UK Civil Society Almanac 2023

• In 2020/21, people aged 65-74 were the most likely age group to formally volunteer. 22% volunteered at least once a month and 32% volunteered at least once a year. This was down from 31% and 40% respectively from 2019/20.
• People aged 25-34 were the least likely age group to formally volunteer. 12% volunteered formally at least once a month - slightly more than half the rate of those aged 65-74 — while 23% volunteered at least once a year. This was also down from 16% and 29% respectively from the previous year.
• The fall in formal volunteering for all age groups during the pandemic was bigger for younger people aged under 34 and older people aged 65 and over. People aged 35 to 64 experienced a smaller decline, which may reflect different types of volunteering undertaken by people in different age groups.
• On the other hand, informal volunteering increased across most age groups. The biggest rise for those informally volunteering at least once a month was for those aged 25-34 and 35-49 — both rising from 24% in 2019/20 to 31% in 2020/21.

• In 2021/22, people in England aged between 65 and 74 are the age group most likely to formally volunteer:
  • 23% have volunteered at least once a month
  • 32% at least once a year.
• Those aged between 25 and 34 have the lowest levels of participation:
  • 10% have volunteered at least once a month and 19% once a year.
• Annual formal volunteering levels of younger groups under the age of 65 have all dropped since 2020/21. While those aged 65 and over have maintained their participation levels. Annual formal volunteering participation rates are lower in 2021/22 than in 2019/20. However, for every age group (including those aged between 65 and 74, who saw a large decline from 31% in 2019/20), this reflects the longer-term overall decrease in participation (27%, down from 37% in 2019/20).
• Informal volunteering has experienced a sharp decline between 2020/21 and 2021/22. After recording a small increase in 2020/21, rates of informal volunteering (at least once a month) have dropped back to 26%, in line with the pre-pandemic level. Informal volunteering (once a year), however, has dropped from 54% to 46%, to the lowest level seen so far.
• The decrease in informal volunteering from 2020/21 to 2021/22 at least once a month is seen in age groups between 16 and 24 (32% to 25%), 25 and 34 (31% to 20%), 35 and 49 (31% to 24%) and 50 and 64 years old (34% to 27%). Rates across all age groups in 2021/22 are consistent with those in 2019/20.
• Rates of informal volunteering at least once a year are highest for those aged between 65 and 74 (52%) and lowest for those aged between 16 and 24 (38%) and 25 and 34 (42%). Rates are lower in 2021/22 than in 2020/21 for all age groups, except for those aged between 65 and 74 and those aged 75 and above.
• While those aged between 65 and 74 remain most likely to volunteer (both formally and informally) their level of monthly formal volunteering has not recovered from the sharp drop in 2020/21 during the covid-19 pandemic. Possible factors include socially isolating for health reasons and digital exclusion from online volunteering which became common during the pandemic. Another concern is that with 2m older households unable to cover essential spending because of rising costs, older volunteer numbers may fall further. While the era of pandemic lockdowns looks to be in the past, this older age group remains more vulnerable, and likely to need to isolate, especially during winter months.

People aged over 65 have maintained their levels of formal volunteering, while participation in all other age groups has dropped.

• In England, women are more likely than men to do any form of volunteering, formal or informal.
• 58% of women have done some form of volunteering, informal or formal, in the past 12 months, compared to 52% of men (55% for the total population).
• There is no difference in level of formal volunteering, but women are more likely to have volunteered informally in the past month (30% of women compared with 22% of men) and in the past year (49% compared with 42%).

• There are regional variations in volunteer participation. Those living in the north-east show the lowest participation rates in formal volunteering at least once a year (20%). London (30%), the South East (29%) and the south-west (30%) have higher rates. Rates in the east of England have declined from 31% to 24% between 2020/21 and 2021/22.
• Rates of informal volunteering show less variation across regions: 40% of those living in Yorkshire and the Humberside have informally volunteered at least once in the last year, being the lowest across the regions, compared to 48% of those living in London, south-east, and south-west. Rates are lower in all regions in 2021/22 as compared with 2020/21, with the exception of east Midlands.
• The lower levels of participation, particularly for formal volunteering, in less affluent areas compared with the more affluent south suggest there may be particular challenges in recruiting and retaining volunteers in the context of the cost of living crisis. Public transport and fuel costs can be a particular deterrent for those from poorer backgrounds.
• Those living in rural areas are more likely to formally volunteer. 33% of those in rural areas formally volunteered at least once in the last year, compared to 25% in urban areas. Rates of participation are lower in urban areas in 2021/22 (25%) than in 2020/21 (29%).

• In the last 12 months, 27% of those who identify as white have volunteered formally at least once. This is lower than among those identifying as being from a mixed ethnic background (35%). 25% of those identifying as Asian and 30% of those identifying as Black have volunteered formally at least once in the past year.
• Respondents identifying as Asian are less likely to have volunteered formally at least once a month (10%) than those identifying as white (17%) or from a mixed background (19%).
• Rates of monthly volunteering are consistent across all ethnic groups with those in 2020/21, while rates of annual volunteering have decreased for those identifying as white.
• While not significant, there is a trend for reduced participation among those identifying as Black, and increased participation for those identifying as being from a mixed ethnic background.
• Informal volunteering saw no significant variability among ethnic groups. However, the proportion of respondents identifying as being from white and Asian ethnic groups informally volunteering at least once a month decreased from 2020/21 to 2021/22 (33% to 26% for both groups). This has a similar pattern for rates of annual volunteering.  Rates across all ethnic groups in 2021/22 were consistent with those reported in 2019/20.
• While the available data appears to show some ethnic groups volunteer less than others, the low sample size, especially among certain age groups, means this data is not conclusive. For more context, please take a look at the Time Well Spent report on diversity and volunteering.

Levels of annual formal volunteering are higher among those identifying as being from a mixed ethnic background

• Disabled people are just as likely to volunteer formally at least once a month as non-disabled people (each 17%) and once a year (26% compared with 28%).
• Disabled people are slightly more likely to volunteer informally than non-disabled people, both annually (50% compared with 46%) and at least once a month (31% compared with 25%).
• It may be that increased levels of remote volunteering offer greater opportunities to volunteer to those with a disability (depending on the type) but there are specific challenges to volunteering in order to make it sufficiently inclusive and accessible.

• People living in the least deprived areas are more likely to volunteer formally at least monthly than those from the most deprived areas (22% compared with 10%), with a similar difference for volunteering formally at least once a year (35% compared with 19%). There was no variation in informal volunteering. These patterns were consistent with those seen in previous years.
• While the decline since 2019/20 in the rate of formal volunteering has been seen across all quintiles of deprivation, it remains to be seen if the ongoing cost of living crisis begins to make it harder to recruit in the most deprived areas in 2022/23.

• In total, 34% of people report volunteering, either formally or informally, in the past month (approximately 16m people in England). This is a decrease from 41% in 2020/21 and is the lowest level reported by the Community Life survey for this measure.
• Patterns of difference reflect those seen above, with higher rates of monthly volunteering among women, those aged between 65 and 74, those with a disability and those identifying as being from a mixed ethnic group.

Levels of any monthly volunteering are higher among women, those aged 65 to 74, those with a disability and those identifying as from a mixed ethnic group

• Community Life data from 2021/22.
• Time Well Spent report (especially section 3).
• Time Well Spent report on diversity and volunteering.
• Charity Commission report on trustees, highlighting diversity issues on trustee boards.
• Centre for Ageing Better report on informal volunteering contributions in a socioeconomically deprived neighbourhood in Scarborough.

• Guidance on
  • involving volunteers
  • Recruiting volunteers – including where to find them and the recruitment process
  • Planning for volunteers – including your legal responsibilities
• Attend our online training on volunteer management
• Read our guidance on running charities in the cost of living crisis.

Findings from this page are largely taken from the latest data from the Community Life Survey(2020/21).

Other data is taken from our Time Well Spent report which also looks at volunteer profiles.

Differences in the sample and methodology should be noted (more on this in the methodology section).

Specific terms

• Formal volunteering: Giving unpaid help through a group, club or organisation.
• Informal volunteering: Giving unpaid help as an individual to people who are not a relative.
• Regular volunteering: People volunteer at least once a month.