or more hours a week gardening
• 87% of women spend at least one hour a week shopping, compared to 76% of men
• 49% of men spend at least two hours a week doing DIY, compared to just 26% of women
• 69% of men spend at least one hour reading newspapers a day, compared to 56% of women
• 21% of the population spend two or more hours a week walking the dog
• 79% of over 65s spend more than one hour a week making cups of tea
• 11% of over 65s spend more than one hour a week gambling

The survey asked people if they volunteered, and if not, why. The most common reason given was shortage of time (68%), while many did not think they had the right skills (44%).

The group least likely to volunteer were 18-24 year olds. Nearly three quarters (73%) said they didn’t have time to volunteer and nearly half (46%) said they were not interested. However the survey shows they have a lot to give:

See www.csv.org.uk/News/Time+Survey.htm for more information.

• Nearly half of all volunteers (47%) say volunteering has improved their physical health and fitness
• 25% of people who volunteer more than five times a year say volunteering has helped them lose weight (20% overall)
• 60% of 18- 24 year olds say volunteering has improved their fitness and nearly a third (32%) say volunteering has helped them lose weight
• 22% of 18 – 24 year olds say volunteering helps them cut down on alcohol
• 20% of people who have volunteered for over two years and 19% of those who volunteer once a month or more say volunteering helps them drink less alcohol
• Nearly a third (30%) of 18 – 24 year old smokers say volunteering helps them smoke less. 21% of smokers who have volunteered for over two years say that volunteering helps them smoke less
• 9% of men and 8% of women said that volunteering has improved their sex life! This compares with 17% of volunteers aged 18 – 24 years old.
• 15% of all volunteers say volunteering had led them to eat less chocolate

• Half of people (48%) who have volunteered for more than two years say volunteering makes them less depressed
• 71% of volunteers who offer their professional skills and experience say volunteering helps combat depression
• 63% of 25 – 34 year olds say volunteering helps them feel less stressed
• 62% of over 65’s say volunteering reduces stress
• Almost 1 in 3 (31%) 18 – 24 year olds say they have taken less time off work since volunteering

• 81% of employers surveyed view employees who do voluntary work positively
• 43% of employers think that employees who undertake voluntary work and learn new skills have a better chance of promotion and earning a higher salary
• 68% of employers feel that volunteering can add skills to their workforce

• A survey of staff whose volunteering had been supported by their employers showed that 70% reported that, as well as personal or professional development, they had an improved perception of their company (FI Group, now Xansa UK, 2001)
• A third of City businesses have community programmes involving 27,000 staff and providing voluntary support valued at £337 million (Heart of the City, 2002)
• 62% of businesses expect to increase the scope of their employee engagement in the community over the next two years (ENGAGE research among managers worldwide, International Business Leaders Forum, Oct 2002)
• 4 in 5 employees say they would view their employer more favourably if the employer committed itself to employee engagement (ENGAGE research among employees worldwide, International Business Leaders Forum, Oct 2002)
• 4 in 5 British employees say a company’s demonstration of commitment to the local communities in which it operates has an impact on pride in the company they work for (1 in 5 say it has a great deal of impact) (1000 working British public, Corporate Citizenship Company/ MORI 2000)

• Volunteers contribute £25.3 billion to the sector (UK Voluntary Sector Almanac 2004, NCVO)
• 72% of voluntary and community organisations employ no paid staff (UK Voluntary Sector Almanac, NCVO)
• Estimated number of regular volunteers is 15.9 million (the equivalent of 1.3 million full-time jobs). In a given year up to 23 million people will volunteer at least once. (UK Voluntary Sector Almanac, NCVO)