An initiative of in association with Nick Ockenden Volunteering in the UK

What is volunteering? Volunteering ‘Any activity that involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that aims to benefit the environment or someone (individuals or groups) other than, or in addition to, close relatives’ (Volunteering Compact Code of Good Practice, 2005) Formal and informal volunteering A brief history

Volunteering in the UK Where does it take place? The UK and the four countries The public, private and third sector Volunteering Development Agencies in the UK -Volunteer Development Scotland (VDS) -Volunteer Development Agency Northern Ireland -Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) -Volunteering England Volunteer Centres Volunteer-involving organisations Office of the Third Sector

Volunteering in the UK What is the role of government? Strong government interest in volunteering -‘The essential act of citizenship’ (Alun Michaels, 1998) Agendas and developments in England -Youth volunteering, the Russell Commission and V -Volunteering for All and Goldstar -The Commission on the Future of Volunteering

Volunteering in the UK How much volunteering is going on? High levels of volunteering(England) -43% volunteered last year– 17.9 million people -Decreased from 2005 (44%) but steady since 2001 People volunteer frequently -On average give 11 hours every four weeks -Most volunteer for more than one organisation (59%) -Most volunteer at least once a month (66%) Worth £22.5 billion in 2003

Volunteering in the UK What do volunteers do? Volunteering activities -Raising / handling money (65%) -Organising, helping to run an event (50%) -Committee member (28%) -Educating (25%) Area of interest -Education (31%) -Religion (24%) -Sports / exercise (22%) -Health / disability (22%)

Volunteering in the UK What stops people getting involved? Lack of time (83%) -Real and perceived; perception of need for commitment Bureaucracy (49%) -Paperwork and becoming more like paid work; accountability; formalisation of processes Risk (47%) -‘Compensation culture’; worried about being sued Lack of information (39%) -Not being asked or not knowing where to find out about volunteering opportunities

Volunteering in the UK What’s happening now? Professionalisation and formalisation More demand for flexibility -Increase in short-term / one-off volunteering -Increase in ‘employer-supported volunteering’

Volunteering in the UK Where can I find out more? ‘Helping Out: the National Survey of Volunteering and Charitable Giving’ (2007) - Citizenship surveys 2001 – The Institute for Volunteering Research (IVR) - -