Image shows a group of people volunteering

Beatrice McKenzie

In the years since the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of volunteering in the UK have seen a sharp decline. Now, with the UK facing a host of new crises, charities are struggling to meet the increased demand for their services with a decreased workforce.

The Impact Of the Pandemic

Four years ago, the country was seized by the sentiment to help those around us — our neighbours, elderly relatives even complete strangers. The frenzy and fear of the pandemic saw us clapping for the NHS on our doorsteps, dropping off food shops to neighbours and donating homemade face coverings. Through the darkness of the pandemic, the nation united and showed remarkable levels of generosity and humanity. 

We were prepared to help others in any way we could. So, what went wrong? 

Since the pandemic, volunteering has plummeted. The Time Well Spent survey by the National Council for Charitable Organisations recorded that the number of volunteers has almost halved since the pandemic, with only 6 per cent of people now volunteering for charitable causes. Volunteering amongst 16-24 year olds in particular has taken a hit since the pandemic, with only 25 per cent of young people volunteering once a month in comparison to 32 per cent in 2020.

Why Has Volunteering Declined? 

The lingering shadow of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis have contributed greatly to the steady decline in volunteering in recent years. Despite the pandemic owing to a surge of volunteering in the UK, it is also the reason why many had to discontinue their volunteering commitments.

Sarah Vibert, CEO of the NCVO, noted that “people who were lifelong volunteers broke their habit during the pandemic.” The descent into lockdown saw the closure of charity shops, community libraries and museums, forcing out many volunteers who did not return to their roles after the pandemic. 

“Food banks saw a 37 per cent rise in demand between 2021/22 and 2023”

We are now facing a newfound crisis which has further depleted the number of volunteers in the UK. The cost-of-living crisis and the added economic pressure it brings has meant that many volunteers have begun to prioritise paid work over unpaid volunteering. This is particularly prevalent amongst BAME volunteers, with 47 per cent having reduced their volunteering hours to increase their paid employment time. 

The fall in volunteers comes at a time of particularly high demand for charity-run services such as food banks, which are now facing an unprecedented rise in users. The Trussel Trust stated that food banks saw a 37 per cent rise in demand between 2021/22 and 2023, with almost 3 million emergency food parcels being distributed during this period. 

At a time when charities are facing unsustainable levels of demand, it is clear that both service volunteers and service users are suffering the consequences of the financial crisis. 

How Can Volunteering Help You Get Paid Work? 

In a job market saturated with highly educated graduates, relevant voluntary experience could be the difference between getting noticed by employers and being disregarded amongst thousands of identical applications. 

With more and more charities understanding the power of social media in raising awareness for their cause, a demand has arisen for social media volunteers to take charities into the digital world. For budding marketers, journalists, graphic designers or writers, the opportunity to gain social media experience within a supported environment is undeniably valuable. Empoword Journalism regularly accepts applications for voluntary editors and social media volunteers — check out our Instagram for opportunities.

Most charities require a commitment of only a few hours a week with the majority of positions being completely remote, making volunteering a great way to gain experience alongside university or full-time work. 

For those interested in entering the mental health sector, many mental health charities operate helplines which require volunteers to speak to users via text or calls. 

Those pursuing a future in politics might wish to volunteer as a leafleter for a political party or volunteer to speak to those in the local community about political issues. 

For those beginning a career as a doctor, nurse or other medical professional, volunteering with emergency services like the Red Cross offers hands-on experience with first aid and emergency responding. 

Despite the damage that the pandemic caused for the voluntary sector, the resultant transition to remote volunteering has been incredibly positive. The ability to volunteer from home — whether that be helping with a charity’s admin, working on their social media or answering helplines — has allowed volunteering to become much more accessible to a wider workforce. It has also been shown to be hugely successful, with 98 per cent of remote volunteers reporting high levels of satisfaction and support in their online roles. 

Putting The Power Into Our Own Hands

It is easy to feel helpless in the face of disasters such as the refugee crisis, climate change and homelessness. However, through volunteering, we can actively contribute to tangible improvements.

With the government’s increasingly hostile policies towards refugees, support for charities such as Care4Calais or The Refugee Council have never been in greater demand. Opportunities to volunteer with refugees range from week-long volunteering experiences in refugee camps in Calais, to giving just an hour a week to help teach English to refugees.

There are various volunteering options for those wanting to join the mission to end homelessness by volunteering with charities such as Crisis and Shelter, which help those facing homelessness. Volunteering can vary from shaking buckets to assisting with service user’s health and safety needs. 

By volunteering our time for causes which the government often chooses to ignore, we can use the privileges we have been afforded for good and help those who struggle the most in our society.

The opportunities to volunteer are endless. Whether your motivations are to enhance your CV or campaign for an important cause, it’s the small actions we take as individuals which make a difference in society. Could 2024 be your year to volunteer? 

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 Featured image courtesy of RDNE Stock Project via Pexels. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here. 

Beatrice is a recent graduate in Spanish and English Literature from the University of Leeds. She is currently working in marketing within the education sector.

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