While the rest of the UK has seen a surge in demand for volunteers, new figures from CharityJob reveal that Wales is one of the few regions where opportunities have actually declined, raising concerns for charities under strain.
The UK’s largest charity job board found a 16% increase in volunteer roles nationally over the past 12 months, yet Wales saw a 22.3% fall compared to the previous year.
“A Warning Sign for Welsh Charities”
“We’ve seen a clear rise in the number of charities actively seeking volunteers, with more than 17,800 volunteer roles posted in the last year alone,” said Raya Wexler, co-founder of CharityJob. However, Wales is bucking this trend. The decline in roles at Welsh charities could point to further struggles, limited capacity to advertise, or fewer structured opportunities, all of which risk leaving communities with less support.
CharityJob data reveals:
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Wales posted 304 volunteer roles in the last 12 months, compared to 372 the year before.
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Meanwhile, regions like Yorkshire and the Humber (+63%) and the East of England (+48%) saw major growth in volunteer postings.
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Nationally, 17,800 volunteer roles were posted, with on-site roles up by 20% and remote roles up by 12%.
|
Region
|
Total Volunteer Roles
|
Total On-site Volunteer Roles
|
Total Hybrid Volunteer Roles
|
YoY % Difference
|
|
Remote
|
3,980
|
13.9%
|
||
|
London
|
3,371
|
1,728
|
1,637
|
0.8%
|
|
South East
|
1,592
|
1,150
|
440
|
30.5%
|
|
South West
|
1,421
|
971
|
446
|
6.9%
|
|
North West
|
1,201
|
919
|
280
|
15.6%
|
|
East of England
|
1,061
|
827
|
233
|
48.4%
|
|
West Midlands
|
1,021
|
798
|
222
|
19.6%
|
|
Yorkshire and the Humber
|
937
|
799
|
135
|
62.7%
|
|
East Midlands
|
750
|
605
|
145
|
38.1%
|
|
Scotland
|
327
|
154
|
171
|
-5.8%
|
|
International
|
307
|
232
|
75
|
65.9%
|
|
Wales
|
304
|
217
|
87
|
-22.3%
|
|
North East
|
301
|
232
|
69
|
39.4%
|
|
Northern Ireland
|
55
|
40
|
15
|
-6.8%
|
|
Total
|
17,845
|
9,603
|
4,382
|
15.7%
|
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Source: CharityJob Data Team (Aug-23 to Jul-25)
A Growing Reliance on Volunteers
Across the UK, unpaid volunteers are increasingly supporting frontline services, from food banks to mental health helplines.
Yet Wales’ decline in opportunities suggests charities may be missing out on a vital ‘shadow workforce’ that is helping to sustain other regions.
Remote volunteering remains the most in-demand option, with roles receiving on average 4x more applications than on-site ones. However, Wales has one of the lowest proportions of hybrid opportunities (87 hybrid vs. 217 on-site) which could exclude people with caring responsibilities, health conditions, or those living rurally.
The Growing Value of Volunteering Across the UK
CharityJob is hoping Welsh charities will consider creating and promoting more volunteer opportunities to help support services.
“Volunteering is no longer just an act of kindness, it’s a way for people to gain valuable skills, reboot their careers, or stay connected to work on their terms,” said Raya Wexler.
CharityJob has also published new guidance to help charities attract volunteers through non-pay benefits such as training, flexibility, and recognition.
Prospective candidates can search available volunteer roles in their area on the CharityJob website.