The number of volunteers is growing!
What should be the area of focus for the volunteer policymakers in the next decades?
“Volunteer Scotland” conducted a very interesting research, where, among others, the future profile of the volunteers in Scotland was investigated. Also, in the research we can find proposals for new areas of focus for the volunteer policymakers.
It is predicted that there will be more volunteers aged 65+ and the total number of volunteers will increase.
The problems of the future volunteer will differ from those we are facing today and the main areas will be:
- an aging population
- labor market skills shortages
- mental and physical ill-health
- social isolation and loneliness
- poor community engagement.
Debbie Maltman and Matthew Linning, the authors of the report, present also wide-ranging evidence on the extraordinary contribution of volunteering in helping to address these challenges and in improving the health and wellbeing of Scotland’s people.
In the report we can find recommendations for the volunteering policymakers and practitioners to focus on four key areas over the next two decades:
- HEALTH & WELLBEING
- SPORT & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
- HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE
- INCLUSION & ENGAGED COMMUNITIES
It is clear, that volunteering can make a great contribution to the wellbeing of the nation, but there is also evidence that the volunteers themselves gain from that support, especially for volunteers who experience disadvantage and exclusion.
If you want to find out more about this topic check HERE.
To learn more about the benefits you can get from volunteering check THIS article.
