{"alias":"newsItem","byline":"","standfirst":"With just a week to go before The Big Help Out, a national day of volunteering, new research reveals the damaging effect of the pandemic on volunteering. However, more encouragingly, it also points to the positive impact of volunteering on mental and physical wellbeing.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.ncvo.org.uk/news-and-insights/news-index/key-findings-from-time-well-spent-2023/#/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 data-anchor=\u0022#/\u0022\u003ETime Well Spent 2023 report\u003C/a\u003E from the \u003Cspan\u003ENational Council for Voluntary Organisations (\u003C/span\u003ENCVO) comes just one week ahead of the national day of volunteering, \u003Ca href=\u0022/national-events/coronation/the-big-help-out/\u0022 title=\u0022The Big Help Out\u0022\u003EThe Big Help Out\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe day is set to inspire the next generation of volunteers, and it\u2019s an official part of \u003Ca href=\u0022/national-events/coronation/\u0022 title=\u0022Coronation\u0022\u003Ethe Coronation weekend\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe new report, based on a survey of 7,000 adults, reveals that since the last survey in 2018, the amount of people raising money or taking part in sponsored events has gone down by 48% (from 11% to 6%).\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt also suggests that those organising or helping to run an activity has fallen by 52% (from 14% to 7%).\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/20721/big-help-out-logo-with-bigger-strapline.jpg","width":4525,"height":5549,"altText":"The official The Big Help Out Logo with text saying \u0027The Big Help Out. Lend a hand. Make a change\u0027 in bubble writing.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EBenefits of volunteering\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHowever, the report also reveals the hugely positive impact of volunteering. Among those who\u2019d volunteered in the last 12 months with a group, club or organisation (focusing on the one they gave the most help to):\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E89% agree they feel like they make a difference\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E75% agree it improves their mental health and wellbeing\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E72% agree it gives them new skills/experience (74% among 18\u201324 year olds)\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E73% agree it gives them more confidence\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E68% agree it makes/made them feel less isolated\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E48% agree it improves their physical health\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E62% of 18\u201324 year olds agree it improves their employment prospects\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003EKickstarting a volunteering habit\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018The impact of COVID-19 on volunteering has been profound,\u2019 said Sarah Vibert, CEO of NCVO who commissioned the report. \u2018People who were lifelong volunteers broke their habit during the pandemic and haven\u2019t yet got back to it. We need an urgent focus on helping people find opportunities that suit them.\u0027\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018This data sets out the scale of impact of COVID-19 on volunteering rates,\u2019 said Matt Hyde, \u003Cspan\u003EChief Executive of Scouts\u003C/span\u003E, \u2018But it also shows how much people benefit from and enjoy it. From our own volunteering numbers (an additional 3,500 adult volunteers this year), we think we\u2019re starting to see some of the green shoots of a volunteering recovery. However, The Big Help Out is the much-needed boost the sector needs. It would be an amazing legacy if the Coronation were to be a turning point in national volunteering rates.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019re not already involved, find out how you can take part in \u003Ca href=\u0022https://thebighelpout.org.uk/\u0022\u003EThe Big Help Out\u003C/a\u003E as part of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/national-events/coronation/\u0022\u003ECoronation Weekend\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"Lend a hand","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"02 May 2023","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"More information on The Big Help Out","url":"/national-events/coronation/the-big-help-out/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Find out about the Coronation","url":"/national-events/coronation/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Coronation countdown","url":"/","newWindow":false}],"relatedLinks":[],"id":50903,"nodeName":"The Big Help Out set to boost volunteer numbers","title":"The Big Help Out set to boost volunteer numbers ","type":"newsItem","image":{"url":"/media/19211/squirrels-and-volunteers-holding-leaves.jpg?cc=0,0.06333333333333334,0,0.09291666666666666\u0026width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dadf67f5f9df30","caption":"Squirrels and volunteers holding leaves","type":"jpg","size":110543,"width":1200,"height":800,"altText":"Three Squirrels in red jumpers hold up leaves to show two volunteers standing in front of them."},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"The Big Help Out set to boost volunteer numbers ","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Read new research on the pandemic\u0027s impact on volunteering and how The Big Help Out is set to boost volunteering and wellbeing.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC81MDkwMyJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2023/may/the-big-help-out-set-to-boost-volunteer-numbers/"}