CHOICE, IMPACT, FUN, REPEAT! Exploring the Current State and Future Opportunities of Youth Volunteering

If we can inspire the next generation to volunteer now, there is a good chance it can become a habit that lasts a lifetime. For our society to work, we need civic participation, whether that is informally just helping a neighbour or formally through a programme or regular arrangement. We know that young people are strongly cause-orientated and yet, levels of youth volunteering through charities are declining. This chapter identifies the latest evidence on barriers and motivations for young people with respect to volunteering. It highlights the need for flexibility of approach and a range of options from charities to appeal to different people. Through identifying seven types of volunteering best practice, it demonstrates the range of options available to engage young people especially. It concludes with five success factors to help charities think about how volunteering works for them in the future.