JVN Blog

If you’re new to volunteering, we thought it might reassure you to know that you’re in good company, and a very large company at that. Over 21 million people volunteer every year in the UK, and nearly 14 million of them do so regularly. That equates to close to 200 million hours of time given every year to great causes, many of which you can find on our website.

What are my limits? Although there are some differences in gender-specific volunteering roles, a huge amount now is more flexible. A recent survey showed that just as many men as women are involved in volunteering roles including “cooking, cleaning and laundry.” Perhaps surprisingly, as well, volunteering is popular across all age groups, with the keenest ones in the 16-24 age bracket. Though many people cite a lack of time as their reason for volunteering, those aged 25 to retirement age don’t lag far behind, showing that volunteering is accessible to people from all walks of life.

What do people do? The most popular sort of volunteering opportunity – by a considerable margin – is sport or exercise related. About a third of people who volunteer give their time to something faith-based. In terms of types of activities, fundraising is the most popular.

What’s it all worth? Aside from the huge emotional benefits given to those who benefit from volunteering, it’s estimated that it saves the UK economy just under £23.9 billion per year. But the true value of volunteering goes beyond monetary wealth – new volunteers bring fresh perspectives to the work of charities, the health benefits are well noted, and it increases one’s employability chances.

So there’s lots to choose from and the value of volunteering is immense. Whatever you want to do, your best bet is to visit www.jvn.org.uk and search for your perfect match. And if you’re still stuck you can get in touch for some extra help.

Stats taken from the NCVO Almanac.