2.6b To what extent do different demographic groups volunteer, both formally and informally? What types of volunteering does this include?

Background

Across our Volunteering and Tackling Loneliness policy work, we are tackling barriers to participation in volunteering and other forms of social action, including supporting civil society to prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Our aim is to reduce loneliness and isolation by improving social connections and mental health literacy amongst those most at risk, in the places most underserved.

Next steps

Get in touch with [email protected]

Related UKRI funded projects

  • Continuity and change in volunteering through times of economic prosperity and adversity: a mixed-methods longitudinal secondary analysis.

    Much emphasis is being placed on the role of the volunteer in British society. The Coalition government's policies envisage that more needs can be met through community initiative, relying on voluntary effort. The Govern...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Southampton

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project specifically focuses on analyzing volunteering trends over time, including demographic characteristics and motivations.

  • Volunteero - Improving the lives of those who are socially isolated and lonely

    Volunteero is a platform to make volunteering as easy as clicking a button. As anyone who has tried to volunteer can tell you, it is a minefield laced with red tape. 90% of people claim to want to volunteer, only 20% do....

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: VOLUNTEERO LTD

    Why might this be relevant?

    While the project addresses barriers to volunteering, it does not focus on demographic groups specifically.

  • Untold stories of volunteering: a cultural animation project

    This project aims to explore unspoken stories of volunteering by employing a cultural animation approach to ensure that such stories are co-produced from design/scripting through to production and performance with and by...

    Funded by: AHRC

    Lead research organisation: Keele University

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project explores untold stories of volunteering but does not directly address different demographic groups' involvement.

  • Giving Back - A volunteering Hub to Enhance Social Prescribing in BANES

    So many people want to offer their skills or their time to help others but are unsure how to go about it. To volunteer effectively we need to make sure that people can connect with those in need, and then find activitie...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: DIGITAL ALGORITHMS LIMITED

  • Cessation of Volunteering in Later Life: Managing long-term impacts for volunteers and volunteer managers of cultural heritage organisations

    This study will explore how volunteers and volunteer managers negotiate moves out of a particular volunteering role and the impact that this can have in both the lives of older volunteers (aged 65+) and volunteer manager...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: Newcastle University

  • Exploring Personal Communities: A Review of Volunteering Processes

    Throughout 20th century social theory, the rhetoric of 'community' has been used to index the warmth of immediacy, emotion and close relationships and has been contrasted to the cold rationality and instrumentality of mo...

    Funded by: AHRC

    Lead research organisation: Keele University

  • Creating a digital volunteering ecosystem

    Volunteering could add £50B+ to the UK economy per year or around 3.5% of the annual UK GDP according to the Bank of England. This value could be significantly higher were key barriers to entry reduced or overcome....

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: VOLUNTEERO LTD

  • Reconceptualising International Volunteering

    Volunteering as a concept is a phenomenon found across the globe as an integral part of the majority of societies. International volunteering is described predominantly in two domains; one associated with international t...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Brighton

  • An analysis of the capacity of volunteer sports coaches as community assets in the Big Society

    Although there is some existing research on volunteer sport coaches and their role in community engagement, it tends to be somewhat fragmented and limited, and is located primarily in the national contexts of the USA, Ca...

    Funded by: AHRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Birmingham

  • PassioneerMatch: Revolutionising Volunteer Matching

    At Make Good Grow (MGG), we believe the challenge isn't finding passionate individuals eager to give back but keeping them engaged with diverse, meaningful opportunities. Many charities hesitate to seek support due to li...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: MAKE GOOD GROW CIC