Volunteers Wanted

Volunteering generates a £4.6bn productivity boost to the UK economy each year, new research has found. 

A study by the think tank Pro Bono Economics, commissioned by the Royal Voluntary Service, estimates the UK benefits from annual productivity gains of more than £4,500 per volunteer working in professional and managerial occupations. 

The report, called A Pro Bono Bonus: The Impact of Volunteering on Wages and Productivity and published very recently, says white-collar workers who volunteer with charities typically benefit from learning new skills and developing existing ones.  These may be technical skills but are just as likely to be ‘softer’ communication, project management and innovation-related skills.

This is a real win-win situation, resulting in increased productivity, satisfaction and well-being for the individual and improved performance and productivity for the volunteer’s organisation.