Numbers of youth volunteers aged between 16-25 have risen by more than half, according to data published today by NCVO.

The figures released today in the UK Civil Society Almanac 2016, reveal that the proportion of under-25-year-olds who claim to volunteer at least once a month, has risen by 52 per cent since 2010 - increasing from 23 per cent in 2010-2011 to 35 per cent in 2014/2015.

The figures are based on data collected from the government's Community Life survey.

Nick Ockenden, head of research at NCVO, said the sector has seen “much effort put into promoting volunteering to young people in particular in recent years”.

“While we can’t know from this data whether these programmes have created this effect, it’s undoubtedly good news that more young people are volunteering.

"We know that volunteering at a young age can help set people on a path of getting involved in their communities over their lifetimes,” he said.

Ockenden also called for greater investment into research to determine the "factors behind this trend in order to do what we can to help it continue".