Unleashing the Power of Goodness: The Science Behind Benefits of Doing Good

As part of the King’s Coronation people are being asked to get involved in the Big Help Out campaign, a day of volunteering encouraging individuals to donate their time to help others in need. But, beyond the day itself… is it really all that simple?
New research from community retailer SPAR has found that over two-thirds of people in the UK (67%) have volunteered at some point in their lives, with young people leading the charge.
Two-thirds (61%) say that volunteering is an immediate sign of respect, demonstrating the widespread recognition of the vital role that volunteers play in their local communities. It also showed a growing movement that we are prioritising hands-on involvement in community initiatives over financial donations to charities themselves.
Why? Part of it is about personal wellbeing – volunteering can lift our own mood and boost mental health thanks to the benefits in helping others and the local community. Nearly half of those who have volunteered before (43%) said it makes them feel happy and satisfied. A quarter (24%) of respondents said they would like to volunteer to improve their own wellbeing – and with an ongoing mental health crisis – perhaps this could help?
There is absolutely a desire to give back to communities across the nation with volunteering being a crucial part of building stronger and more resilient local areas. The primary reasons for volunteering include helping others (56%), making a difference (50%), and giving back to the community (46%).
However, despite this and the fact that the majority have volunteered before, many barriers still exist.
Almost half of those surveyed (47%) cited a lack of time as a major barrier, with a quarter (24%) claiming difficulty balancing work and family commitments stops them helping out.
Volunteering can provide us with valuable skills and experiences that can be beneficial for overall career development – especially when you are young and learning. 41% of hiring managers consider volunteer work to be as valuable as paid work when evaluating candidates.
So, it begs the question – if work is a key barrier to volunteering and this could solve some of the big challenges we face in community, should work build more time for us to volunteer?
Data from the Charities Aid Foundation shows that just 40% of UK employees have taken part in some form of employer-supported volunteering. It found that 77% were generally happier as a result and 62% say they would recommend the company to others based on this alone.
Despite these obstacles, nearly half of respondents (46%) expressed their desire to volunteer soon, with one in ten (12%) keen to start helping in the near future. Most also said that they could probably find 6 hours a month to help out.
The most common volunteering opportunities are in schools (24%), , charity shops (21%), local sports events (19%), and children and youth centers (18%). These are perhaps some of the more obvious areas but other areas to help and get involved include local outdoor community spaces (33%) or at food banks, soup kitchens, and food donation centers (33%).
Despite high levels of volunteering, a quarter of respondents (24%) said they would like to volunteer more often, with one in four people admitting that it can be challenging to find time to volunteer when working full time.
A third of respondents (31%) were inspired to volunteer after seeing people experiencing difficulties like homelessness and the cost of living crisis. Almost half (44%) of those aged 65 and over said they were inspired to volunteer because they had more spare time on their hands due to retirement.
The study also revealed that people spend an average of 8 hours a month volunteering, with 18% of 18-24 year olds giving an average of 10 hours a month.
Right now, the East Midlands gives back the most – with an average of 9.7 hours each month.
SPAR are giving shoppers across the UK the chance to make their community better by offering grants to help fund programmes, social clubs and charities that give back to the community. The £100,000 Community Cashback scheme is giving grants to local voluntary or community organisations and charities who need it most.