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.

Key insight

In 2021, not volunteering was the most common response among residents aged 15 and over in Blighty, accounting for 58.7% (81 people). This share was lower than Edward River (A) (69.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not volunteering, which decreased by 3,772 people and 20.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Volunteer work

Blighty - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises volunteer work for Blighty in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Edward River (A) and change since 2016.

Volunteer work change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

Total Volunteer

-761

+11.0pp

Total Not A Volunteer

-3,772

-20.9pp

Total Voluntary Work Not Stated

-166

+9.2pp

Data table

Volunteer work for Blighty. Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Edward River (A).

Volunteer work for Blighty. Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Edward River (A).
Volunteer work for Blighty. Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Edward River (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Edward River (A)%Count%Edward River (A)%Countpp
Total Volunteer3827.5%20.7%79916.5%26.9%-761+11.0pp
Total Not A Volunteer8158.7%69.2%3,85379.6%60.8%-3,772-20.9pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated1813.0%10.1%1843.8%12.2%-166+9.2pp
Total138100.0%100.0%4,839100.0%100.0%-4,7010.0pp