What would happen if everyone stopped volunteering?
At London Plus we are in the privileged position to see how London’s volunteers are at the heart of the city. The value of volunteering in London is estimated to be £35.9 billion annually [1] and volunteers play a key role in delivering services across London and in contributing to a warm, welcoming inclusive London.
London’s volunteers can be found throughout the ecosystem of voluntary and community organisations in the City, with over 24,000 registered charities – as well as in the Health and care sector where over 14,000 volunteers support the NHS across the capital [2]; the Metropolitan Police which includes 1570 volunteers [3] and in the numerous “under the radar” groups and informal support networks provided in local neighbourhoods or places of faith.
If we include those who wouldn’t necessarily think of themselves as “volunteers” but who step up in moments of crisis the effects of ceasing would be even more profound. These informal helpers are the very first “first responders”. The recent report [4] from the group Survivors Against Terror included moving testimony from those who provided support, aid and comfort in the most unimaginable of circumstances on the day of the 7th July Bombings – their trauma often unrecognised during the aftermath.
More recently during the COVID crisis in London our report “Tales of COVID” highlighted that volunteers were quite literally a lifeline for vulnerable residents. An example in the report includes Bexley residents who printed and distributed 130,000 leaflets to reach those who needed help. One elderly resident told a volunteer that: “If you hadn’t put that leaflet through my door, I would have starved to death.”[5]
Through our role in building London’s resilience we seek to improve how volunteers are engaged and supported during times of crisis.
What would happen if everyone in London stopped volunteering? There’s no doubt that essential services would suffer but beyond that our city would be left poorer in every way.
What if everyone stopped volunteering?[1] Just Published, October 2023: The Monetary Value of Trustees – Volunteer Centre Camden
[2] NHS England — London » London home to the most NHS volunteers in the UK
[3] Written questions and answers – Written questions, answers and statements – UK Parliament
[4] Home – Survivors Against Terror
