Volunteering drive 'has done little'

Regeneration & Renewal

18 January 2008

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The substantial amount of public money spent to promote volunteering has failed to increase the numbers of volunteers, says a think-tank document.

The NFP Synergy briefing says the proportion of adults that volunteer has risen by about four percentage points from 2001 to 2003, but since then has "hovered" at around 19 per cent.

In addition, even though particular groups have been targeted by campaigns, there has been no corresponding increase in their volunteering habits, says the research.

For example, volunteering among 25 to 34-year-olds, who have hardly been targeted by government campaigns, says NFP Synergy, rose from 11 to 18 per cent between 2001 and 2007. Yet among 54 to 64-year-olds, who were targeted, levels fell from 23 to 16 per cent over this period, the report says.

The briefing says: "The biggest increase in volunteering was up until 2004 and after that volunteering levels have been static ... Our research shows little evidence that government investment in volunteering is working."

The think-tank recommends better evaluation of how best to increase volunteering. "Substantial amounts of public money are being spent on volunteering, with little evidence of successful returns on investment through increased volunteering," it says.

But an Office of the Third Sector spokeswoman said: "This report runs contrary to other evidence. We are already investing more than ever before in encouraging volunteering and this is having an extremely positive impact right across the age range."

As chancellor, Gordon Brown helped to set up the Russell Commission to develop a strategy for youth action. It recommended that a national charity called V should be created whose aim was to encourage 16 to 25-year-olds to volunteer. The Government offered £50 million to match fund any revenue raised from the private sector (R&R, 12 May 2006, p9).

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