FAQsFAQs
- Where can I find statistics on volunteering?
- Where can I find data about number of volunteer involving organisations and charities?
- Where can I find bibliographies on different subjects connected to volunteering?
- How can I buy IVR publications?
- Where can I access information about IVR’s current research?
1. Where can I find statistics on volunteering?
A summary of statistics on volunteering prepared by IVR is available by clicking on the Volunteering Stats tab on the main menu bar above.
Helping Out
This is the most comprehensive survey to date published in 2007. It can be found on our Evidence Bank. Please click here to download the survey:
National Survey of Volunteering
This survey is from 1997. The complete report is out of print but a summary of the findings can be downloaded from our Evidence Bank. Click here for the link.
Citizenship Survey
The Citizenship Survey has been undertaken every two years since 2001 and collects information from adults in England and Wales about volunteering, community and citizenship. Statistics on volunteering and factors such as age, ethnicity and deprivation are available here. The survey used to be undertaken by the Home Office but now lies with the Department for Communities and Local Government following a transfer of responsibilities on 5 May 2006. Unfortunately, the Department has announced the cancellation of the Survey, with fieldwork coming to an end in 2011.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/
Full datasets for 2001 and 2003 are available through the University of Essex Data Archive: www.data-archive.ac.uk
Community Life Survey
The replacement to the Citizenship Survey, the first quaterly results were released in February 2013 and are available at http://communitylife.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/.
The Question Bank: Social Surveys online
You can search for data relevant to volunteering that has been collected through most major national social surveys undertaken in the UK here: http://surveynet.ac.uk/sqb The website allows you to search by topic or specific question (e.g. on volunteering).
Timebank
Timebank has put together some key volunteering statistics from various organisations’ research into different aspects of volunteering.
http://timebank.org.uk/key-facts
Volunteer Development Scotland (VDS)
For statistics on volunteering in Scotland, visit VDS Research Unit: http://www.vds.org.uk/tabid/175/default.aspx
Here you can find among other things VDS ‘Annual Digest of Statistics on Volunteering in Scotland’.
2. Where can I find data about number of volunteer involving organisations and charities?
NCVO
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations publishes the Voluntary Sector Almanac every two years. It contains data on voluntary sector income, expenditure, workforce, assets, number of organisations, it can be found on www.ncvo-vol.org.uk
Charity Commission
A register of all registered charities are available on their website http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk
Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)
Data on charitable giving by individuals is available from the 'UK Giving' reports, a joint initiative of NCVO and the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). It is available on NCVO's website: http:/www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/giving
CAF has also produced a report called Charity Trends based on the biggest 500 fundraising charities. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for details.
Guidestar
Website providing information about over 160,000 registered charities in the UKYou can search on features such as areas of work, address or income.http://www.guidestar.org.uk
Institute of Fundraising and Institute for Philanthropy also contain a lot of useful information. www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk and www.instituteforphilanthropy.org.uk
3. Where can I find bibliographies on different subjects connected to volunteering?
Volunteering England has a comprehensive collection of publications about volunteering.
Due to an office reorganisation the library facility is currently closed.
4. How can I buy IVR publications?
You can find free IVR publications for download in our Evidence Bank.
Publications for sale are available through the Volunteering England shop.
5. Where can I access information about IVR’s current research?
Under ‘Projects’ on the website you are provided with summaries of current and past projects carried out by the Institute together with contact details of the authors. Some of our projects have also been disseminated via 4-page bulletins, available through the Evidence Bank.
