Sport and Volunteering

Walking group

A snap shot of Volunteering in Sport

  • 5,821,400 sport volunteers in England or 14% of adult population
  • 26% of all volunteers cite sport as their main area of interest meaning the sports sector is the biggest contribution to total volunteering in England
  • 44% of young volunteers are engaged in sport and exercise
  • Sports volunteers contribute one billion hours each year to sport - equivalent to 720,000 paid workers
  • Sport and ICT have been found to be effective in egaging young men and disaffected young people
  • Value of time contributed by sports volunteers in England is estimated at over £14 billion

Source: Sport England


Further information

Volunteering England is leading on engagement between sport and volunteering and have a sports volunteering project. For more information see their sports volunteering pages or contact Laura Ferguson, Strategic Development Manager - Sport at Volunteering England. Laura is working closely with Carrie McKenzie (NAVCA's Sports Partnership Strategic Adviser) to bring community sport and the wider third sector closer together.

In most areas there is a volunteer centre. They support organisations that already have or are looking for volunteers and help potential volunteers to find organisations to work with.