Present Struggles, Past Origins: Current Challenges in Volunteering Amidst Two Decades of Decline

The VCSE Barometer Wave 6 Report has been published by Nottingham Business School and Pro Bono Economics.

Nottingham Trent University’s Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise Sector (VCSE) Observatory develops innovative methods to collect, uncover and unify existing and new datasets so that a clearer, more accurate picture of the nature and value of UK VCSE can be painted for policymakers, practitioners and stakeholders.

“Present Struggles, Past Origins – Current Challenges in Volunteering Amidst Two Decades of Decline” is an analysis of the VCSE Barometer Survey by the VCSE Data and Insights National Observatory.

Key Takeaways:

Volunteer Recruitment

Ongoing Recruitment Challenges: Volunteer recruitment is difficult for 61% of organisations
and has featured as a top three concern since May 2023.
Competing Priorities: Organisations cite the public’s lack of time and interest as the most significant barriers to volunteer recruitment.
Resource-Efficient Recruitment Strategies: Word of mouth is the dominant recruitment method, with fewer organisations using social media and in-person events compared to last year.

Volunteer Retention

Retention Challenges Persist: Organisations face ongoing challenges in retaining volunteers due to external pressures, with little improvement since Spring 2023.
Balancing Responsibilities: Volunteers are increasingly balancing family, caring, and work responsibilities, making it difficult for organisations to retain them.
Increase in Volunteer Unpaid Hours: Organisations report further increases in unpaid volunteer hours over the last 12 months.

Guest Expert Commentary: Gethyn Williams

The wave 6 findings present a picture of challenge and resilience – both for volunteers themselves and the
organisations that enable and support them. The challenges highlighted will be recognisable to many volunteer-involving organisations, and it may be telling that the impact of increased work and family commitments on an individual’s ability to volunteer are cited as barriers for both recruitment and retention.

Increasing the flexibility of our offer is the sector’s default response to such challenges. How we adapt our practice to the societal shifts influencing volunteers’ expectations is widely regarded as the key task of this era, expressed most clearly through initiatives such as the Vision for Volunteering.

That said, the wave 6 data reveals contrasting fortunes in how organisations are coping. Those reporting sufficient levels of volunteers appear to have developed resilience strategies, whilst those experiencing insufficient levels are finding it harder. What is striking is how interconnected the findings appear to be – those with sufficient volunteers also report fewer recruitment and retention issues, with remaining volunteers stepping up and doing more than they were in previous waves.

In contrast, those struggling for volunteers report the opposite – a knock-on chain of negatively re-enforcing effects, creating a drag on their programmes.

Points for Reflection

Tailor recruitment methods and retention strategies for targeted engagement

Challenge: Despite adopting a wide range of recruitment and retention methods, organisations continue to experience difficulties.

Reflection point: Different demographic groups prioritise different things. Consider how you could tailor your volunteer engagement strategy to specific target demographics. For instance, advertising on social media with a focus on skill development might help to both attract and retain younger volunteers.

Integrate flexible and virtual volunteering methods into working practices

Challenge: Volunteers are increasingly balancing family, caring, and work responsibilities, making it difficult for them to commit to traditional volunteering schedules.

Reflection point: With family, caring and work commitments on the rise, flexible modes of volunteering may enable new and continued volunteer participation. Whilst it cannot work in every organisation or volunteer role, opportunities for bitesize
and episodic volunteering could be a viable option for strengthening and maintaining your volunteer team.

Highlight the benefits you offer in your volunteering adverts

Challenge: Findings from Wave 6 pointed to a lack of time, interest and low response to adverts as the top three barriers to recruitment. This could suggest that advertisements may not be highlighting the benefits offered to volunteers.

Reflection point: Even if benefits like remote working or training and development are already part of your daily workflows, highlight them to prospective and existing volunteers. This helps demonstrate that volunteering can be flexible and accommodating to their needs.

Keep diversity and inclusion in mind

Challenge: Fewer recruitment methods are being used compared to May 2023, and word of mouth is the most dominant recruitment method. This approach may present risks to the diversity and inclusivity within the volunteer workforce.

Reflection point: Consider whether relying on informal recruitment methods, such as word of mouth, affects equality of opportunity and inclusive volunteering practices within your organisation.