Time Well Spent 2023: Volunteering among the global majority

In this report, we use the term ‘global majority’ to refer to all ethnic groups except white British and other white groups, including white minorities.

Learn more in the language and definitions section.

Just over two-thirds of global majority volunteers say they are likely to continue volunteering in the next 12 months.

Global majority volunteers are less likely to continue volunteering compared to volunteers overall.

69% of global majority volunteers say that they are fairly or very likely to continue compared to 77% of volunteers overall. This reflects the differences seen in the volunteer satisfaction section.

A notable difference is seen between those who are ‘very likely’ to continue. 34% of global majority volunteers said this, compared to 50% of volunteers overall.

Demographic differences

There are some variations by demographic. These are broadly similar to variations in levels of satisfaction.

Among global majority volunteers, the following groups are less likely to continue volunteering.

• Those aged 18‒34 (63%) compared with those aged 55 and over (86%).
• Those volunteering less often (54%) compared with those volunteering more frequently (81%).
• Those from the Asian ethnic group were least likely to say they were 'very likely’ to continue (28%) compared to other ethnic groups.
• Those not volunteering remotely (online or over the phone) at all (70%) compared with those volunteering exclusively online (80%).
• Public sector volunteers (50%) compared with civil society volunteers (77%) and private sector volunteers (85%).

The likelihood of continuing is similar for global majority volunteers aged 18‒34 and over 55 compared to volunteers overall.

However, global majority volunteers aged 35‒54 are less likely to continue (70%) compared to overall volunteers of the same age (78%).

This suggests that 35‒54s are driving the lower level of intent to continue among volunteers from the global majority.

A sense of duty or obligation is a stronger motivator to continue among global majority volunteers.

While the same top four reasons are selected by global majority volunteers and volunteers overall, global majority volunteers are more likely to choose ‘a sense of duty or obligation’ (37% vs 30%).

This may be linked to the more prominent role of religion outlined in the volunteer motivation and values section. However further exploration is needed to understand this.

Global majority volunteers are less likely to choose ‘the difference I’m making’, the cause, or the group itself (see chart 15 above).

Almost a quarter (24%) of people whose volunteering is organised by an unpaid member of staff cite ‘the lack of people to take my place’ as a reason to continue. This is much higher than those whose volunteering is organised by a paid member of staff (10%). This indicates these volunteers may be taking on more responsibility, and so feel like they have to continue.

The data highlights the importance of volunteer experiences overall. Over three quarters of satisfied volunteers (76%) are likely to continue compared with 28% of those who are dissatisfied.

It is interesting to note that almost 3 in 10 dissatisfied volunteers from the global majority say they are likely to continue. More research is needed to understand why this is.

While changes in circumstance is the top reason not to continue for both global majority volunteers and volunteers overall, global majority volunteers are less likely to choose this as a main reason (24% vs 37%).

There are no other significant differences, however the organisation no longer offering volunteering is ranked much more highly by global majority volunteers.