Older volunteer numbers fall

Social Enterprise

February 2008

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The number of older people giving up their time for free to help others has fallen by around a third since 2001, a new study shows.

Despite campaigns calling for more helping hands, the number of people aged 54-64 who volunteer has fallen from 23% to just 16%, according to research by nfpSynergy.

Government strategies to increase the number of volunteers across the board have failed, with little change in numbers since 2003.

Volunteering levels have fluctuated between 18-20% of the population and there has been a rise of 7% in the 25-34 age group, but other increases have been minimal or non-existent.

The British Volunteering 2001-2007 study draws upon a representative sample of 3,000 16+ year olds across Britain.

Almost one in five (19%) said they volunteered their time last year, with 10% supporting a charity or organisation and 6% playing a community role, such as a school governor. Community roles have also become a more popular form of volunteering, with numbers rising from 4% to 6%, while charity work remains at 10%.

The study also shows that most volunteers are women, of an older age group and of a more affluent and educated social group.

Joe Saxton, founder of nfpSynergy, said: ‘Since 2003, volunteering levels in Britain have been fluctuating, but are broadly flat. Moreover, in some age demographs - notably older ones and despite targeted campaigns - levels have notably slumped, while they have risen among other far less targeted groups, like 25-34 year olds.

‘The government's strategy bears little relation to trends and has failed to deliver rising volunteer numbers thus far.'

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