|
Facts & Figures
Volunteering in the Republic of Ireland
In 2006 responding organisations to the Hidden Landscape survey reported having a total 1,570,408 volunteers, almost nine per cent of whom (8.7%) were non – Ireland based, which suggests that volunteer numbers were relatively high. Based on the 2006 census figures this represents 37.1% of the total population (4,234,925) volunteer, which is up 4.1% from the last figures. (13)
In 2006, The median number of volunteers was 15 (that is half of responding organisations had 15 or fewer volunteers; the other half had 15 or more volunteers). (13)
In 2006 the reported time, 465,624 hours per year, was spent volunteering, however this was lower than in other studies to date but again it should be noted that the findings reported herein are based on organisational data rather than derived from individuals as in previous studies. (13)
In 2006, Male volunteers out number female volunteers by a ratio of more than three to one for Ireland based volunteers and 1.25:1 for non Ireland based. (13)
While the older organizations had far greater numbers of volunteers than the older organisations volunteers were more likely to be regarded as essential in younger organisations. (13)
Volunteers are more important in sports and recreation, environment, arts and culture and religious groups than in other ICNPO categories. (13)
Between 17% and 33% of the adult population volunteers on a regular basis (7, 8, 12)
Volunteering rates are dependent, amongst other things, on age, sex, socio-economic status, marital status and where people live (4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12)
People volunteer for an average of 5 - 12 hours per month, although the range is wide; some give less than one hour, whilst others give over 50 hours (11, 12)
In 1997/8, the total amount of time given to voluntary work was equivalent to some 96,454 full-time workers! (12)
Estimates on the in-kind revenue from volunteering in Ireland range from c. €200-600 million (2, 5)
Compared to other European countries, Ireland’s volunteering rate is average and its citizens’ membership of community and voluntary associations is above average; both rates are on the increase (8)
Most people (39%) find out about volunteering opportunities through family and friends (12)
58% of people get involved in voluntary work because they are asked, 36% offer their services (12)
The three main rewards people get from volunteering are the satisfaction of seeing the results, the feeling of doing good and meeting people (12)
65% of people who don’t volunteer at present say they would be willing to use some of their spare time for voluntary work and 72% of people are prepared to do something to improve the conditions of people in their local community (8, 10)
60% of young people aged between 12 and 24 are prepared to be involved with voluntary organisations set up to help the countries of the third world (6)
72% of people feel that volunteers offer something that could never be provided by paid professionals (5)
The ratio of volunteers to paid staff in youth organisations is 50:1 (1)
An estimated 5200+ adult volunteers are involved in the organisation of under-age football in the Dublin area alone (9)
Well over a third of voluntary organisations have fewer volunteers than they require (10, 11)
Volunteers play a key role in raising money for the social welfare sector; 72% of social welfare volunteers cite fundraising as their most frequently carried out activity (11)
Up to 80% of volunteers are given no training for the work they do (4, 12)
71% receive no out-of-pocket expenses for the work they do (highest % in Europe) (4)
Training in volunteer management is classed as a priority by small voluntary organisations (3)
Volunteering in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has a population of just over 1.7 million and there are 448,116 formal volunteers. (14)
Volunteers are more likely to be female, white, ages 25-49 or 50-64 in full time employment. (14)
The average number of volunteer hours per year amounts to 50,330. This is around 181 hours for each formal volunteer per year. (14)
Almost two thirds of volunteers working with an organisation do so at least once a month. (14)
The survey showed that over 30% of volunteers are involved in sports and recreation. (14)
41% of formal volunteers cited a need in the community as the main reason for their volunteering. (14)
Almost half of formal volunteers found out about their volunteering from family of friends. (14)
30% of respondents indicated that their employer is supportive of their volunteering. (14)
Volunteering in Europe
Compiling the "Facts & Figures" reports is an on-going project carried out by the CEV since 2003 aiming to provide comprehensive statistical data and information about volunteering and volunteers in the different European countries. As the CEV Manifesto for Volunteering in Europe highlighted, there is a need to conduct further research on volunteering in order to shed light on the reality of volunteering in Europe to recognize its value to society and individuals and to identify areas of action both for policy makers and other stakeholders to realize its full potential. The following reports are not based on primary research, but result of desk based research and contacts with partners in the respective countries.
CEV Facts and Figures - Austria - 2006
CEV Facts and Figures - Belgium - 2004
CEV Facts and Figures - Czech Republic - 2007
CEV Facts and Figures - Germany - 2004
CEV Facts and Figures - Ireland - 2004
CEV Facts and Figures - Italy - 2006
CEV Facts and Figures - The Netherlands - 2007
CEV Facts and Figures - Poland - 2005
CEV Facts and Figures - Portugal - 2005
CEV Facts and Figures - Spain - 2005
CEV Facts and Figures - Sweden - 2007
CEV Facts and Figures - The UK - 2004
Copyright © CEV: any reproduction of the material contained in the country reports or the website must acknowledge the source fully. For further information on copyright, visit CEV Copyright pages
Sources
(All publications available in Volunteering Ireland library)
- Department for Education and Science, 2003, National youth work development plan 2003-2007
- Donoghue, Freda, 1999, Uncovering the nonprofit sector in Ireland: its economic value and significance, National College of Ireland
- Faughan, P & Healy, M, 1997, Building voluntary sector capacity: highlights of a study on training needs, University College Dublin
- Gaskin, Katharine & Davis Smith, Justin, 1995, A new civic Europe? a study of the extent and role of volunteering, Volunteer Centre UK
- Houses of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, 2005, Volunteers and volunteering in Ireland, 6th report
- McDonnell, Ida & Wegimont, Liam, 2000, Trends in Irish youth opinion on development and justice issues, Development Education for Youth
- National Committee on Volunteering, 2002, Tipping the balance: report and recommendations to government on supporting and developing volunteering in Ireland
- National Economic and Social Forum, 2003, The policy implications of social capital, Forum report no. 28
- O’Connor, Greg, 2002, The role of volunteers in organising Dublin area under-age football, unpublished thesis
- Powell, Fred & Guerin, Donal, 1997, Civil society and social policy, University College Cork
- Ruddle, Helen & Donoghue, Freda, 1995, The organisation of volunteering: a study of Irish voluntary organisations in the social welfare area, National College of Ireland
- Ruddle, Helen & Mulvihill, Ray, 1999, Reaching out: charitable giving and volunteering in the Republic of Ireland - the 1997/98 survey, National College of Ireland
- Donaghue, Freda, Prizeman, Geraldine, O'Regan, Andrew & Nöel Virginie, 2006, The Hidden Landscape - First Forays into Mapping Nonprofit Organisations in Ireland, Centre for Nonprofit Management, School of Business, Trinity College Dublin
- Ulster Marketing Surveys / Volunteer Development Agency, 2001, Volunteering in Northern Ireland, Volunteer Development Agency, Belfast
|
