by Martin O’Neill, Head of Marketing, Rosterfy
Rosterfy is passionate about empowering organisations to better engage, manage and retain their volunteers. That’s why Rosterfy launched its State of UK Volunteer Management 2025 Survey – the first of its kind in the UK that will shine a light on the realities of volunteer management today.
The findings are both encouraging and thought-provoking.
What the Report Showed
- Technology remains underused: Just 44% of organisations currently have a Volunteer Management System (VMS) in place, and only 43% feel they use technology effectively. That means over half the sector is missing out on the efficiencies digital solutions can bring.
- Optimism shines through: Despite the challenges, 72% of respondents feel optimistic about the future of volunteering.
- Persistent challenges: Recruitment (32%), decline in volunteering (31%), burnout and retention (29% each) and internal politics (28%) continue to test volunteer managers daily.
- Mission-critical role of volunteers: Over 85% agreed that volunteers are vital to achieving their mission.
Insights Shared at the Launch
To celebrate the report’s release, Rosterfy hosted a sold-out breakfast seminar in Farringdon on 17 September, and were delighted to welcome AVM Chair, Ruth Leonard, who shared her expertise and helped put the survey results into perspective.
One of the most striking insights was the divide between organisations with a volunteer strategy (often supported by technology) and those without. Those with a clear strategy and tools in place reported stronger support from leadership and greater success in volunteer recruitment.
As Ruth put it:
Rosterfy’s report seems to validate that having a strategy for involving volunteers is a core element of making it easier to bring people in and that to be incorporated within a wider organisational strategy is even more important.
Ruth also highlighted the changing role of the volunteer manager, noting how it is increasingly recognised as a professional discipline in its own right. This observation was warmly received by attendees, many of whom agreed that today’s volunteer managers are required to wear multiple hats – not only leading people but also developing digital skills, often acting as de facto people managers and digital marketing specialists.
A Shift in the Narrative
Another surprising finding challenges the common perception that post-Covid, volunteering has been in decline. In fact, four in five organisations reported that their volunteer numbers have either increased or remained stable over the past year.
This is an encouraging sign that, despite challenges, volunteering in the UK remains strong and with the right strategies and systems in place, it can thrive.
Download the Report
The State of UK Volunteer Management 2025 is the first report of its kind – a robust, data-driven resource for anyone passionate about the sustainability of volunteering programmes.
