Volunteering plays an important role in community life across the UK. It is commonly defined as giving time freely to help others, whether through organised activities or more informal support.
Each year, Volunteers’ Week recognises the contribution of volunteers across the country. It is an opportunity to celebrate the difference people make in their communities, and to highlight the many ways people give their time.
This blog draws on findings from the Community Life Survey, a national survey of people aged 16 and over. The survey provides insight into volunteering, as well as wider measures of community connection, such as belonging, trust and social cohesion. It recognises that community contribution does not only happen through formal structures. Supporting neighbours, helping friends, or offering practical support in daily life is a significant part of how people contribute.
Understanding the data
The Community Life Survey is based on a sample of households across England, and results are presented with confidence intervals.[i] The latest data covers responses collected between October 2024 and March 2025. It shows that volunteering happens in different ways:
- 17.8% of residents aged 16+ in South Tyneside reported taking part in formal volunteering at least once in the last 12 months
- 42.4% reported taking part in informal volunteering at least once in the last 12 months
The survey defines formal volunteering as giving unpaid help through a group, club or organisation. This includes activities such as volunteering for a charity, community group, sports club, school, or other organised body. It defines informal volunteering as unpaid help to people outside of your household, in a personal capacity. This can include things like helping neighbours, doing shopping for someone, providing transport, or offering practical or emotional support.
Formal volunteering in South Tyneside is significantly lower than the England average, while informal volunteering is statistically similar to national levels.
Who volunteers?
The survey also highlights how volunteering participation varies across different groups.
Across England, people are less likely to volunteer regularly if they are:
- aged 25–34 or over 75
- male
- long-term unemployed or have never worked
Patterns differ slightly between formal and informal volunteering. For example:
- Overall, older adults (65+) are more likely to take part regular volunteering
- Younger people (16–24) and older adults (75+) are more likely to take part in informal volunteering
A consistent finding across UK evidence is that formal volunteering has structural barriers, while informal volunteering is more flexible.
The most common reasons for not doing formal volunteering are work commitments (49%) and competing priorities. A Scottish report published last year finds that young people in particular highlight the need for flexible, time‑appropriate opportunities that fit around education, work and social life. Informal volunteering is easier to fit around unpredictable schedules.
Research shows older people often prioritise helping family, friends or neighbours over formal volunteering roles. Informal care is widespread in later life, driven largely by family needs and health circumstances. These responsibilities limit capacity for formal roles, even if willingness is high.
These patterns reflect the broader idea that people’s ability and opportunity to volunteer can depend on life stage, health, employment and social networks.
Volunteering and community cohesion
The Community Life Survey and guidance by the Belong Network suggests that areas which have a higher reported sense of belonging and community cohesion also have higher reports of volunteering.
A sense of belonging tends to be stronger among:
- older adults
- people living in less deprived areas
- those in rural settings
Estimates of the economic and social value of volunteering finds volunteers are 10% more likely to want to improve their local area and are generally more likely to report a sense of belonging in their community.
In South Tyneside, 68.5% of residents feel they belong strongly to their neighbourhood – significantly higher than the England average – yet the borough has relatively high levels of deprivation, ranking 35th/296 in the Index of Multiple Deprivation.
Why this matters
The Community Life Survey suggests that volunteering benefits individuals and communities, by:
- strengthening social connections
- reducing isolation
- building skills and confidence
- supporting local services and community organisations
Government-commissioned research estimates that formal volunteering in England is worth around £24.7bn per year. This is based on:
- £16.4 billion in replacement costs (what it would cost to pay staff to do the same work)
- £8.26 billion in wellbeing benefits to volunteers
On average, this equates to around £2,012 of value per volunteer each year. Analysis also shows that regular volunteering can generate around £3,400 per person per year when combining economic contribution and wellbeing benefits. These may include:
- Higher life satisfaction and happiness
- Reduced anxiety and depression
- Greater sense of purpose and identity
Volunteering can also help to reduce loneliness and social isolation, especially among younger people and older adults. Evidence reviews find consistent links between volunteering and improved overall wellbeing and quality of life, further reducing demand on health services. Public health research supports referring patients into volunteering opportunities through social prescribing, connecting people to community activity rather than clinical services.
Surveys show over three quarters (77%) of UK volunteers report improved mental health and wellbeing, 9 in 10 volunteers say they feel they make a difference, often to individuals or specific community groups, and almost 9 in 10 volunteers say they have met new people through volunteering, strengthening social networks.
Research finds that volunteering may also increase the likelihood of gaining employment after 2 – 3 years, with reports suggesting volunteering supports with:
- Skills development
- Confidence and leadership
- Work readiness (particularly in education and youth programmes)
Get involved
Whether through formal roles or everyday acts of support, volunteering takes many forms, and isn’t just good for the community, but for those who volunteer, too. Volunteers’ Week is a chance to celebrate this contribution and to encourage more people to get involved in ways that work for them.
South Tyneside Council’s own volunteering policy allows for three days to be taken for formal volunteering per year – a policy which has become widespread across both the public and private sectors in recent years.
The Love South Tyneside Awards took place at The Customs House on 4 June 2026 which celebrated local community heroes. The awards recognised and highlighted community spirit, volunteering and civic pride across the Borough. You can find the full list of nominees and winners at www.lovesouthtyneside.co.uk/categories/2026/. The awards are a community-led nomination process which means our own communities identified people whom they see as involved, supporting and leading others within our community.
South Tyneside ConnectFest 2026 will also be held at Temple Park on 16 June 2026 during loneliness awareness week, hosting free stalls for a range of services and groups doing great work to connect local people.
In South Tyneside, every contribution counts, and there are plenty of ways to contribute:
[i] When comparing two areas, if the confidence intervals do not overlap, we can say that one area is statistically significantly higher or lower than the other – we call this statistical significance. This means figures should be seen as estimates within a range, rather than exact values.