Young people speak out: attitudes to, and perceptions of, full-time volunteering

v, the national youth volunteering charity, commissioned Ipsos to undertake qualitative and quantitative research among young people aged 16-25 in England, to explore their views and experiences of volunteering, and specifically full-time volunteering placements.

The research aimed to measure current levels of volunteering, understand the appeal of volunteering, and the barriers that act against participation, and to explore how the changing economic climate impacted young people's views of volunteering. The research also sought to gain young people's views on proposals for the introduction of compulsory community service for young Britons that, if realised, would directly impact on them.

• Download the data tables

Technical details The research consisted of three main elements:160

• 1,997 online questionnaires were completed by young people aged 16-25 in England using Ipsos's online interviewing panel, between 28 April and 10 May 2009.160
• Four face-to-face discussion groups were held with 27 young people between 29 and 30 April 2009. Each discussion focussed on a specific group of young people to ensure we captured a range of views:160
  • young people currently in education, employment or training;160
  • young people currently not in education, employment or training;160
  • young people with learning difficulties; and160
  • young people with mobility disabilities.160
• Six in-depth telephone interviews were conducted with young people who had recently completed full-time, or close to full-time, volunteering placements. Interviews lasted around 45 minutes and were conducted between 20 and 24 April 2009.