Boom in young volunteers as survey shows Gen Z most likely to gift time

We have seen a boom in younger volunteers since the pandemic ended – as new research suggests Generation Z (people aged 16-24) are more likely to want to help out than any other age group.

Two students volunteering in a stock room at the British Heart Foundation.

We have around 16,000 volunteers across our shops and stores, and supporting roles from home, and over half of our new retail volunteer recruits this year are Gen Z.

This comes as our survey of 4,000 people in the UK and conducted by Censuswide has highlighted the popularity of volunteering among younger people.

Ninety-four per cent of Gen Z would volunteer

Our survey found that over nine in 10 (94 per cent) of Gen Z respondents would consider volunteering, compared with just under three quarters (74 per cent) of Baby Boomers (people aged 59-77+) respondents.

Gen Z respondents felt volunteering would benefit them by boosting their confidence (42 per cent) and improving their mental health (39 per cent). Almost a quarter (24 per cent) of Gen Z respondents think volunteering could benefit them through adoption of health lifestyle habits, whereas 1 in 16 (6 per cent) of Baby Boomer respondents said the same.

Flexible volunteer roles

Flexibility stood out as a key factor for Gen Z when it comes to volunteering, with 37 per cent saying they would be more likely to volunteer if flexible hours were offered, and around a quarter (26 per cent) would consider volunteering from home.

Further results showed that for 30 per cent of respondents, the biggest barrier to volunteering in a charity shop was not having time to commit to it regularly. With flexible roles offered, and even the option to volunteer from home, it’s easy for anyone to get involved and try out volunteering.

British Heart Foundation volunteer, 17 year old Harry McCaughey, stands against a white background.

Build your social circle

Harry McCaughey, our 17-year-old volunteer from Hampton, initially signed up to gain some work experience and develop his confidence in meeting and socialising with other people. He volunteers at his local shop on the weekends while he studies and loves the social atmosphere and the mix of people and ages in the team. After his A Levels, Harry hopes to go to university and have a career in dermatology.

Harry said: “I started volunteering to meet new people, and it’s been great to get to know people that I wouldn’t otherwise have met and hear advice from those that are older than me. I’d encourage younger people to volunteer, it’s a great way to expand your social circle and build confidence and responsibility at work.”

Sarah Boardman, our Retail Volunteering Operations Manager, said: “Since the pandemic, it’s been great to see consistently high numbers of young people choose to try out volunteering. The flexibility we offers makes it ideal for those looking to gain work experience and build confidence before applying for jobs or heading to university.

“Our easy, flexible, and inclusive approach aims to make volunteering more accessible for all. We encourage everyone to bring their skills to the BHF, whether it’s for one day or one hundred.”