The UK “would quickly descend into a dystopian state” if there was no one to carry out voluntary work, a report involving a raft of major charities is warning

The report, called What If Everyone Stops Volunteering, has looked at the social and economic impact of no volunteers in the UK.

It says that “cripplingly expensive corrective action from the government” would be needed to avert disaster for the UK if no one gave up their time for good causes.

Without volunteers there would be an increase in social isolation, reduced health and wellbeing, decreased social cohesion, lower community resilience, more unequal and unjust society and an increase in social disorder, the report warns.

Meanwhile, “support and education of young people would drop significantly”, there would be an “end of or heavily weakened democracy and productivity of the nation would fall and its descent would quicken”.

Among those contributing to the report are the Royal Voluntary Service, which is launching its volunteering platform GoVo next month.

Carers UK, Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA),Volunteer Scotland, Scouts, Cats Protection, Helpforce, University College Hospitals, the Local Government Association, and the Metropolitan Police are also among contributors.

“Volunteering is not a ‘nice to have’ it is part of the backbone of policing in London,” said Metropolitan Police head of volunteering Rebecca Pritchard

“Without it, the Met, and the communities we serve, would feel the loss instantly.’

WCVA chief executive Lindsay Cordery-Bruce said: “In a world of increasing political uncertainty and division, volunteering and voluntary organisations are the glue that holds Welsh communities together.

"From people helping recover from floods and disasters, through to the promotion of positive masculinity through grassroots sport.

“If all volunteering stopped, our Nation would fail.”

More investment in volunteering needed

Being called for in the report is more investment to boost volunteering, including funders reevaluating their support for volunteering costs and expenses.

The report has been published by social enterprise Works4U , whose chief executive Dominic Pinkney said: “It’s not a question of whether the country can afford to support volunteering more, but can the country afford not to?’

Carers UK chief executive Helen Walker added: “The majority of our volunteers are unpaid carers themselves and use their expertise and experience to help achieve our vision of a society that recognises, values and supports carers.

“In doing this, some volunteers contribute to our research and partnerships and get involved in campaigning for better rights for carers. They also help shape public services by sharing their lived experience.

“If volunteering stopped tomorrow, all these efforts would collapse, social inequality would grow and access to employment would be at risk.

“Many carers would not be able to access the support they need, and we would see an increase in isolation and loneliness, as well as more carers experiencing mental and physical health problems.”

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