Some 47% of British adults are likely to volunteer at some point this year, according to a new survey.
Half of the 5,000 respondents to Marie Curie’s online survey said time was the biggest barrier to volunteering, followed by concerns about commitment (22%), uncertainty about how to get involved (18%) and a lack of awareness of local opportunities (17%).
Of those respondents who had volunteered, 56% said that giving back to their community inspired them to do so, while 49% said it gave them a sense of pride and purpose.
Meanwhile, 38% said they had volunteered to meet people and feel part of something bigger.
Around a quarter of respondents said they were more likely to sign up to volunteering opportunities that were short-term with flexible hours, with these factors most important for younger adults.
Some 32% of Gen Z respondents said they would be more likely to volunteer if they could do it with friends or family.
Jayne Waterhouse, head of regional fundraising at Marie Curie, said: “With almost half of the UK saying they’re likely to volunteer in the next year, it’s clear that the public just need the right opportunity.
“The Great Daffodil Appeal, now in its 40th year, is a simple, fun and easy way people can give back to their local communities and help us continue to bring vital end of life care to more people.”
Marie Curie’s survey, conducted by Opinion Matters, comes a month after the government’s latest figures on regular formal volunteering were published.
The government’s Community Life Survey found that 17% of adults reported giving unpaid help to groups or clubs every month in 2024-25, compared to 2023-24’s figure of 16%.
Regular formal volunteering rates remain lower than the last pre-pandemic year in 2019-20, when the rate was 23%.
