Employment
Volunteer work
About this topic
Volunteer work records whether people aged 15 years and over spent time doing voluntary work through an organisation or group in the previous 12 months. It is a measure of formal volunteering, not all informal help between neighbours, family, or friends.
This topic can indicate community participation, social connectedness, and the capacity of local organisations to attract volunteers. The 2021 Census should be interpreted carefully because COVID-19 restrictions reduced volunteering activity in many places.
Interpretation notes
- The Census counts voluntary work through an organisation or group, so it excludes informal help given outside formal organisations.
- The question refers to the previous 12 months for people aged 15 years and over.
- 2021 volunteering levels were affected by COVID-19 restrictions in many places, so change over time needs care.
Related topics
Key insight
In 2021, not volunteering was the most common response among residents aged 15 and over in Bridport, accounting for 69.5% (1,011 people). This share was lower than Dorset (M) (70.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not volunteering, which increased by 149 people and 4.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Volunteer work
Bridport - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises volunteer work for Bridport in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Dorset (M) and change since 2016.
Volunteer work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bridport, with comparison markers for Dorset (M).
Total Volunteer
2021 count
299
% of total
20.5%
Change from 2016
-5.0pp
299
20.5%
-5.0pp
Total Not A Volunteer
2021 count
1,011
% of total
69.5%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
1,011
69.5%
+4.2pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated
2021 count
144
% of total
9.9%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
144
9.9%
+1.2pp
Chart view
Volunteer work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Total Volunteer
-38
-5.0pp
Total Not A Volunteer
+149
+4.2pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated
+29
+1.2pp
Data table
Volunteer work for Bridport. Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Dorset (M).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Dorset (M)% | Count | % | Dorset (M)% | Count | pp | |
| Total Volunteer | 299 | 20.5% | 20.7% | 337 | 25.5% | 25.5% | -38 | -5.0pp |
| Total Not A Volunteer | 1,011 | 69.5% | 70.6% | 862 | 65.3% | 64.5% | +149 | +4.2pp |
| Total Voluntary Work Not Stated | 144 | 9.9% | 8.6% | 115 | 8.7% | 10.0% | +29 | +1.2pp |
| Total | 1,455 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,321 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +134 | 0.0pp |