Volunteers are the lifeblood of the voluntary and community sector. Without their dedication and skills, much of the work of charities and community groups would simply not be possible. From small acts of kindness like walking someone’s dog when they’re not well, to regular, long-term commitments such as being a trustee, volunteers make a difference to people’s lives every day.
In 2016, the economic value of formal volunteering alone was estimated at £23.9 billion. During the Covid-19 pandemic, an estimated 10 million volunteers have supported community responses across the UK, bringing the incredible impact of volunteering under the spotlight.
In light of this, we’re looking into what we’ve funded in this area before and during the pandemic, and the difference this has made. We draw on the 4,200 grants that we’ve given out to charities and community groups over the past five years to support volunteering, worth a combined £690 million in funding from National Lottery proceeds, government and other sources.
Documents
- Power in purpose: the difference we make in mobilising volunteers
Power in purpose: the difference we make in mobilising volunteers (PDF 1 MB)
- Introduction
- Social and economic impacts
- A stronger, more diverse VCS
- Paths to a better future: Impact on volunteers
