A major survey by Nottingham Trent University shows that over half of voluntary organizations are still struggling to recruit volunteers, with no improvement over the past year.

The report is part of a quarterly check-up on the voluntary sector, with over 560 organizations responding this time.

Falling numbers

In Spring 2023, charities were worried about falling volunteer numbers. The latest survey shows no big drop, but 60% of organizations still find it hard to recruit volunteers, and almost half (47%) have not seen any increase in volunteers over the past year.

The main reasons for this are a lack of time (59%) and a lack of interest (50%).

Four in ten organizations still don’t have enough volunteers to meet their goals, and 82% of these find recruitment particularly tough.

Organizations are also cutting back on recruitment efforts that need time, money, and skills. In-person events and social media campaigns are down, and 84% now mostly use word of mouth to find volunteers.

Retaining volunteers

Keeping volunteers is also a big challenge, with little change since 2023. One in three organizations report difficulties. Nearly 70% say family and caring responsibilities are a major barrier to retention, along with work responsibilities and less flexible working arrangements.

More organizations—42% compared to 23% last year—say that the volunteer commitment is too large. Additionally, 42% note an increase in the time their volunteers give, up from 35% last Spring.

“The results are very similar to last Spring, showing some ongoing challenges for voluntary organizations,” the authors explain. “It’s tough out there, and while some organizations are adapting well, others are struggling to balance their needs with those of their volunteers.”