Press release: South Westerners most community spirited in England

People in the South West are the most community spirited in the country, with over one in three giving their time and effort each month to a charity or local group.

Source: 2005 Citizenship Survey, Department for Communities & Local Government

Patrick Hamilton, manager of North Devon Voluntary Services, said:

“I’m not surprised the South West is top of the table –there are probably more retired people and seasonal workers in this region with a bit more spare time than in other parts of the country. But volunteering isn’t just about being at a loose end: it’s about engaging with the community and developing skills, and people in the South West are reaping the benefits of their commitment.”

Christopher Spence CBE, Chief Executive of Volunteering England, said:

“It’s wonderful to see so many people all over the country regularly committing their time and energy to helping others. This Volunteers’ Week, I’d urge even more people to give volunteering a try – not only will they have the satisfaction of knowing that they’re making a difference to another person, they’ll also gain insights, skills and experiences that will enrich their own lives.”

Many volunteers in the South West are celebrating with the rest of the country’s 22 million volunteers today for the start of the 23rd annual Volunteers’ Week which runs from today until 7 June and is co-ordinated in England by Volunteering England.

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Patrick Hamilton, North Devon Voluntary Services

“Traditionally those who volunteer most are recently retired – and North Devon is typical of the region in that we have many retirees. We also have the climate and environment for the large number of local outdoor activities available.

“A popular misconception is that this type of volunteering involves mainly those of comfortable means and who have time on their hands but there is little doubt that all sectors of the community are involved.

“We have a large number of areas of significant deprivation in North Devon. There are therefore many and varied opportunities for volunteering. There are also many people who are out of work for one reason or another and a significant number of them turn to volunteering. Many are employed in seasonal hospitalityand need to fill up their time, meet people, get out of their homes, make a contribution to their communities, update training skills, develop confidence and develop their CVs. Volunteering fulfils many of these needs and so for these reasons too, our area is rich in its volunteering numbers.

“At our Volunteer Centre in Barnstaple, of the 300 new volunteers during the last year, over 80 are aged 18 to 25. A significant number are in full time employment and so need to do their volunteering either in the evenings or over week-ends.

“We make all new opportunities available on the www.do-it.org.uk website which can be accessed all over the world. With NDVS you can take part in lots of activities with every age group– from helping mothers with unborn babies, school groups, youth groups, to learning about sports and music and helping in soup kitchens.”

Notes to Editors:

• For further information or interviews, please contact Cat Dean on 020 7520 8932, email cat.dean@volunteeringengland.org, or Sonya Roberts on 020 7520 8965, email Sonya.roberts@volunteeringengland.org
  
• Visit www.volunteersweek.org.uk for more information on Volunteers’ Week 2007, including details of events, volunteering opportunities and discussion boards.
• Volunteering England works to promote volunteering as a powerful force for change, both for those who volunteer and for the wider community. For further information go to www.volunteering.org.uk or call 0845 305 6979.
• Over half the population in England volunteers: In 2205, 68% of people (27.4 million) volunteered informally, while 44% (or 17.9 million) volunteered formally. (source: 2005 DCLG Citizenship Survey). For more statistics, including sports, youth, workplace and the health benefits of volunteering, please contact Cat Dean.
• In a poll on the Volunteers’ Week website, visitors were asked: Why does Volunteers' Week matter? The responses as following (number of respondents followed by % in brackets).
  - It raises the profile of volunteer centres: 13 (6.34%)
  - It raises the profile of volunteering opportunities: 29 (14.15%)
  - It's a way to engage with the local community: 30 (14.63%)
  - It's important for social cohesion: 7 (3.41%)
  - It's important that volunteers are appreciated: 126 (61.46%)