UK volunteers inspired by the 2012 Games
Excitement surrounding the upcoming London 2012 Games has inspired almost a quarter (22%) of volunteers to give their time according to figures released today by charity YouthNet, home of the UKs leading volunteering website Do-it.
- Almost a quarter (22%) of respondents said they had been inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to volunteer
- The most popular reasons for volunteering were "to help others" (71%) and "to do something positive with spare time" (71%)
- Volunteers were most interested in "using volunteering to improve listening and communication skills (55%), interpersonal skills (50%), team working (48%) and problem-solving skills" (45%)
- The most popular types of opportunity were those involving children (38%), those related to education (38%), followed by health, hospitals or hospices (34%).
The survey also reported on the most popular types of volunteering activity, stating that:
- Nearly half (48%) wanted to get involved in administrative tasks
- 42% were interested in providing advice, information and support
- Over a third (39%) would like to get involved in befriending, buddying and mentoring
Fiona Dawe, Chief Executive of YouthNet, says: "It's fantastic to see that the excitement around the London 2012 Games is already motivating people to get involved in all sorts of volunteering roles.
Even for organisations that aren't directly linked to the London 2012 Games, there are a host of other opportunities in the fields of sport, culture, arts and the environment."
"I look forward to watching how this trend progresses in the run up to the 2012 Games and beyond and supporting those inspired to make a difference."
YouthNet is currently undertaking a joint, five-year 'project with volunteer development agency Volunteering England (VE) to deliver 'Inspiration and Legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games' - a project that aims to enable all individuals inspired to volunteer by 2012 Games to quickly and easily access fulfilling, relevant and local volunteering opportunities.
Paul Deighton, Chief Executive at the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), says: "Our vision is to use the power of the Games to inspire change. So it is extremely encouraging that almost a quarter of those participants surveyed by YouthNet stated they had been directly motivated and inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to volunteer."
The Do-it website offers over a million opportunities to volunteer, with roles as diverse as radio presenting, becoming a prison befriender, film archiving, puppy socialising and even warship conservation.
To look for volunteering opportunities at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games specifically, visit www.london2012.com.
For a full copy of the 'Volunteer satisfaction report' see: http://www.youthnet.org/keyfactsandfigures.
Ends
Media Enquiries:
For further media information, images, or to arrange interviews, please contact Katy Miller at YouthNet on 020 7250 5779 or out-of-hours on 07766 660 755. Email media@YouthNet.org
Notes to editors
1. A questionnaire was sent to all those who had registered on Do-it between 12November 2009 and 5 January 2010 and had said they were willing to be re-contacted. Respondents were asked about their experiences of and motivation for volunteering, as well as about the usability of the website and associated services. The survey was closed on January 5th 2010 resulting in 2,332 responses.
2. Age groups were evenly spread within the sample, of which 75% were aged between 18 and 64 years. Weighting was not applied to the data.
3. Run by online charity YouthNet, Do-it is the UK's leading volunteering website. It hosts more than a million volunteering opportunities, searchable by postcode, plus articles and advice on finding the perfect role.
4. YouthNet is the UK's first exclusively online charity and was founded by Martyn Lewis CBE in 1995. It aims to create a socially inclusive environment where all young adults are engaged, informed and inspired to achieve their ambitions and dreams, and does this through three pioneering websites, Lifetracks.com, Do-it and the online guide to life for 16 to 25-year-olds, TheSite.org.
5. Volunteering England is the volunteer development agency for England. We work with private, public and voluntary sector organisations and individuals to increase the quality, quantity, impact and accessibility of volunteering.
6. About London 2012: The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are delivered by two key organisations – the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA). LOCOG is responsible for staging a memorable Games in 2012. They will deliver the best possible Olympic and Paralympic Games experience for everyone involved, enabling a lasting legacy and inspiring people to join in.
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is the public body responsible for developing and building the new venues and infrastructure for the Games and converting the Olympic Park for long-term use after the Games.
In the summer of 2012, the UK will come alive with the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The four-year Cultural Olympiad will reach a climax with the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony on 27 July. This event marks the start of the 60-day festival of sport and culture across the UK that is the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Find out the latest from the London 2012 HQ blog – london2012.com/blog