Kent Volunteers - Volunteer Managers Survey 2026

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* 1. Do you manage (supervise, organise or co-ordinate) other volunteers?

Yes, in a paid role

Yes, as a volunteer

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* 2. What area do your volunteers cover?

Ashford

Canterbury

Dartford

Dover

Folkestone and Hythe

Gravesham

Maidstone

Medway

Sevenoaks

Swale

Thanet

Tonbridge and Malling

Tunbridge Wells

Across the whole of Kent

Other (please specify)

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* 3. What type of organisation or group do you manage volunteers with?

A not-for-profit or community organisation/group

A government department or agency

A privately owned or for-profit organisation

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* 4. Approximately how many volunteers have you been responsible for over the last 12 months?

0-10

11-25

26-50

51-100

101-200

201+

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* 5. Approximately how many hours a week do you spend managing volunteers? 0-40 in 5 increments

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 6. Who volunteers with you?

People who work full time

People who don’t work

People who work but less than full time

Parents

Skilled professionals

Corporate sponsored individuals or groups

People under 18 years of age

Families

Other (please specify)

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* 7. Is there anyone who cannot volunteer with you?

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* 8. How do you typically attract volunteers?

Word of mouth

Online volunteer recruitment sites

Social media

Kent Volunteers website

Traditional media (e.g. posters, newsletters, radio)

Referral by another agency (e.g. Volunteer Centre, Job Centre)

Open days or events

Other (please specify)

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* 9. How do you recognise, engage and retain volunteers?

Reimbursement of expenses

Internal awards such as certificates and letters of appreciation

External awards such as nominations for the Kent Charity Awards and local recognition awards

Rewards such as cinema tickets or tokens of appreciation

Out-of-hours gatherings, events or celebrations

Public ceremonies or events

Accredited training

Other training such as workshops and short courses

Mentoring programmes

Media mentions such as on your website, on social media, in newsletters or in press releases

Pre-agreed penalties or sanctions for non-participation

Formal performance reviews

Personal connections and relationship building

Flexible volunteering arrangements

Diverse and rewarding volunteering opportunities

Dedicated volunteer management training and/or resources

Induction and orientation programmes

Discounted or free meals, uniforms, insurance, accommodation etc

We don’t do anything to recognise, engage or retain volunteers

Other (please specify)

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* 10. What do you think are the three the biggest barriers to people volunteering in your organisation/group in 2026?

Cost of living crisis

We don’t pay volunteer expenses

Lack of transport

Individuals have no time to volunteer because of family, work or study commitments

Health reasons

Limited language or practical skills

Previous bad experiences of volunteering

Some cultures don't feature volunteering

Lack of confidence

Lack of appreciation or recognition

Burnout through volunteering too much

Government restrictions or requirements

Lack of interest in our cause

Lack of connection with our organisation/group (e.g. their friends have left)

We don’t offer relevant volunteering opportunities

Not sure

Other (please specify)

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* 11. How has volunteering changed for your organisation since 2025?

There are about the same or more options to volunteer

The number of people who want to volunteer has reduced

The hours people want to volunteer has reduced

People want to volunteer occasional rather than regular hours

Organisations want to volunteer employees' time more

Volunteers are claiming expenses more often

The amount of training volunteers need has risen

There is a greater number of young people who want to volunteer

More volunteering is done online or from home

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* 12. How important are these volunteer issues to your organisation?

	Not important at all	A bit important	Very important	Not sure
Volunteer recruitment	Volunteer recruitment Not important at all	Volunteer recruitment A bit important	Volunteer recruitment Very important	Volunteer recruitment Not sure
Volunteer retention	Volunteer retention Not important at all	Volunteer retention A bit important	Volunteer retention Very important	Volunteer retention Not sure
Volunteer management	Volunteer management Not important at all	Volunteer management A bit important	Volunteer management Very important	Volunteer management Not sure
Volunteer appreciation and recognition inside our organisation	Volunteer appreciation and recognition inside our organisation Not important at all	Volunteer appreciation and recognition inside our organisation A bit important	Volunteer appreciation and recognition inside our organisation Very important	Volunteer appreciation and recognition inside our organisation Not sure
Volunteer appreciation and recognition by the community	Volunteer appreciation and recognition by the community Not important at all	Volunteer appreciation and recognition by the community A bit important	Volunteer appreciation and recognition by the community Very important	Volunteer appreciation and recognition by the community Not sure
Volunteer rights, responsibilities, protection and dispute management	Volunteer rights, responsibilities, protection and dispute management Not important at all	Volunteer rights, responsibilities, protection and dispute management A bit important	Volunteer rights, responsibilities, protection and dispute management Very important	Volunteer rights, responsibilities, protection and dispute management Not sure
Volunteer health and safety	Volunteer health and safety Not important at all	Volunteer health and safety A bit important	Volunteer health and safety Very important	Volunteer health and safety Not sure
Understanding the national vision for volunteering	Understanding the national vision for volunteering Not important at all	Understanding the national vision for volunteering A bit important	Understanding the national vision for volunteering Very important	Understanding the national vision for volunteering Not sure

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* 13. How important are these organisational matters related to volunteering?

	Not important at all	A little bit important	Very important	Not sure
Organisational culture, inclusion and diversity	Organisational culture, inclusion and diversity Not important at all	Organisational culture, inclusion and diversity A little bit important	Organisational culture, inclusion and diversity Very important	Organisational culture, inclusion and diversity Not sure
Financial viability/sustainability	Financial viability/sustainability Not important at all	Financial viability/sustainability A little bit important	Financial viability/sustainability Very important	Financial viability/sustainability Not sure
Project, programme and change management	Project, programme and change management Not important at all	Project, programme and change management A little bit important	Project, programme and change management Very important	Project, programme and change management Not sure
Impact measurement, evaluation and reporting	Impact measurement, evaluation and reporting Not important at all	Impact measurement, evaluation and reporting A little bit important	Impact measurement, evaluation and reporting Very important	Impact measurement, evaluation and reporting Not sure
Access to volunteer management, resources and templates	Access to volunteer management, resources and templates Not important at all	Access to volunteer management, resources and templates A little bit important	Access to volunteer management, resources and templates Very important	Access to volunteer management, resources and templates Not sure

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* 14. Have you heard of these Kent-based support services for volunteer management?

Kent Volunteers

Funding For All

Stronger Kent Communities

Volunteer Centres

Charity Mentors

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* 15. Have you heard of the the Kings Award for Volunteering - it is a national award?

Yes I have heard of this and our organisation/group has applied in the past

Yes I have heard of the award but our organisation has never applied

No I have not heard of this award

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* 16. Where do you go when you need help with volunteer management?

Your manager

Google search

Social media

Your network of colleagues in other organisations who are doing a similar role

Your friends or family

Kent Volunteers website

Your local volunteer centre

I don't know where to go

Other (please specify)

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* 17. In three years time, do you think people are more or less likely to be volunteering with your organisation or group?

Less

Don't know

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* 18. How likely are you to be with your organisation as a volunteer manager in three years' time?

Not likely

Uncertain

Very likely