Numbers seeking to volunteer doubles in 2008
The number of applications to volunteer more than doubled in 2008 across the UK, according to figures released today by charity YouthNet, home of the UKs leading volunteering website do-it.org.uk.
Applications collected by www.do-it.org.uk, which offers opportunities from over 300 Volunteer Centres, as well as major charities and grassroots organisations, recorded a rise of 115% from 2007 to 2008, with the numbers of applications topping 60,000.
In a year that saw redundancies across employment sectors and many lose their homes and assets, this increase may suggest people are turning to volunteering as a means of keeping busy, helping those less fortunate, or gaining valuable skills to improve chances of re-employment.
Fiona Dawe, YouthNet Chief Executive, says: “This is an unprecedented increase in numbers, and a sign that volunteering is becoming more accessible and attitudes are changing.
“More and more people are recognising volunteering as a valuable way to build on skills and improve chances in a turbulent job market, which is also good news for charities and organisations that will depend further upon volunteers during the recession.
“do-it.org.uk is designed to make finding roles as easy as possible, and it’s incredible to think we received over 60,000 applications from people taking those first steps.”
The do-it.org.uk website offers over a million opportunities to volunteer for all interests. Current positions available include being a football community sports coach, a police station receptionist, looking after animals on a community farm, reading with young children, or working at a drop-in centre for the homeless.
The number of applications received by do-it.org.uk in 2007 was 28,185 rising to 60,621 in 2008.
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