Moreover, as recent research has shown, in times of economic prosperity, volunteering increases - and decreases when recession puts people's security about meeting their own needs under pressure. These are people giving altruistic help to others, when their own basic needs are barely covered. Surely, only once basic needs are met should we expect 'higher', more optional needs to come into play. Looked at from this perspective, what is surprising is not that those who are comfortably off put more time and other resources into volunteering than those who are less well-off. Rather, it is that so many who are battling against disadvantage and adversity put so much time into volunteering.
Some practical conclusions seem to follow.
The first is that tackling poverty and inequality is an essential basis for enabling people to be 'active citizens'. Reimbursing volunteer expenses is a small but essential element of this. A second is the importance of recognising volunteer time as a real donation that is as valuable as money - especially important when time, energy, talents and commitment are the only resources people have to give, and so represent a considerable personal cost and share of the resources available to them. Where project funders and partners are looking for match funding, including volunteer time in the equation is absolutely essential. This is why exploring ways of making the value of volunteer work visible is such a strong element in the Centre's policy and research work.