Background to the Research

• This major piece of research into youth volunteering gives expression to the attitudes and opinions of young people and highlights the existing extensive involvement of young people in voluntary action. It illustrates the very wide range of activities and situations in which young volunteers are to be found and reflects the strong commitment young people have to addressing social issues within society.
  

Research Approach

• A semi-structured questionnaire was distributed to 780 young people registered with voluntary organisations throughout Northern Ireland and 120 short one-page questionnaires issued for 'on the spot' street interviews aimed at young people who are not registered as volunteers.
  

Main Findings

• 165 young people volunteered 6,429 hours per month
• 35 hours per month were given by over 80% of the respondents who volunteered.
• 38% of the respondents who volunteered had been with their current voluntary placement for more than one year.
• 81% of respondents who volunteered said that they considered volunteering as contributing to active citizenship.
• 63% of respondents who were not volunteers stated that they believed volunteering contributed to being an active citizen.
• 81% of respondents who were not volunteers said they would volunteer if asked by a friend or voluntary organisation.
• 67% of respondents who volunteered said that they would volunteer in cross- community projects. A further 28% said they would consider the possibility and only 5% stated that they would definitely not.
• 70% of respondents who volunteered were willing to undertake their voluntary work in a location outside their immediate area.
• 78% of non-registered volunteers said they would volunteer in other communities.
• 92% of respondents believed that volunteering improves community relations.
• 65% of all respondents who volunteered said they would like to see volunteering leading to accredited qualifications.
• 74% if those who were unemployed and volunteering would like to see volunteering leading to an accredited qualification.
• 79% of respondents who were not volunteering stated that they would be more attracted to volunteering if it offered them an accredited qualification.
• Young people identified the main barriers to volunteering as a lack of finance, time, information, travel difficulties in rural areas, transport constraints for the disabled and the perceived image of volunteering as time wasting.