More than half of charities still finding volunteer recruitment difficult, survey shows

More than half of charities are still struggling to fill volunteer roles, a situation that hasn't improved over the past year, research has shown.

A new report has found six in 10 charities still face difficulties in volunteer recruitment and around half (47%) have not seen an increase in numbers over the past 12 months.

Lack of time (59%) and lack of interest (50%) were cited as the most significant barriers to recruitment.

There has also been little improvement for organisations who do not have enough volunteers to meet their objectives, with four in 10 still in this position and 82% of those finding recruitment difficult.

Findings also indicate that organisations are less likely to invest in recruitment methods which require time, money and skill, with a decline in in-person recruitment events and social media activity and 84% mainly using word of mouth to recruit volunteers.

Many charities also suggested they are experiencing challenges in volunteer retention, with little shift in the picture since 2023.

Almost 70% of respondents said family and caring responsibilities were a significant barrier to retention, with work responsibilities and a decline in flexible working also having an impact.

The findings have been published in the report, Present Struggles, Past Origins: Current Challenges in Volunteering Amidst Two Decades of Decline by Nottingham Trent University’s VCSE Data and Insights National Observatory and Pro Bono Economics (PBE).

The survey the report is based on takes the quarterly temperature of the voluntary sector. More than 560 organisations responded to the latest wave.

“The results of this wave are very similar to last Spring, which shows that there are some perennial challenges facing voluntary organisations," Director of the National VCSE Data and Insights Observatory at Nottingham Business School, part of NTU, Professor Daniel King, said.

“It’s hard out there, and while some organisations are adapting and having some success, others are experiencing tensions with balancing the needs of the organisation with the needs of volunteers."