Census highlights significant role of volunteers

People over the age of 45 were found to be more likely to volunteer

There are more ways to volunteer than ever before, with shorter, more flexible roles rising in popularity.

Census data shows the importance of engaging a diverse group of volunteers reflective of their communities, and the need to create more flexible ways for people to volunteer.

Volunteer Ireland CEO Nina Arwitz commented: “We see high levels of interest in volunteering from new people arriving in Ireland, for example people seeking protection and Ukrainians. Through volunteering, people can become active members of their new community, make friends, learn English and build their own local network.” 

It is important to remember that people making Ireland their home make a huge contribution to our communities, she adds. “We know that many organisations are currently struggling to recruit volunteers and we’d encourage them to ensure that their volunteer programmes are open and inclusive to all members of the community. Small changes can make a big difference to attracting diverse volunteers. For example, covering a volunteer’s bus fare to travel to the organisation can make it possible for someone who is unemployed or living in direct provision to volunteer.”

The data also shows that almost 25% of people who work from home for some part of the week volunteer. Time is often identified as the most common reason people don’t volunteer and this data indicates that people who have more time are more likely to volunteer. However, it is important to note that not all volunteer roles demand huge time commitments.

Ms Arwitz explained that “volunteering has changed a lot over the last 5 to 10 years. There are more ways to volunteer than ever before, including shorter, more flexible roles. We’d encourage people to think about what time they have spare and even if it’s only an hour a week or a few days here and there, you’d be surprised at what’s available. Similarly, we encourage organisations to think about the roles they have and how they can make them more attractive to volunteers while still making a meaningful contribution to the organisation. Although it’s not possible for every role, we work with organisations to help them break down their roles into shorter, more task-based opportunities.” 

Overall, the data showed consistent levels of volunteering in Ireland. When compared with similar data from the 2006 Census, the level of volunteering among those over the age of 15 is similar. The data also confirmed trends seen across Ireland in recent years with sport being the most popular activity and those over the age of 45 being more likely to volunteer.

Census 2022 was the first Census to feature a question on volunteering since 2006. Volunteers play an important role in Irish society, including delivering critical services in Irish communities. This up-to-date data is crucial to ensure that organisations such as Volunteer Ireland, local volunteer centres and Government can sustain and grow meaningful volunteering in Ireland.