Why Volunteers Are Your Greatest Asset

In the UK, thousands of charities operate thanks to the tireless dedication of volunteers. From local food banks to large-scale sporting events, these individuals are the unsung heroes who make vital services possible. But have you ever stopped to consider what happens if you can’t utilise volunteers?

According to the latest NCVO Civil Society Almanac 2024 and government-commissioned research, the formal volunteering contribution to the UK is valued at approximately £18.7 billion. This isn't just a "feel-good" number; it represents the actual cost of the labour being gifted to our communities every day.

What would happen if charities suddenly had to hire staff for every hour currently contributed by volunteers? The answer, as we'll explore, reveals not just staggering costs, but also unique, irreplaceable benefits that go far beyond a simple wage

1. The Financial Weight: Food Distribution

Imagine a large-scale food distribution charity. These organisations rely on volunteers to sort surplus stock, drive delivery vans, and manage local hubs.

If a single distribution hub uses 20 volunteers for 15 hours a week, and you had to replace them with paid staff at the 2026 National Living Wage (approx. £12.21 + on-costs), your overheads would increase by roughly £4,400 per week. For most charities, that is the difference between operating and closing.

2. Operational Agility: Event Management

Volunteers provide a level of flexibility that is legally and financially impossible to achieve with paid staff. Volunteers can be activated for "surge" periods (like seasonal peaks or emergencies) without the charity being liable for guaranteed hours or notice periods.

Large-scale events, from city marathons to local festivals, are almost entirely volunteer-led. Events require "surge capacity." You might need 500 marshals for 6 hours on a single Sunday.

Hiring 500 temporary staff through an agency would involve massive recruitment fees and holiday pay. Volunteers provide this scale with local passion and community trust that temporary agency staff simply can't replicate.

Also hiring paid staff requires formal contracts, statutory holiday pay (12.07%), and pension auto-enrolment. For short-term or "micro-volunteering" tasks, the HR and payroll admin costs for an employee often exceed the value of the work itself.

Volunteering is an Investment, Not a Free Lunch

However, don’t assume that volunteering is "free" for an organisation. To keep this £18.7 billion engine running, you must invest in Volunteer Management. Recruiting a new volunteer is a significant investment; when you factor in background checks (DBS), induction training, and staff time, it can cost between £1,000 and £1,600 per person.

Beyond recruitment, there are ongoing annual costs for retaining your team, including volunteer expenses and the tooling required to manage them effectively.

Protect Your Greatest Asset

We have to ask ourselves: are we doing enough to retain our volunteers?

Do you listen to your volunteers?

Do you show your volunteers gratitude?

Do you pay your volunteers expenses on time?

The data is clear: volunteers are your organisation's greatest asset. So, look after them. Create a nice environment for them to work in, listen to them, make them feel appreciated, and pay their volunteer expenses on time. Doing so allows you to retain them, save yourselves a lot of money in recruitment, and ensure your mission remains sustainable.