Why Volunteers Are a Lifeline to So Many Organisations

In 2024, an estimated 14.2 million people in England volunteered at least once a month, contributing around £4.6 billion in productivity to the economy.

Alongside this, 25 million people across the UK took part in informal volunteering.

These numbers reflect a powerful truth: volunteers play a vital role in sustaining organisations and supporting communities.

Reflecting on my time working at a youth charity, I can confidently say that our Peer Volunteer Programme was one of the most rewarding and challenging aspects of my role.

Every summer, we recruited around 60 volunteers aged 13–25 to help run 120 classes for young people. These sessions supported 11–25-year-olds to build skills, grow in confidence, and prepare for the next step in their lives.

Our volunteers supported peers, guided students, and ensured a welcoming and positive learning environment. They also helped our tutors and youth workers run classes, managing everything from day-to-day queries to unexpected challenges.

What Do People Gain from Volunteering?

For many people, volunteering is about more than giving time — it’s about making a real difference. The most common motivator for volunteering is a desire to help others. In our programme, many volunteers returned year after year because they found meaning in supporting their peers.

Volunteering also offers real benefits for the volunteers themselves. According to the NHS, it can support mental wellbeing, reduce stress, and improve life satisfaction. On top of that, volunteers develop skills, gain confidence, and often build a lasting sense of purpose.

Some of our volunteers stayed involved for years, not just because of the impact they made but also because of the friendships they formed. In one case, a volunteer described the programme as life-changing, saying that without it, they “would end up dead or in prison.”

Volunteering often helps people feel more connected to their communities and can lead to long-term engagement with causes they care about. Many volunteers also gain valuable insights into experiences they might not otherwise encounter.

Have You Asked?

Sometimes, the biggest barrier to volunteering is simply not being asked. Research shows that one in five people who didn’t volunteer last year said it was because nobody asked them.

At our charity, word of mouth was a powerful tool. Many of our volunteers heard about the programme through friends or previous participants. We learned that asking - clearly and confidently -really matters.

It’s also worth recognising just how many services would not exist without volunteers. From women’s refuges and community food banks to major charities like Cancer Research UK, volunteers keep vital services running. The London Ambulance Service’s Volunteer Emergency Responders and the Samaritans are just two examples of how volunteers continue to make a huge difference across the UK.

The Rise of Virtual Volunteering

Since the pandemic, online and remote volunteering has become increasingly common. In fact, virtual volunteering is now the third most popular way to volunteer.

For many organisations, this shift has helped remove geographical barriers and made opportunities more inclusive. Volunteers can now contribute regardless of where they live, helping widen access and increase diversity.

Virtual volunteering also led many organisations to rethink how they support and engage volunteers. The goal remains the same — creating meaningful, flexible, and rewarding opportunities.

Practical Barriers Still Exist

Despite all the positives, practical barriers can prevent people from volunteering — particularly at a time of rising living costs.

For younger volunteers especially, out-of-pocket expenses are a real concern. In our programme, we introduced a weekly reimbursement system to ensure that no one was left out of pocket.

Yet nationally, only 55% of volunteers say their organisation reimburses expenses, and 16% aren’t sure. This uncertainty can put people off.

Time is another challenge. Many people feel they don’t have enough hours or worry that volunteering won’t fit around their commitments. Yet 82% of volunteers report that their organisation is flexible. There’s clearly room to improve how we communicate this.

Other challenges include the cost of childcare or eldercare. These need to be factored in when designing inclusive volunteer programmes.

What Makes a Volunteer Programme Work?

A successful volunteer programme needs strong management. That means having a clear strategy, setting expectations, and providing the right training and support.

At our charity, we treated our volunteers like team members. We invested in their development, made time for them, and listened to their feedback.

One of the most difficult parts of the job was encouraging young people with complex backgrounds to trust the programme. But seeing them grow in confidence and transform their future made every challenge worth it.

Volunteers Are Essential

Volunteers are a lifeline to so many charities. They’re essential to countless services and have a profound impact on the people and communities they support.

As the need for volunteers grows, organisations must continue to ask the question, remove barriers, and create meaningful, flexible opportunities. Because volunteering changes lives - not just for the people being supported, but for the volunteers themselves.

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