DCMS: Digital tools that support volunteering
New research looking at how to make digital technology work better for volunteering
“The charity sector [in England] is quite competitive and has put barriers up in the past which makes it difficult to build ambitious tech platforms to address issues.”
Everyday, people use digital tools like apps and websites for everything from work, shopping, socialising and entertainment – so why not volunteering?
Digital tools for volunteering have been a growing feature of the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector. When COVID-19 hit, they were used more widely than ever before. At the same time, volunteering more broadly is changing: there are fewer people participating in formal volunteering, whilst recruiting and retaining volunteers remains a challenge for many volunteer-involving organisations (VIOs).
Digital technology in the form of tools and platforms is recognised as having the potential to support and facilitate greater volunteering, and foster a greater and more diverse pool of volunteers.
It was in this context that the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) asked Basis Social and NPC (New Philanthropy Capital) to look at how digital tools are currently supporting volunteering in England, and how their role in sustaining and promoting volunteering in the future could be improved.
To do this, we brought together volunteers, VIOs and developers of digital tools, to capture a 360-degree view of digital tools in England today. We learned that digital tools can make it easier for people to get involved in volunteering in ways that suit them. They can also help spread the word about volunteering opportunities and can save both volunteers and VIOs time. However, different barriers sometimes get in the way of these benefits:
Not everyone knows about these tools, so fewer people use them.
Some people find digital tools hard to use because they are not familiar with digital technology.
Many VIOs don't have the money or skills to use these tools well.
No tool does everything organisations and volunteers need, and different tools don't always work well together.
The research has helped us to identify some core principles for building digital technology that works better for volunteering.
To find out more, you can read our full report here.
This study forms part of a wider two-year programme of research Basis Social has been running for DCMS. Through this work programme we have been delivering a range of mixed method research projects, designed to fill knowledge gaps and provide evidence to support the development of future programmes, funding streams and strategy, together with more impactful interventions in the VCSE sector.
You can read more about some of our other work in this space – just click on the links below:
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