Valuing Volunteering (January 2006)

A survey carried out amongst 516 managers and 100 returned volunteers, investigating the extent to which volunteering can help to develop professional management skills.

Published: January 2006

ISBN: 0-85946-440-7

Price: FREE - download here

Valuing Volunteering explores the extent to which volunteering can help to develop professional management skills. The survey, which was carried out amongst 516 senior managers and 100 returned VSO volunteers, shows that international volunteering can have a significant impact on skills development. However, individuals across the UK are failing to realise the full benefits that volunteering can offer their careers.

Published in association with VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas), the research revealed that 78 per cent of managers were involved in voluntary activities with altruism cited as the top motivation for doing so.  Only 12 per cent said that professional development was a motivating factor, however, returned VSO volunteers demonstrated that international volunteering can develop skills such as communication (74 per cent) and managing change (54 per cent). These were also skills that organisations identified as key areas of shortage.

The research also shows ways in which volunteers can present their experiences in a positive light to potential employers.  41 per cent of respondents would be more inclined to employ volunteers if they could demonstrate formal recognition of how they made an impact.  It suggests that managers should recognise volunteering as a route to professional development and be more pro-active in considering volunteering as part of their own career planning.

Further Information
For more information, please contact research@managers.org.uk or call 020 7421 2704.