Vision for Volunteering is a collaborative project to create a diverse, innovative, ambitious, equitable and person-centred future for volunteering.
The Vision for Volunteering sets out positive a view of what volunteering needs to look like, and how this will make volunteers feel about their roles, by 2032. It is not a rigid structure to adhere to, but a framework to inspire and support change. What does the future of volunteering look like for you?
Vision for Volunteering Themes
Awareness and Appreciation
A future where a culture of volunteering is part of everyone's life and volunteer roles are given the recognition they deserve.
Power
A future where volunteers (and the communities they serve) lead on change that matters to them.
A future where it’s easy for people to give their time and energy to the causes they care about, they feel welcomed, and the benefits are equally distributed.
Equity and Inclusion
A future where collaboration is natural and spontaneous, where people do great stuff together because they want to.
Collaboration
A future where communities aren't afraid to try new things to develop their own, innovative solutions to engaging and supporting volunteers.
Experimentation
Why is the Vision for Volunteering needed?
Volunteering is a powerful force for change in the world, but we know that currently it isn’t equally accessible or enjoyable for everyone. There have been huge changes in the way that people volunteer - who, how and in what roles - because of national challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, the rise in loneliness and a decline in public trust. Volunteering needs to adapt to remain relevant, strong and attractive.
How was the Vision for Volunteering developed?
Across 2021, more than 350 people from more than 300 organisations contributed to the Vision for Volunteering. through workshops, a steering group, interviews and written submissions. Thank you to everyone to everyone who helped shape the Vision into what it is today.
Who is the Vision for Volunteering for?
Volunteering takes many different forms, but the Vision for Volunteering is here for all of them. A volunteer might not even use the word - perhaps they think of themselves as ‘helping out’, ‘being neighbourly’, ‘taking part in my community or faith group’, ‘supporting a cause’, or undertaking ‘social action’ - or they use another term altogether. All forms of volunteering are valid. All are valuable. And all are relevant to this Vision.