BHF shops
New BHF report calls for the government to support volunteering
Our new report is calling on the government and wider charity sector to break down barriers around volunteering.
Following Volunteers Week (1-7 June), we have outlined the changes needed to help maximise the benefits of volunteering across the sector.
Among our calls, we recommend that third sector organisations develop systems to allow volunteers to move easily between charitable organisations, supported by a recommitment from Government to improve the collection of sector data around volunteering and participation.
Our new report also recommends that volunteering should play a more prominent role in social prescribing - where health professionals refer patients to support in the community to improve their health and wellbeing. With 92% of volunteer respondents agreeing in our 2022 survey that volunteering had improved their mental health and 80% agreeing that volunteering improved their physical health, social prescribing could also help reduce pressure on GPs and other healthcare services.
A sense of belonging
After experiencing several national lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic, Emily Hu, 18 from Birmingham, felt isolated and wanted to build her confidence.
“I started to think about interacting with other people, learning from others, and contributing to my local community,” said Emily.
Emily decided to volunteer in her local BHF shop in Birmingham and said volunteering helped her feel “a great sense of belonging” and provided her with an “inclusive volunteering experience.” She added, “I feel very welcomed and close to my manager and colleagues at my shop.”
Volunteering benefitted Emily’s social skills and confidence when talking to other people. “I am actually a little bit shy to speak to people, but since I started volunteering at the BHF shop, I engage myself in all sorts of activities, and I am naturally becoming more comfortable talking with people,” she said.
Linda Fenn, our head of volunteering, said: “Volunteers like Emily are the lifeblood of our charity. Every individual is critical in helping us raise money to fund lifesaving research, without which we couldn’t do the amazing things we do.
“We know there are still things outside of our direct control that could make the volunteer experience better. But we hope this report, and the recommendations we have made, contribute towards making sure our volunteers both today and of the future have an incredible experience while helping a fantastic cause.”