Charities could benefit from up to 2.5 million new volunteers in 2023, according to “hugely positive” new research.
A study from the think tank Pro Bono Economics shows that one in six (17 per cent) people aged 11-34 in the UK who are not currently volunteering said that they planned to start in the new year.
This is nearly three times higher than the number of people over the age of 55 (6 per cent) who said they planned to volunteer in 2023.
Overall, more than one in 10 (11 per cent) people said they would begin giving unpaid help to a group, club or organisation in 2023, the study said.
If this intention translates to actual volunteering, it would mean an additional 5.7m volunteers next year, according to the research.
A separate new study by PBE and Nottingham Trent University’s National VCSE Data and Insights Observatory, the VCSE Sector Barometer, shows that 1 in 5 charities expect to see an increase in volunteers in 2023.
This follows a sharp decline in volunteer numbers during the pandemic, with 17 per cent of people regularly volunteering in 2020/2021, a 10 percent drop compared to pre-pandemic years.
Nicole Sykes, policy and communications director at Pro Bono Economics, said: “Charities in the UK have experienced an incredibly challenging year in 2022.
“The cost-of-living crisis has driven millions of families to seek vital support from social sector organisations in their communities, leading to soaring demand on charity resources.
“But while need has continued to rise, falling donations and the scourge of inflation have stripped back the funding these organisations need to do their work.”
Sykes added: “Encouragingly, a new generation of young volunteers appear to have been galvanised and are keen to donate some of their time in 2023. This is hugely positive in the wake of falling volunteer numbers in recent years.
“While it should be noted that volunteers are not a cost-free resource for charities – requiring training and management among other things – if organisations are able to take on this new support, 2023 could be the year of the volunteer. That would be good for charities and society alike.”