Power in Purpose - The Difference We Make in Mobilising Volunteers

Introduction

This report explores the impact of National Lottery funding on volunteering. It shows how funding that supports volunteering benefits people, communities, and the voluntary and community sector. The report informs funders, policy makers and community groups interested in strengthening volunteering.

Findings

The research found that National Lottery funding on volunteering has personal, social and environmental benefits. It also helps to build a stronger, more diverse voluntary and community sector.

This work makes an economic contribution too. In 3 years to 2021, an estimated 1.9 million volunteers from the charities The National Lottery Community Fund funded contributed £4 billion to the economy.

The research also found that:

• volunteers were at the heart of local and national responses to the pandemic

• flexible opportunities help more people take part in volunteering

• organisations need time and resources to support volunteers well

• volunteering can give people a sense of purpose and connection, as well as build new skills