Inclusive volunteering

Spirit of 2012, the London 2012 legacy funder has today awarded a grant to carry out new research into the background, nature and experiences of disabled people who volunteer. A team of four researchers, coordinated by Kim Donahue Associates, undertakes the project, with the quantitative analysis undertaken by Dr Daiga Kamerāde from the University of Salford. 

The team works in collaboration with HEAR, a pan-equality network of voluntary/community sector organisations. Using data from Understanding Society, the UK Household Longitudinal Study, the research will be used to profile disabled and non-disabled volunteers and understand how patterns of volunteering have changed during the pandemic. The team also undertakes six in-depth case studies with organisations that currently work with volunteers. 

This inclusive volunteering programme is practised-based research, believed to be the first of its kind, into the background and experiences of disabled volunteers, with results expected to be published by April 2022. 

The insights from the research will help organisations that have volunteer programmes, or are considering working with volunteers, to develop inclusive volunteering practices that are open to both disabled and non-disabled people on equal terms. 

Project Team: Dr. Daiga Kamerāde (CLDR, University of Salford), Kim Donahue Associates, Véronique Jochum, Social Research Consultant, Christine Goodall (HEAR) 

Research Group: CSHR  

Project Funder: Spirit of 2012