As 2025 draws to a close, we’re reflecting on the resilience, passion, and innovation that define the UK’s volunteering community. Our State of UK Volunteer Management 2025 report revealed something powerful: despite ongoing challenges, optimism is thriving.
At a time when charities are navigating complex change, volunteer managers and programme leads are showing us exactly why volunteering remains such a force for good. With strategic investment and digital transformation, 2026 could be the year that volunteering truly transforms across the UK.
Optimism in the face of challenge
72% of volunteer managers remain optimistic about the future of volunteering - one of the most encouraging findings from our 2025 report.
When asked what gives them hope, respondents pointed to the daily impact volunteers are having in their communities, and the unwavering commitment of those who lead and support them. Volunteer managers — often the unsung heroes of the sector — are driven by the ripple effects they help create: deeper community connections, improved wellbeing, and life-changing support for people who need it most.
This optimism is grounded in experience, and it’s shaping the future of volunteering nationwide.
Strategy as a foundation for success
A key insight from this year’s report is that organisations with a defined volunteer strategy don’t just deliver better volunteer experiences — they also feel more optimistic about the future of volunteering.
Whether it’s a standalone strategy or embedded into the wider organisational plan, these organisations report:
Smoother volunteer journeys
More consistent support for volunteer managers
Greater confidence in the future of their programmes
When organisations embed volunteering into their strategy, they do more than improve day-to-day operations. They help lay the foundation for sector-wide transformation, and a stronger, more sustainable volunteering ecosystem.
A sector moving forward
While challenges remain, the data points to several promising shifts across the sector:
Increasing recognition of volunteers’ value: 88% of survey respondents say volunteers are critical to achieving their organisation’s mission.
Growth in digital transformation: From onboarding to scheduling and communications, digital tools like Rosterfy are helping charities deliver volunteer programmes that are modern, efficient, and scalable.
Greater awareness of burnout: The pressures faced by volunteer managers are being acknowledged, opening the door to healthier cultures and better support.
Rising investment in professional development: Training, peer networks, and visible career pathways are becoming more common - helping elevate volunteer management as a profession.
The opportunity for volunteering in 2026
Charities have a unique opportunity to build on the momentum of this year. With the right investment and focus, 2026 could be the year volunteering evolves at scale, transforming both experiences and impact across the sector.
If 2025 has shown us anything, it’s that the passion is already there. What’s needed now is the infrastructure to match it.
Download The State of UK Volunteer Management 2025 report for the full findings and insights to help shape your volunteer strategy.
