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.General
Home Office Citizenship Survey 2003
- 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
Do-it.org.uk July 2004
- 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
Community and Volunteering
The National Crime & Grime Survey - ICM survey commissioned by CSV SEPT 05
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.
Time and Volunteering
The Great British Time ISM survey AUG 05.
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:
Employment and Volunteering
TimeBank research conducted with job site reed.co.uk found that volunteering can help your career.
- 83% of employers view employees who undertake voluntary work as positive
- 70% of employers claim that employees who volunteer have a better chance of earning a higher salary and gaining a promotion
- 69% of jobseekers think that employers see volunteering as positive
- A quarter of jobseekers admit that the reason why they volunteer is to enhance their CV and career
- A quarter of jobseekers claim that their volunteering experience has helped them secure a job
- When recruiting, employers value volunteering more than hobbies and travel on a CV with 80% of employers rating volunteering as important, 66% rating hobbies as important and 54% rating travel as important.
Health and Volunteering
Giving Time Beats Obesity, Make A Difference Day Survey (ICM Research July ’04)
- 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
Giving Time Beats Stress, Make A Difference Day Survey (ICM Research September ’04)
- 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