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In 2024/25, just under a half of adults volunteered (either formally or informally) within the previous year

Date published: 02 October 2025

Topics: People and communities

New official statistics published today by NISRA statisticians in the Department for Communities present information on adults aged 16 years and over and their experience of volunteering from the Continuous Household Survey.

Key findings:

  • In 2024/25, just under a half (46%) of adults had volunteered (either formally or informally) within the previous year.
  • Over a quarter (27%) of adults had volunteered formally with an organisation within the previous year, a similar proportion to 2023/24 (28%).
  • Over a third (34%) of adults had volunteered informally in their communities, a decrease on the figure for 2023/24 (37%).
  • For those who volunteered formally, the most popular types of activities included ‘Fundraising’, ‘Being a group leader, member of a committee or a trustee’ and
    ‘Practical help such as shopping, gardening, DIY, cleaning or cooking’.
  • The most popular types of activities for those who volunteered informally included ‘Keeping in touch with someone who is at risk of being lonely’, ‘Doing shopping, 
    collecting pension, collecting benefits or paying bills’ and ‘Routine household chores’.

About the publication

This report presents the findings from the 2024/25 Continuous Household Survey (CHS) in relation to experience of volunteering in Northern Ireland.

Further Information

View the publications and supporting tables: Experience of volunteering by adults in Northern Ireland

 

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Last updated: 06 October 2025

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