Volunteering is at the heart of many communities around the UK. It is the giving of time that makes many communities so strong. It is the people who month in, month out, give their time that provides support for millions of people. Volunteering also lets charity shops flourish, provides services in hospices and for the homeless, and creates a better natural environment and raises money for charities and good causes. It is the giving of time (and money) that is at the heart of a supportive, caring society.

This report tries to pull together some of the threads and trends for the current demographic profile of volunteers, as well as analysing recent initiatives, and setting out some hallmarks of good practice for individual charities. It also sets out the elements of a strategy for developing volunteering in the first year of a Labour government in Westminster.