The number of people volunteering in England has reached a record low, according to new government figures, 

The latest Community Life Survey, published today by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, shows that 33 per cent of adults in England – approximately 15.1m people –  had taken part in either formal or informal volunteering at least once a month. 

This is a one percentage point fall from 2021/22 rates and represents the lowest recorded by the annual study since its first iteration in 2013/14. 

The latest results show that 54 per cent of adults in England took part in either formal or informal volunteering at least once in the previous 12 months, one percentage point down on the 2021/22 study.

Formal volunteering is defined as giving unpaid help to groups or clubs such as leading a group, providing administrative support or befriending or mentoring people.

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 someone with their household tasks such as cleaning, laundry or shopping.

The survey found that 16 per cent of adults in England had taken part in formal volunteering at least once a month in the last 12 months, the same as in 2021/22, while 28 per cent reported taking part in formal volunteering at least once in the past year, a one percentage point rise from 2021/22. 

But rates of participation in formal volunteering at least once a month have declined since 2013/14, when rates were 27 per cent. 

This includes a “notable” decrease between rates in 2019/20 (23 per cent) and 2020/21 (17 per cent). Participation rates in 2023/24 were the lowest recorded since data collection started.

Similarly, rates of participation in informal volunteering in 2023/24 were the lowest recorded since data collection started on the Community Life Survey in 2013/14. 

In 2023/24, 44 per cent of adults had taken part in informal volunteering at least once in the past year, in line with rates in 2021/22 (46 per cent), but lower than in 2020/21 (54 per cent). 

The most frequently cited reasons for not volunteering were work commitments (51 per cent), having “other things to do in my spare time” (33 per cent) and looking after children (22 per cent). 

The survey also monitors charity giving. It found that in 2023/24, 67 per cent of adults said they had given money to charitable causes in the last four weeks, in line with levels of giving in 2021/22 (66 per cent).