Official Statistics

Community Life Survey 2021/22: Volunteering and charitable giving

Updated 3 May 2023

Applies to England

The Community Life Survey is a household self-completion survey (online, with paper survey for adults not digitally engaged) of adults aged 16+ in England. This chapter summarises results related to volunteering and charitable giving from the 2021/22 survey, which ran from October 2021 to September 2022.

Differences between groups are only reported on in this publication where they are statistically significant i.e. where we can be confident that the differences seen in our sampled respondents reflect the population. ^{[footnote 1]}

1. Formal volunteering

In the Community Life Survey, formal volunteering refers to those who have given unpaid help to groups or clubs, for example, leading a group, administrative support, mutual aid groups or befriending or mentoring people.

In 2021/22, 16% of respondents (approximately 7 million people in England) took part in formal volunteering at least once a month in the past 12 months, in line with rates in 2020/21 (17%).  However, these participation rates are the lowest recorded since data collection started on the Community Life Survey.  In 2019/20 23% of adults took part in formal volunteering at least once a month (approximately 11 million people in England).

In 2021/22, 27% of respondents reported taking part in formal volunteering at least once in the last year (approximately 12 million people in England). This is lower than 2020/21 (30%, approximately 14 million people) and lower than rates between 2013/14 and 2019/20 (between 36% to 45%). This participation rate is the lowest recorded by the Community Life Survey.

Figure 5.1: Participation in formal volunteering, 2013/14 – 2021/22

For formal volunteering at least once a month in the last 12 months:

In 2020/21 respondents in the age group 25-34 showed lower participation in volunteering at least once a month compared to respondents in every other age group for formal volunteering (10% vs 14% to 23%). Participation rates across age groups were in line with those in 2020/21, but lower across every age group than in 2019/20.

Respondents identifying as being from an Asian ethnic group showed lower participation in formal volunteering at least once a month (10%) than respondents identifying as from a mixed or white ethnic group (19% and 17% respectively).  Participation rates across ethnic groups were consistent with those in 2020/21, but lower in those from a White ethnic group compared to 2019/20 when rates were 23%.

Formal volunteering at least once a month was higher for those economically inactive (21%) compared to employed respondents (15%). These rates were consistent with those in 2020/21, however rates of formal volunteering at least once a month for those employed and economically inactive were lower than in 2019/20 (22% and 29% respectively).

Rates of formal volunteering at least once a month were higher in the South West (19%) than in the North West (14%), but consistent across other regions (14% to 18%).

Those living in rural areas showed higher participation in volunteering than those in urban areas (22% vs 15% at least once a month).

Those from the least deprived areas showed higher participation than those from the most deprived areas (22% vs 10% at least once a month). At each quintile of deprivation, volunteering rates were consistent with those in 2020/21, but lower than in 2019/20.

No variability was seen between gender or disability.

Figure 5.2: Participation in formal volunteering at least once in the past 12 months by age group, 2020/21 - 2021/22

For formal volunteering at least once in the last 12 months:

In 2020/21 respondents in the age group 25-34 showed lower participation in formal volunteering at least once a year compared to respondents in every other age group (19% vs 26 to 32%). Rates of participation were lower for those in age groups 35-49 (28%) and 50-64 (27%) than in 2020/21 (33% in both age groups).  Every age group was lower in formal volunteering participation rates at least once a year in 2021/22 than in 2019/20.

Formal volunteering rates at least once a year were higher for those identifying as being from a mixed ethnic group (35%) than for those identifying as from a white ethnic group (27%).  Rates for respondents identifying as from a white ethnic group who volunteered at least once in the last year dropped from 30% in 2020/21 to 27% in 2021/22.

Rates of formal volunteering at least once a year dropped in employed respondents from 2020/21 to 2021/22 (33% to 28%).

Those living in the North East showed lower participation in formal volunteering at least once a year (20%) than those in London (30%) , the South East (29%) and the South West (30%).  Rates in the East of England were lower in 2021/22 (24%) than in 2020/21 (31%).

Those living in rural areas showed higher participation in formal volunteering at least once a year than those in urban areas (33% vs 25%). Rates of participation were lower in urban areas in 2021/22 (25%) than in 2020/21 (29%).

Those from the least deprived areas showed higher participation than those from the most deprived areas (35% vs 19% in the last year).

No variability was seen between gender or disability.

2. Informal volunteering

In the Community Life Survey, informal volunteering is defined as giving unpaid help to individuals who are not a relative. For example, babysitting or caring for children, keeping in touch with someone who has difficulty getting out and about, or helping out with household tasks such as cleaning, laundry or shopping.

In 2021/22, 26% of respondents (approximately 12 million people in England) had taken part in informal volunteering at least once a month. This proportion is lower than in 2020/21, when rates were the highest recorded by the CLS (33%), but in line with levels seen in 2019/20 (28%). In 2021/22, 46% (approximately 21 million people in England) of respondents had taken part at least once in the last year, lower than in 2020/21 (54%) and the lowest rate recorded on this measure by the CLS.

Figure 5.3: Participation in informal volunteering, 2013/14 - 2021/22

For informal volunteering at least once a month in the last 12 month:

Rates of informal volunteering at least once a month were higher for those who identified as female than male (30% vs 22%). Rates in 2021/22 are lower for both males and females than in 2020/21 (28% and 37%), but consistent with rates in 2019/20 (25% and 31%). [Footnote 2]

Those in the age group 65-74 were more likely to informally volunteer at least once a month (34%) compared to respondents in all other age groups (20% to 27%), except those aged over 75 (30%). There was an decrease in informal volunteering from 2020/21 to 2021/22 at least once a month in age groups 16-24 (32% to 25%), 25-34 (31% to 20%), 35-49 (31% to 24%) and 50-64 years old (34% to 27%).  Rates across all age groups in 2021/22 were consistent with those in 2019/20.

No variability was seen by ethnic group.  However, the proportion of respondents identifying as being from white and Asian ethnic groups informally volunteering at least once a month decreased from 2020/21 to 2021/22 (33% to 26% for both groups).  Rates across all ethnic groups in 2021/22 were consistent with those reported in 2019/20.

Those with a long term limiting illness or disability participated more in informal volunteering in the last month than those without (31% vs 25%).

Volunteering informally at least once a month was higher for respondents who were economically inactive (31%) compared to employed respondents (24%). There was a decrease in informal volunteering at least once a month for employed respondents (32% to 24%) and those who were economically inactive (37% to 31%) between 2021/22 and 2020/21.  Rates by employment status in 2021/22 were consistent with those reported in 2019/20.

No variability was seen between regions in 2021/22. However informal volunteering at least once a month decreased from 2021/22 to 2020/21 in the North East (38% to 27%), North West (33% to 27%), Yorkshire and Humber (33% to 22%), West Midlands (33% to 26%), East of England (33% to 25%) and South East (34% to 26%).

No variability was seen across rural and urban areas, or by deprivation.

For informal volunteering at least once in the last 12 months:

Respondents who identified as female were more likely to report volunteering informally at least once in the last year than those who identified as male (49% vs 42% in the last year).^{[footnote 2]}

Rates of informal volunteering at least once a year were highest for those aged 65-74 (52%).  Rates for this age group were higher than for those aged 16-24 (38%), 25-34 (42%) and 75+ (44%).  Rates were lower in 2021/22 than 2020/21 for all age groups except for those aged 65-74 and 75+.

Rates were consistent across all ethnic groups in 2021/22.  However respondents identifying as being from white and Asian ethnic groups reported lower levels of informal volunteering at least once a year than in 2020/21 (both 46% in 2021/22 vs 55% in 2020/21)

Those with a long term limiting illness or disability participated more in informal volunteering at least once in the last year than those without (50% vs 46%).

Rates of informal volunteering once a year were lower in Yorkshire and Humber (40%) than in the South West (48%),  South East (48%) and London (49%).  Rates were lower in all regions in 2021/22 as compared with 2020/21, with the exception of East Midlands.

Those living in rural areas showed a higher participation in informal volunteering at least once in the last year (50% vs 44%).

The difference in incidence of informal volunteering at least once in the last year is also seen between respondents from the least deprived (50%) and most deprived areas (40%).

There was no variation by economic status in 2021/22.

3. Formal and informal volunteering

In 2021/22, 34% of respondents (approximately 16 million people in England) had taken part in either formal or informal volunteering at least once a month. This is a decrease from rates in 2020/21 (41%) and is the lowest recorded by the CLS for this measure. In the same period, 55% (approximately 25 million people in England) had taken part in either formal or informal volunteering at least once in the last 12 months. This is lower than rates seen in 2020/21 (62%) and represents the lowest recorded by the CLS.

Figure 5.4: Participation in any formal or informal volunteering, 2013/14- 2021/22

4. Motivators and barriers to volunteering

Respondents who reported volunteering were asked about their reasons for participating in formal volunteering. Those who didn’t volunteer regularly were asked about their barriers to doing so. They were invited to select all responses that applied.

Most common reasons for formal volunteering, in line with findings in 2020/21:

• ‘I wanted to improve things/help people’ – 48%
• ‘The cause was really important to me’ – 33%

Most common barriers for formal volunteering, in line with findings in 2020/21:

• ‘I have work commitments’ – 49%
• ‘I do other things in my spare time’ – 31%

Figure 5.5 shows the percentage for all reasons listed.

Figure 5.5: Reasons for taking part in formal volunteering, 2021/22

Respondents who did not indicate they had taken part in formal volunteering, or who did formal volunteering less frequently than once a month were asked about their reasons for not volunteering/ not volunteering more frequently. Work commitments, doing other things in their spare time and looking after children were commonly cited as barriers to volunteering.  These barriers were cited to a consistent degree as in 2020/21.

The implications of Covid-19 were still present, with 14% citing ‘restrictions or concerns’ due to the pandemic as a barrier to participation.  In 2020/21 a different response option was included, to take account of lockdown restrictions, with 27% of respondents reporting that they were ‘limiting their contact with others due to coronavirus’.

Figure 5.6: Reasons given for not taking part in formal volunteering or not volunteering more frequently, 2021/22

5. Charitable giving

In 2021/22, 66% of respondents (approximately 30 million people in England) said they had given money to charitable causes in the last 4 weeks, an increase from 2020/21 (63%), but a a decrease from 2019/20 (75%, approximately 33 million people) and lower still than 2013/14 when 82% (approximately 44 million people) had given to charitable causes. The rate in 2013/14 is higher than all other subsequent survey years. Without comparable data for years prior to this, it is not possible to conclude whether 2013/14 had unusually high levels of charitable giving, or whether this was part of a longer downward trend.

Figure 5.7: Percentage who gave to charitable causes in the 4 weeks prior to completing the survey, 2013/14 - 2021/22

Respondents who identified as female were more likely than those who identified as male to have given to charity in the last 4 weeks (72% vs 61%). [Footnote 2]

The lowest proportion of charitable giving was from the 16-24 age group (48%), who were less likely to have given to charity than all other age groups (between 62% and 78%).

Figure 5.8: Percentage who gave to charitable causes in the 4 weeks prior to completing the survey by age, 2020/21 - 2021/22

Those identifying as being from a white ethnic group were more likely to have given to charity in the last four weeks than those identifying as being from other ethnic groups (68% vs 57%).

Those living in rural areas were more likely to report that they had given to charity (71%) than those living in urban areas (65%).

Respondents living in the least deprived areas were more likely to have given to charity in the last 4 weeks (71%) than the most deprived (61%).

No variability was seen between disability or region categories.

The average amount given was £27 (excluding those who donated £300 or more). In 2021/22, 19% of respondents gave over £50, in line with amounts given in 2020/21 (18%). In addition, 14% of respondents donated £4 or less, an increase in the proportion giving this amount compared with 2020/21 (10%).

6. Methods of giving to charitable causes

Giving through direct debit or standing order (23%) and buying goods from a charity shop or catalogue (23%) were the most common methods for donating. This is in line with 2019/20 but has changed slightly from 2020/21 when the most popular method of donation was direct debit and standing order (24%) and donations made online or a website (18%).  These changes could reflect the easing of restrictions on charity shops post-Covid-19.

Figure 5.9: Methods of giving to charitable causes in the last four weeks, 2021/22

7. Charitable causes donated to

Of those who gave to charitable causes, 21% gave to medical research, in line with 2020/21 rates.  19% gave to overseas aid/disaster relief, an increase of 14% giving to this cause in 2020/21.  18% gave to hospitals and hospices, lower than rates of giving to this area in 2020/21 (24%).

Figure 5.10: Types of causes given to in the last four weeks, 2021/22

8. Factors which would encourage respondents to give more

When respondents were asked what would either encourage them to start giving to charitable causes, or to increase the amount they currently donate:

34% said having more money

24%said having confidence that the charity or organisation uses the money effectively

16%said knowing that their money was going to be spent locally

38%said none of the options listed would encourage them to start giving or to give more

Figure 5.11: What would make respondents more likely to give to charitable causes or to increase the amount they gave, 2021/22

1. The 95% confidence intervals are indicated by error bars on the charts. They show the range that we are 95% confident the true value for the population falls between. When there is no overlap between the error bars for two or more groups, we can be more confident that the differences between groups represent true differences between these groups in the population. ↩

2. The number of respondents who reported their gender as ‘other’ was too small and so no analysis has been conducted here to avoid being disclosive. ↩