Scottish household survey 2017: key findings

Volunteering

Levels of volunteering

Levels of volunteering have remained relatively stable over the last 9 years, with almost three in ten adults (28%) providing unpaid help to organisations or groups.

Levels of volunteering have been stable since 2009

Profile of volunteers

Overall, in 2017 as in every other year, more women (30%) than men (26%) volunteered in the last 12 months.

The profile of volunteers has also remained relatively stable over time.

Volunteers are more likely to be:

• women
• from higher socio-economic and income groups
• from rural areas
• from less deprived areas
• employed or in full-time education
• Have a degree or professional qualification.

Percentage of adults who volunteer by age

Volunteering varied by age. The largest difference in male and female volunteers was in 35-44 age group, closely followed by 16-24 age group. The lowest level of volunteering was among men aged 25 to 34 compared to all of the other age groups under 75.

Top 10 types of organisations for which adults provided help

Types of organisations

The type of organisations most commonly volunteered for were ‘children’s activities associated with schools’, ‘youth or children’ organisations, and ‘local community or neighbourhood groups’.

21% Children’s activities associated with schools

20% Youth/Children

19% Local community/neighbourhood groups

17% Sport/exercise (coaching or organising)

17% Hobbies/recreation/arts/social clubs

16% Health, disability and social welfare

15% Religious groups

11% The elderly

7% Environmental protection

6% Education for adults

Levels of volunteering by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation

The levels of volunteering increased as area deprivation decreased, 19% of adults in the 20% most deprived areas volunteered in 2017 compared to 37% of adults in the 20% least deprived areas.