BENEFITS OF SPORT

Volunteering provides substantial benefits to sport, society, and to the volunteers themselves. ^{1, 2, 3, 4, 33}

Sports organisations can gain from greater diversity in viewpoints, decision making, and leadership, new and innovative ideas for strategies and programs, and increased participation and fan bases. In return, sport can offer enhanced social, educational, employment, and wellbeing outcomes. ^{3, 5, 6, 33}

Several surveys and reports have shown that more people volunteer in the sporting sector than any other (e.g., religious or cultural sectors). ^{7, 8}

In 2020, 31% of Australians who volunteered through an organisation, chose activities related to sports and physical recreation.⁷

Sport volunteers are estimated to donate 158 million hours annually– equivalent to nearly 90,000 full-time jobs and $3 billion in economic value.²⁰

In 2018, 95% of employers believe that volunteering can be a credible way of gaining real work experience. ⁵

In 2020, 66% of volunteers engaged in volunteering for personal satisfaction or to do something worthwhile. ⁷

In 2020, 74% of volunteers engaged in volunteering to help others or their community. ⁷

IMPACT

Sport sector

Volunteers add great value to the sector by ensuring organised activities are affordable, well run, and inclusive.

Impact

Sport sector

Small, not-for-profit sports clubs and organisations are the backbone of many local communities and are mostly run by volunteers. In 2014, 48% of sport and recreation volunteers in Victoria reported contributing 50 hours or more per year. ⁸ Without volunteers’ contribution, sport as we know it would not exist. ^{2, 10, 11, 12, 33}

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 25% of Australians aged 15 years and over participated in unpaid voluntary work through an organisation in 2020. The most common types of organisations for which people volunteered were: ⁷

Sport and physical recreation (31% of volunteers)
Religious groups (23% of volunteers)
Education and training (19% of volunteers)

Volunteers are also vital to the successful running of large events like sporting championships, or the Olympic, Paralympic, or Commonwealth Games. Olympic volunteer programs have helped deliver every Games since the London Summer Olympic Games in 1948. The programs promote the Olympic spirit and contribute to creating new volunteer cultures and legacies. For the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games, over 200,000 volunteer applications were received, reflecting enthusiasm for the Games, and sport volunteering, across Japan and the world. ^{13, 14}

In recent years, many programs and strategies have been developed to identify, attract, retain, and acknowledge volunteers. You can find details on specific programs in the policies, programs, and supporting structures section of this topic.

This recognises not only the significant role and value of volunteers to the sport and active recreation sector, but the benefits of volunteering for individuals and the broader society. ^{2, 11}

Volunteers: the "heartbeat" of Olympic legacy, International Olympic Committee, (6 December 2019). Volunteers are often hailed for being the “lifeblood” of the Olympic Games, working tirelessly to ensure their success, but since their introduction at the Olympic Games London 1948, volunteer programs have contributed to much more than delivery of the Games. Volunteers have gained lifetime skills and unique experiences, promoted the Olympic spirit and created new volunteer cultures and legacies which continue to benefit their countries to this day. More than 200,000 applications to volunteer at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were submitted, a number which reflects the unprecedented enthusiasm for the Games across Japan.

Sport Volunteering, Russell Hoye, Graham Cuskelly, Chris Auld, et.al., Routledge, (July 2019).
Sports Volunteers Around the Globe: Meaning and Understanding of Volunteering and its Societal Impact, Kristin Hallmann, Sheranne Fairley (eds.), Springer, (2018).
Volunteers in Sport: International perspectives, Nichols G (editor), Routledge, (2014).

The National Standards for Volunteer Involvement, Volunteering Australia, (2015). The National Standards for Volunteer Involvement (the National Standards) have been developed in consultation with the volunteering sector to support the involvement of volunteers and act as a resource for organisations in which volunteers are involved. They provide a framework for organisations to consider the role of volunteers within the organisation and the impact effective volunteer involvement can have on achieving the strategic goals and aims of the organisation.

Sport Volunteering in Europe: Realities, opportunities and challenges, V4V: Skills acquired through volunteering in sport project, European Observatoire of Sport and Employment, (October 2023). This report is the first intellectual output from V4V, a major three-year collaborative partnership project, co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ sport programme, consisting of 12 partners (national and international federations, universities and education bodies, sport and research institutes, and national, European and global umbrella organisations) all of whom have a deep interest in the promotion and development of sport volunteering. V4V was led and coordinated by the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE). Key findings include:
- All strands of research show that volunteering is an indispensable resource for the sport sector, and that sport organisations could not provide opportunities for the general population to engage in sport and healthy physical activity without the support of volunteers. .
- Volunteers are in the majority in all key positions in grassroots sport organisations
- In addition to their unpaid efforts, sport volunteers are also vital in: Bringing energy and enthusiasm to sport organisations, Helping to build relationships with local communities, Introducing new participants to sport.
- Sport volunteering brings benefits to society in the form of: Social cohesion, Solidarity, Improved physical and mental wellbeing.
- Sport volunteering also contributes to the personal wellbeing and development of the volunteers themselves in the form of: Social interaction, Making a difference to the lives of others, Fun and enjoyment, Time away from busy lifestyles, The acquisition of new knowledge and skills, Social and economic mobility.
- Sport organisations need to fully understand and appreciate the potential benefits which volunteers bring or could bring to all areas of their work and to society as a whole.
- In order to maximise volunteer engagement sport organisations must highlight the positive benefits of volunteering for the volunteers themselves and the wider community when promoting volunteering and seeking to recruit and retain volunteers.
European Report on Skills Needs Identification: Situation, trends, perspectives and priorities for the sport and physical activity sector, European Observatoire of Sport and Employment, (March 2023). In every nation in Europe, the backbone of the sector is a network of sport clubs, most of which are volunteer-run and not-for-profit. The contribution of volunteers to the sport sector, which while not direct financing is worth billions of euros to the European sport sector and indeed sport would grind to a halt without volunteer input of time and effort to make sport happen in communities. In relation to benefits of volunteering, some of the key insights include:
General Social Survey, Australian Bureau of Statistics, (June 2021), latest release. During the time that the GSS was conducted in 2020, initiatives were in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and support the economy. Because of changed methodology and the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the Australian population, care should be exercised when making comparisons with previous years. This report provides a breakdown of the volunteer characteristics:
- Australians had volunteered for 489.5 million hours in 2020 and 596.2 million hours in 2019.
- One quarter (25%) of Australians aged 15 years and over participated in unpaid voluntary work through an organisation in 2020, lower than the 30% in 2019.
- Volunteering rates for males and females were similar at 23% and 26%.
- The most common types of organisations for which people volunteered were those relating to sport and physical recreation (31% of volunteers), religious groups (23%), and education and training (19%).
Active Lives, Department for Health and Ageing, Government of South Australia, prepared for the Office of Recreation, Sport and Racing, (2019 and 2021). Adapted from the ‘Active Lives’ survey published by Sport England, additional questions regarding health and wellbeing, community connectedness and individual development were included to investigate their relationship with physical activity. Regarding volunteering, the survey aimed to determine the rates of sport volunteering and links between volunteering in sport, wellbeing and social outcomes.
- In the 2021 report, of those who volunteered in sport, about 40% reported providing any other help for a sport or recreational physical activity, 39% reported raising funds for a sports club, organisation or event, and 33% provided transport to help people to take part in sport' 31% were coaches or instructors for an individual or team, 27% performed an administrative or committee role, and 22% were referees, umpires, or officials (multiple responses were allowed).
Volunteering and Settlement in Australia: A snapshot, Volunteering Australia, Settlement Council of Australia, (May 2019). Volunteering Australia and the Settlement Council of Australia have conducted a National Survey on Volunteering and Settlement in Australia to inform our findings. Motivations to volunteer differ for everyone, however respondents were largely looking to contribute to society, make friends, improve their English or gain local work experience. The report highlights research from McKinsey that found that companies that are more diverse are more likely to improve their customer orientation, employee satisfaction, and decision making. Further, companies that are more ethnically diverse are 35 per cent more likely to perform better than their industry partners.
Value of Sport, Sport NZ, (March 2018). A study exploring the value of sport to New Zealanders, their communities and our country. Active NZ in 2013/14 estimated that 28.1% of adults had volunteered at least once over the previous year, and these volunteers contributed 67.7 million hours of volunteered time over 12 months with an estimated market value of NZ$1.031b. 35% of volunteers state that their reason for volunteering is to contribute to their community. 25% of volunteers are also motivated by the opportunity to gain new skills (and improve employment opportunities).
Volunteering Australia Response on a National Sports Plan, Volunteering Australia, (July 2017). The National Sports Plan aims to guide the future priorities and approaches of the Australian sporting sector for the long term. Volunteering Australia believes that a National Sport Plan needs to acknowledge volunteering as a key pillar for sporting activity in Australia, and develop mechanisms to facilitate and enhance its contribution. They also emphasised that volunteering must be considered in policy development and workforce planning. The response highlights the need for a sustained investment into the volunteering sector by the Australian Government to ensure long term benefits.
Volunteers in Victoria: trends, challenges and opportunities, State of Victoria, Ministerial Council for Volunteers, (June 2017). [Download link] This report was developed to provide a contemporary narrative for volunteering. It also provides a summary of the known social benefits, economic value and current trends. Findings from this report highlight key trends, challenges and opportunities for volunteering and have informed the development of strategic priorities to strengthen and support the volunteer sector in Victoria. ;Some key findings included:
- Most people volunteer because they want to help others and the community (66%), for personal satisfaction (62%), or to do something worthwhile (56%).
- 75% of Victorian volunteers had a parent who volunteered.
- Sport and recreation organisations attract the highest proportion of volunteers (32%), followed by education and training (25%), welfare and community (21%), religious (19%) and health organisations (11%).
- In regional Victoria, the sport and recreation (15%) and church and spiritual (10%) sectors had the highest rates of weekly volunteering.
- Over 231,000 Victorians (48% of sport and recreation volunteers) reported contributing 50 hours or more per year, which equates to a minimum of nearly one hour per week.
- Sporting and recreation clubs are the engine room of volunteering – in 2014, 84% of people who volunteered had also participated in organised team sport as a child. This was significantly higher participation than other organised activities, such as youth groups (62%) and arts/cultural activities (52%).
Intergenerational review of Australian sport 2017, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) for the Australian Sports Commission, (2017). This review focused on the overall sports sector, with a particular emphasis on participation in sport and community level sport. In regards to volunteering the report calculates that the sector employs over 220,000 people, with a further 1.8 million committed volunteers donating 158 million hours to sport each year – equivalent in time to nearly 90,000 additional full-time jobs and $3 billion in economic value.
State of Volunteering in Australia report, Volunteering Australia/PWC, (April 2016). Volunteering Australia and PwC have conducted a survey to analyse the current state of volunteering in Australia, and to identify opportunities to maximise the potential of the volunteer workforce. Sport is included as one of the industries/areas of volunteer participation investigated.
- The most benefits for organisations involving volunteers were new insights brought by volunteers (67 per cent). Many also suggested that volunteers improved the effectiveness and volume of operations (64 per cent and 62 per cent respectively). Fewer respondents found that volunteers were able to fill skills gaps (39 per cent).
- Respondents with volunteer shortages were asked to identify why they had been unable to engage the optimal number of volunteers. The primary problems appeared to be either a lack of suitable candidates or no means of locating them (30 per cent). There were also internal barriers such as time constraints (12 per cent), while most organisations also suggested some limitations stemming from an inadequate funding base (12 per cent). There was also a clear consensus across the states that a mismatch between desired and available candidates sustained suboptimal levels of volunteers.
Hidden diamonds: Uncovering the true value of sport volunteers, Join in, (2014). Our starting hypothesis was that volunteers should not be seen as a cost saving but as investors – people who invest their time, skills and energy both for their own benefit and for the wider community. Going beyond traditional valuation methods, which use the cost-replacement model, the research investigated the true value of sports volunteering to personal wellbeing and happiness of the volunteers themselves, plus the wider benefit to their communities. Sport is the single biggest sector of volunteering in the UK. More than one fifth of the 15 million people who volunteer regularly spend their time volunteering in sport – 3.2 million people in total. And with each volunteer in sport staying involved for 6.2 years on average, the profit of volunteering in sport is truly astonishing. The average club has 24 volunteers and 204 members. In other words, one volunteer creates the capacity for 8.5 members (or players).
Economic Value of Volunteering in Victoria, Duncan Ironmonger, University of Melbourne, Victorian Government, Department of Planning and Community Development, (December 2012). Although anecdotal evidence suggests that the economic contribution of volunteering is great, there are limited reliable figures on the exact monetary value. While we have various official statistics about participation rates, there are no readily available official statistics to show the important contribution volunteering makes to the Victorian economy. This report estimated that by adding the value of organised, unorganised and travel together, volunteering was worth about $7.1 billion to the Victorian economy in 1992, growing to $16.4 billion in 2006. Volunteers also provided a volume of work equivalent to 260,500 jobs in 1992 rising to 359,100 in 2006. This is equivalent to an additional 13.4 per cent of the paid number of people employed in Victoria 1992 and 14.2 per cent in 2006.
Sport and Social Capital, Australia, 2010, Australian Bureau of Statistics, (March 2012) Final report (ceased). This report examines the relationship between participation in sport and physical recreation and social wellbeing using a range of indicators from the 2010 General Social Survey (GSS). Literature suggests that volunteering in the community is an important contributor to the development and maintenance of social capital (Nicholson and Hoye 2008). Data from the GSS show that sport participants are an important source of volunteers in the community. Over three quarters of those who volunteered their time and services to an organisation also participated in some sport or recreational activity during that same time period. The participation rate for non-volunteers was much lower.
Sport’s unsung heroes: Involvement in non-playing roles, Australian Bureau of Statistics (Perspectives on Sport series), Catalogue Number 4156.0.55.001, (June 2011). Many local sporting clubs rely on volunteers to fill diverse roles; such as coaches, referees, committee members, groundskeepers and canteen workers. The time commitment involved, and in some cases the need for specialised skills and knowledge, makes the people who occupy these non-playing roles a valuable community resource. This article looks at the characteristics of people in non-playing roles in the sport and active recreation sector.
The economic contribution of sport to Australia, Frontier Economics report to the Australian Sports Commission, (2010). There are three main ways in which sport delivers economic benefits to society: (1) promotion of physical activity for public health benefit delivers an estimated saving of $12 billion in health care costs, (2) labour input of volunteers is valued at around $4 billion, and (3) the international success of elite Australian sportspeople is one of the most significant measurable positive impacts on social well-being; with a value that is likely to exceed the current annual budget for elite sports.
The Future of Sport in Australia, Crawford M, Australian Government, Independent Sport Panel (2009). The report of the Independent Sport Panel, commonly known as the ‘Crawford Report’, highlighted the critical importance of volunteers to Australian sport. The report noted that, "The Australian Government should develop and fund a national volunteer program for sporting and physical activity organisations that aims to attract and retain volunteers to sport through education, accreditation and recognition, and in particular takes account of the potential offered by the growing number of older Australians to become volunteers".

Australia, Sheranne Fairley, Pamm Phillips, Chapter 1 in Sports Volunteers Around the Globe: Meaning and Understanding of Volunteering and its Societal Impact, Kirstin Hallmann, Sheranne Fairley (eds.), Springer, pp.7-20, (2019). Volunteerism is a central part of Australian society. In the sport sector, volunteers have been described as the backbone of the sport system. Sport relies heavily on volunteers – not only to stage sport events but also to deliver sport to the masses through a well-structured and formal network of community clubs and organizations. Australia’s hosting of large-scale events such as the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships, and the 2018 Commonwealth Games has illuminated the value of volunteers, the reliance upon them, the skills that they contribute, the work that they undertake, and the contribution that they make to Australian society. Further, these events highlight how important engaging in volunteer roles can be to the health and well-being of those individuals. While events can be leveraged for volunteer outcomes, there is much more that can be done to capitalize on the attention that events bring to volunteers and the contribution that they make to society.
Pioneer volunteers: the role identity of continuous volunteers at sport events, Fairley S, Green B, O’Brian D, et al., Journal of Sport and Tourism, Volume 19(3-4), pp.233-255, (2014). This study looks at the role identity of 125 volunteers during lead-up events as well as their participation in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. In addition, a small sample were interviewed 12 years after the Olympics. Six themes described the experience of ‘pioneer volunteers’ (i.e. continuous volunteer participation): (1) friendship and teamwork; (2) prestige; (3) behind the scenes access and knowledge of the event; (4) learning enabled by their experience; (5) a sense of connection with and ownership of the event; and (6) transition to Games time roles. Pioneer volunteers experienced a strong and sustained identification with their role and sought out continued opportunities to volunteer in future events.

Community

Volunteering provides numerous benefits to the broader economy and community, including improvements in engagement and social cohesion.

Impact

Community

Volunteering can provide numerous community benefits and improvements, including economic, social capital, cohesion, and community engagement, and enabling greater participation in community life. ^{1, 4, 5, 15, 16, 17, 18}

The desire to contribute to their community is one of the most common reasons why people volunteer. ^{5, 7, 8, 15, 19}

In Australia, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) General Social Survey highlights that the top two reasons for volunteering are: ⁷

To help others or their community (74% of volunteers)
For personal satisfaction or to do something worthwhile (66% of volunteers)

The 2017 ‘Intergenerational Review of Australian Sport’ estimated that sport volunteers donated 158 million hours each year – equivalent in time to nearly 90,000 additional full-time jobs and $3 billion in economic value. ²⁰

Research from the United Kingdom (UK) found that compared to those who never volunteer, people who volunteer in sport were significantly more likely to trust others, to feel a part of their community, and to feel that contributing to their community makes them feel good and is a source of pride. They also estimated that each volunteer in a community sporting organisation, creates the capacity for 8.5 players. ¹⁵

Several reports and surveys have shown a high correlation between sport participation and volunteering, for any type of organisation.

In 2014, 84% of people who volunteered in Victoria had also participated in organised team sport as a child. Significantly higher participation than other organised activities, such as youth groups (62%) and arts/cultural activities (52%). ⁸
In 2010, over three quarters of those who volunteered their time and services to any organisation also participated in some sport or recreational activity. The sport and recreation participation rate for non-volunteers was much lower. ¹

Sport Volunteering in Europe: Realities, opportunities and challenges, V4V: Skills acquired through volunteering in sport project, European Observatoire of Sport and Employment, (October 2023). This report is the first intellectual output from V4V, a major three-year collaborative partnership project, co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ sport programme, consisting of 12 partners (national and international federations, universities and education bodies, sport and research institutes, and national, European and global umbrella organisations) all of whom have a deep interest in the promotion and development of sport volunteering. V4V was led and coordinated by the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE). Key findings relating to community benefits include their role in building links with the local community and contributing to the health, social and economic value of their communities.
European Report on Skills Needs Identification: Situation, trends, perspectives and priorities for the sport and physical activity sectorEuropean Observatoire of Sport and Employment, (March 2023). In every nation in Europe, the backbone of the sector is a network of sport clubs, most of which are volunteer-run and not-for-profit. The contribution of volunteers to the sport sector, which while not direct financing is worth billions of euros to the European sport sector and indeed sport would grind to a halt without volunteer input of time and effort to make sport happen in communities. In relation to benefits of volunteering, the skills and attributes acquired through volunteering experiences in the sector should also be emphasised to support personal development as well as employability and career development. This could be a strong added value to encourage citizens to get involved in volunteering activities all over Europe.
Evidence Insights: Volunteering and mental health, Jack McDermott, Dominic O'Neill, Volunteering Australia, (October 2021). This review focuses on the effects of volunteering on the mental health of volunteers themselves. Improving mental health and wellbeing is an important outcome for many government policy areas. Volunteering, including in sport, can help. Key insights include:
- Volunteering is associated with better perceived mental health and quality of life. Those who contribute more than 100 hours a year experiencing stronger wellbeing benefits.
- Volunteering supports mental health by increasing psychological and social capital. Research suggests that the key mechanisms which link volunteering activity to better mental health are social interaction and sense of purpose.
- Volunteering can support mental health recovery. Volunteering can be a component of social prescribing programs, in which primary care providers link patients with non-medical sources of support within the community.
General Social Survey, Australian Bureau of Statistics, (June 2021), latest release. During the time that the GSS was conducted in 2020, initiatives were in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and support the economy. Because of changed methodology and the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the Australian population, care should be exercised when making comparisons with previous years. This report provides a breakdown of the volunteer characteristics:
- Australians had volunteered for 489.5 million hours in 2020 and 596.2 million hours in 2019.
- One quarter (25%) of Australians aged 15 years and over participated in unpaid voluntary work through an organisation in 2020, lower than the 30% in 2019.
- Volunteering rates for males and females were similar at 23% and 26%.
- The most common types of organisations for which people volunteered were those relating to sport and physical recreation (31% of volunteers), religious groups (23%), and education and training (19%).
Volunteering and Settlement in Australia: A snapshot, Volunteering Australia, Settlement Council of Australia, (May 2019). Volunteering Australia and the Settlement Council of Australia have conducted a National Survey on Volunteering and Settlement in Australia to inform our findings. Motivations to volunteer differ for everyone, however respondents were largely looking to contribute to society, make friends, improve their English or gain local work experience.
- Volunteering has many benefits for both the volunteers and organisations. Volunteering is critical to building strong and resilient communities by encouraging economic participation, mitigating isolation and loneliness, and increasing social inclusion, community participation and cohesion.
- Volunteering can lead to employment by increasing workforce participation, helping people develop key skills, and connecting people to career paths that are better paid and more stable.
Value of Sport, Sport NZ, (March 2018). A study exploring the value of sport to New Zealanders, their communities and our country. Active NZ in 2013/14 estimated that 28.1% of adults had volunteered at least once over the previous year, and these volunteers contributed 67.7 million hours of volunteered time over 12 months with an estimated market value of NZ$1.031b. 35% of volunteers state that their reason for volunteering is to contribute to their community.
Volunteering Australia Response on a National Sports Plan, Volunteering Australia, (July 2017). The National Sports Plan aims to guide the future priorities and approaches of the Australian sporting sector for the long term. Volunteering Australia believes that a National Sport Plan needs to acknowledge volunteering as a key pillar for sporting activity in Australia, and develop mechanisms to facilitate and enhance its contribution. They also emphasised that volunteering must be considered in policy development and workforce planning. The response highlights the need for a sustained investment into the volunteering sector by the Australian Government to ensure long term benefits.
Volunteers in Victoria: trends, challenges and opportunities, State of Victoria, Ministerial Council for Volunteers, (June 2017). [Download link] This report was developed to provide a contemporary narrative for volunteering. It also provides a summary of the known social benefits, economic value and current trends. Findings from this report highlight key trends, challenges and opportunities for volunteering and have informed the development of strategic priorities to strengthen and support the volunteer sector in Victoria. Some key findings include:
- Most people volunteer because they want to help others and the community (66%), for personal satisfaction (62%), or to do something worthwhile (56%).
- Sport and recreation organisations attract the highest proportion of volunteers (32%), followed by education and training (25%), welfare and community (21%), religious (19%) and health organisations (11%).
- In regional Victoria, the sport and recreation (15%) and church and spiritual (10%) sectors had the highest rates of weekly volunteering.
- Over 231,000 Victorians (48% of sport and recreation volunteers) reported contributing 50 hours or more per year, which equates to a minimum of nearly one hour per week.
- Sporting and recreation clubs are the engine room of volunteering – in 2014, 84% of people who volunteered had also participated in organised team sport as a child. This was significantly higher participation than other organised activities, such as youth groups (62%) and arts/cultural activities (52%).
Intergenerational review of Australian sport 2017, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) for the Australian Sports Commission, (2017). This review focused on the overall sports sector, with a particular emphasis on participation in sport and community level sport. In regards to volunteering the report calculates that the sector employs over 220,000 people, with a further 1.8 million committed volunteers donating 158 million hours to sport each year – equivalent in time to nearly 90,000 additional full-time jobs and $3 billion in economic value.
Hidden diamonds: Uncovering the true value of sport volunteers, Join in, (2014). Our starting hypothesis was that volunteers should not be seen as a cost saving but as investors – people who invest their time, skills and energy both for their own benefit and for the wider community. Going beyond traditional valuation methods, which use the cost-replacement model, the research investigated the true value of sports volunteering to personal wellbeing and happiness of the volunteers themselves, plus the wider benefit to their communities. Sport is the single biggest sector of volunteering in the UK. More than one fifth of the 15 million people who volunteer regularly spend their time volunteering in sport – 3.2 million people in total. Combining the emerging science of the economics of wellbeing with traditional approaches and wider industry research, we can value the contribution of volunteering in sport to society by adding the following factors: 1. The economic value of the time given by the volunteer; 2. The value of the personal wellbeing, mental and physical benefits to the volunteer; and 3. The participation capacity and benefits that every volunteer enables. If we accept the assumption that these benefits are all separate and additional to each other, then we arrive at a figure that suggests every individual volunteer in sport produces over £16,032 worth of social value to communities in the UK. This is over 30 times the old value under simple cost replacement. And with each volunteer in sport staying involved for 6.2 years on average, the profit of volunteering in sport is truly astonishing.
- Compared to those who have never volunteered in sport, people who have volunteered in sport score these measures: 3 x higher: I feel it’s important to be part of my community; 4 x higher: I trust others in my community; 3 x higher: Being part of my community makes me feel good; 5 x higher: I put a lot of time and effort into being part of my community 8 x higher: I feel that I have an influence over what my community is like; 4 x higher: My important needs are met by being part of my community
Economic Value of Volunteering in Victoria, Duncan Ironmonger, University of Melbourne, Victorian Government, Department of Planning and Community Development, (December 2012). Although anecdotal evidence suggests that the economic contribution of volunteering is great, there are limited reliable figures on the exact monetary value. While we have various official statistics about participation rates, there are no readily available official statistics to show the important contribution volunteering makes to the Victorian economy. This report estimated that by adding the value of organised, unorganised and travel together, volunteering was worth about $7.1 billion to the Victorian economy in 1992, growing to $16.4 billion in 2006. Volunteers also provided a volume of work equivalent to 260,500 jobs in 1992 rising to 359,100 in 2006. This is equivalent to an additional 13.4 per cent of the paid number of people employed in Victoria 1992 and 14.2 per cent in 2006.
Sport and Social Capital, Australia, 2010, Australian Bureau of Statistics, (March 2012) Final report (ceased). This report examines the relationship between participation in sport and physical recreation and social wellbeing using a range of indicators from the 2010 General Social Survey (GSS). Literature suggests that volunteering in the community is an important contributor to the development and maintenance of social capital (Nicholson and Hoye 2008). Data from the GSS show that sport participants are an important source of volunteers in the community. Over three quarters of those who volunteered their time and services to an organisation also participated in some sport or recreational activity during that same time period. The participation rate for non-volunteers was much lower.
The economic contribution of sport to Australia, Frontier Economics report to the Australian Sports Commission, (2010). There are three main ways in which sport delivers economic benefits to society: (1) promotion of physical activity for public health benefit delivers an estimated saving of $12 billion in health care costs, (2) labour input of volunteers is valued at around $4 billion, and (3) the international success of elite Australian sportspeople is one of the most significant measurable positive impacts on social well-being; with a value that is likely to exceed the current annual budget for elite sports.

Australia, Sheranne Fairley, Pamm Phillips, Chapter 1 in Sports Volunteers Around the Globe: Meaning and Understanding of Volunteering and its Societal Impact, Kirstin Hallmann, Sheranne Fairley (eds.), Springer, pp.7-20, (2019). Volunteerism is a central part of Australian society. In the sport sector, volunteers have been described as the backbone of the sport system. Sport relies heavily on volunteers – not only to stage sport events but also to deliver sport to the masses through a well-structured and formal network of community clubs and organizations. Australia’s hosting of large-scale events such as the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships, and the 2018 Commonwealth Games has illuminated the value of volunteers, the reliance upon them, the skills that they contribute, the work that they undertake, and the contribution that they make to Australian society. Further, these events highlight how important engaging in volunteer roles can be to the health and well-being of those individuals. While events can be leveraged for volunteer outcomes, there is much more that can be done to capitalize on the attention that events bring to volunteers and the contribution that they make to society.

Physical, social, and mental wellbeing

Sport volunteering can positively impact individual life satisfaction, physical, cognitive, social, and mental wellbeing.

Impact

Physical, social, and mental wellbeing

For individuals volunteering in sport can offer physical, social, and mental wellbeing benefits, including improved satisfaction with life, enhanced cognitive and emotional capital, and lower symptoms of depression and anxiety. ^{6, 15, 21, 22, 23, 33}

Altruistic emotions and behaviours – being motivated to help others without expecting anything in return – are associated with greater wellbeing, health, and longevity. ^{24, 25}
Volunteering supports mental health by increasing psychological and social capital, potentially through increased social interaction and inclusion, and providing a sense of purpose and connection. ^{5, 17, 21, 22, 26}
95% of Australian volunteers say that volunteering is related to feelings of wellbeing. ²⁵
93% of Australian volunteers saw positive changes because of their volunteering efforts (appreciated by community, improved wellbeing of others, improved own sense of place in the world). ¹⁷
Research from the United Kingdom (UK) found that compared to those who never volunteer, people who volunteer in sport were significantly more likely to trust others, to feel a part of their community, and to feel that contributing to their community makes them feel good and is a source of pride. ¹⁵
Just a few hours of volunteer work can make a difference in happiness and mood but contributing at least 40-100 hours per year (e.g., one to two hours per week) may lead to stronger wellbeing benefits. ^{17, 25, 27}
The extent to which volunteers experience benefits depends on their motivation to volunteer and satisfaction with the volunteering experience (e.g., appropriate resourcing and matching of volunteers to roles; safe environments; feeling of being valued; appropriate workloads; and access to appropriate training and guidance). ^{17, 22}
Volunteering can support mental health recovery, (e.g., as part of social prescribing programs, in where primary care providers link patients with non-medical sources of support). ¹⁷

The benefits of volunteering may be different or change depending on individual factors and circumstances. For example, for

older people, volunteering can improve depression symptoms and reduce cognitive impairment. Adults over 50 who volunteer for at least 100 hours a year (about two hours per week) have a substantially reduced risk of mortality and developing physical limitations, higher levels of subsequent physical activity and improved sense of well-being compared to individuals who do not volunteer. ^{17, 28, 29, 30}
people with disability, volunteering may especially benefit their mental wellbeing. ¹⁷
young people (under 24 years), volunteering commonly improves confidence and helps to strengthen social relationships. ^{6, 26}
First Nations people, over half of individuals who volunteered identified improvement in learning a new language, followed by resourcefulness, attention to detail, and confidence. ⁶
Culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) individuals, 59% felt that volunteering made them more patient, followed by increased confidence (56%), and learning a new language (54%). ⁶

Measuring what matters: Social connections, Australian Government, The Treasury, (updated 21 July 2023). 'Measuring What Matters' is Australia’s first national wellbeing framework that will track our progress towards a more healthy, secure, sustainable, cohesive and prosperous Australia. One of the five wellbeing themes is "Cohesive", referring to "a society that supports connections with family, friends and the community, values diversity, and promotes belonging and culture." Rates of volunteering is one of the metrics used to measure success in this area.
- One reason that people value free time, is because it can be used to pursue social connection, which is critical to overall wellbeing. We can measure whether Australians have access to the relationships and social connection that they need, by tracking the presence of loneliness in the community. One way Australians may seek to maintain social connections is volunteering.
Regular volunteer work provides demonstrable benefits for the health and well-being of older adults, Elsevier, Medical Xpress, (11 June 2020). A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine takes a closer look at the benefits of volunteering to the health and well-being of volunteers. The results verify that adults over 50 who volunteer for at least 100 hours a year (about two hours per week) have a substantially reduced risk of mortality and developing physical limitations, higher levels of subsequent physical activity and improved sense of well-being later on compared to individuals who do not volunteer.
Volunteering is good for us and the community! Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing, Government of South Australia, (13 August 2020). Did you know the labour input of volunteers across South Australia has been valued at up to $453 million annually? Through the Active Lives survey (2019) conducted by the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing (ORSR) we found that South Australians who volunteered for a sport organisation more than once in the previous 12 months, were more satisfied with their life; felt the things they did were more worthwhile; and were happier than those people who did not volunteer, or volunteered only once. South Australians who did volunteer more than once in the previous 12 months, also had higher social capital measures than those who did not volunteer, or volunteered only once.

Sport Volunteering in Europe: Realities, opportunities and challenges, V4V: Skills acquired through volunteering in sport project, European Observatoire of Sport and Employment, (October 2023). This report is the first intellectual output from V4V, a major three-year collaborative partnership project, co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ sport programme, consisting of 12 partners (national and international federations, universities and education bodies, sport and research institutes, and national, European and global umbrella organisations) all of whom have a deep interest in the promotion and development of sport volunteering. V4V was led and coordinated by the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE). Key findings suggests that volunteers get a lot from their sport volunteering experience. Sport volunteering:
- Contributes to the volunteers’ personal development.
- The volunteer experience helps volunteers to develop new skills and competencies.
- Contributes to the personal wellbeing and development of the volunteers in the form of: Social interaction, Making a difference to the lives of others, Fun and enjoyment, Time away from busy lifestyles, The acquisition of new knowledge and skills, Social and economic mobility.
Evidence Insights: Volunteering and mental health, Jack McDermott, Dominic O'Neill, Volunteering Australia, (October 2021). This review focuses on the effects of volunteering on the mental health of volunteers themselves. The review concludes with a discussion of priorities for future research and the policy implications of the findings presented. Key insights include:
- Insight 1: Volunteering is associated with better perceived mental health and quality of life. Volunteering has been found to improve self-assessed psychological wellbeing, self-esteem, happiness, and satisfaction with life. It g is also associated with lower symptoms of depression and anxiety, and lower indicators of suicide risk. Those who contribute more than 100 hours a year experiencing stronger wellbeing benefits.
- Insight 2: Volunteering supports mental health by increasing psychological and social capital. Research suggests that the key mechanisms which link volunteering activity to better mental health are social interaction and sense of purpose.
- Insight 3: The mental health benefits of volunteering vary among groups. Some mental health outcomes, like trajectories of depression, have only been linked with volunteering among older people. There is some evidence that volunteering is particularly beneficial to the mental wellbeing of people with disability.
- Insight 4: Type of volunteering activity has not been found to affect mental health outcomes.
- Insight 5: The extent to which volunteers experience mental health benefits depends on their motivation to volunteer and satisfaction with the volunteering experience. Satisfaction with the volunteering experience is associated with higher perceived wellbeing and social connectedness.
- Insight 6: Volunteering can support mental health recovery. Volunteering can be a component of social prescribing programs, in which primary care providers link patients with non-medical sources of support within the community.
- Insight 7: In some situations, volunteering activity can have mental health risks. Volunteers experience slightly different mental health impacts than paid staff. This is particularly relevant in high-intensity sectors such as emergency management and crisis intervention.
Active Lives, Department for Health and Ageing, Government of South Australia, prepared for the Office of Recreation, Sport and Racing, (2019 and 2021). Adapted from the ‘Active Lives’ survey published by Sport England, additional questions regarding health and wellbeing, community connectedness and individual development were included to investigate their relationship with physical activity. Regarding volunteering, the survey aimed to determine the rates of sport volunteering and links between volunteering in sport, wellbeing and social outcomes.
- In the 2021 report regular volunteers (those who volunteered more than once annually), scored better for overall wellbeing (35.8%) than those who didn't volunteer or only volunteered once (28.0%), as well as scoring higher for life satisfaction, feeling happy the previous day and feeling that things they did in life were worthwhile.
- In the 2021 report, of those who volunteered in sport, about 40% reported providing any other help for a sport or recreational physical activity, 39% reported raising funds for a sports club, organisation or event, and 33% provided transport to help people to take part in sport' 31% were coaches or instructors for an individual or team, 27% performed an administrative or committee role, and 22% were referees, umpires, or officials (multiple responses were allowed).
- In the 2019 report, although there was no significant difference in community connectedness between regular volunteers and those who did not regularly volunteer, regular volunteers reported higher social capital measures than those who did not volunteer or volunteered only once. Nearly three-quarters (72.4%) of regular volunteers agreed that they felt safe walking in their community after dark (compared to 62.7%), 79.8% identified with the local community (compared to 58.3%), and 72.6% agreed that if there was a serious problem in their local community the people would come together to solve it (compared to 59.2%). [note: these questions weren't included in the 2021 report].
Participatory arts, sport, physical activity and loneliness: the role of volunteering, what works wellbeing, (December 2020). We looked for studies published worldwide between 2009 and 2019. We found twenty-seven sources examining volunteering, wellbeing or loneliness and participatory arts or sport/physical activity. In these studies, we found that the wellbeing benefits of volunteering in participatory arts and sport/physical activity are connected to three key themes: (i) giving and sharing skills, expertise and experience; (ii) creating places/spaces of security and trust; and (iii) providing opportunities for personal skill development. Some of the wellbeing outcomes can include:
- Enhancing cognitive and emotional capital; Resilience; Empathy; Self-worth; Self-efficacy; Improved mental wellbeing; and Sense of accomplishment.
- Alleviating loneliness; Autonomy; Self-esteem; Self-empowerment; Sense of connection; Belonging; Self-confidence; Escape; Respite; Trust; Coping; Improved mood; Being valued; Pleasure; Self-appreciation; and Pride.
- Wellbeing benefits could be difficult to realise when there is: poor resourcing; inappropriate matching of volunteers to those needing help; a perception of unfamiliar or unsafe environments; a lack of trust; a feeling of volunteers being under-valued and overworked; a lack of access to appropriate training and guidance.
Volunteering and Settlement in Australia: A snapshot, Volunteering Australia, Settlement Council of Australia, (May 2019). Volunteering Australia and the Settlement Council of Australia have conducted a National Survey on Volunteering and Settlement in Australia to inform our findings. Motivations to volunteer differ for everyone, however respondents were largely looking to contribute to society, make friends, improve their English or gain local work experience.
- Volunteering has many benefits for both the volunteers and organisations. Volunteering is critical to building strong and resilient communities by encouraging economic participation, mitigating isolation and loneliness, and increasing social inclusion, community participation and cohesion. Volunteering can also lead to employment, by increasing workforce participation and helping people to develop key skills.
Volunteers in Victoria: trends, challenges and opportunities, State of Victoria, Ministerial Council for Volunteers, (June 2017). [Download link] This report was developed to provide a contemporary narrative for volunteering. It also provides a summary of the known social benefits, economic value and current trends. Findings from this report highlight key trends, challenges and opportunities for volunteering and have informed the development of strategic priorities to strengthen and support the volunteer sector in Victoria. Some key findings included:
- Most people volunteer because they want to help others and the community (66%), for personal satisfaction (62%), or to do something worthwhile (56%).
- 75% of Victorian volunteers had a parent who volunteered.
- Sporting and recreation clubs are the engine room of volunteering – in 2014, 84% of people who volunteered had also participated in organised team sport as a child. This was significantly higher participation than other organised activities, such as youth groups (62%) and arts/cultural activities (52%).
State of Volunteering in Australia report, Volunteering Australia/PWC, (April 2016). Volunteering Australia and PwC have conducted a survey to analyse the current state of volunteering in Australia, and to identify opportunities to maximise the potential of the volunteer workforce. Sport is included as one of the industries/areas of volunteer participation investigated.
- 93% of volunteers saw positive changes as a result of their volunteering efforts (appreciated by community, improved wellbeing of others, improved own sense of place in the world).
- The most commonly improved skill by volunteers is patience (60 per cent), followed by teamwork (55 per cent). Problem solving abilities have been highlighted as the most commonly improved professional skill (40 per cent).
- By age group, confidence was identified as the most commonly improved trait for under 24-year-olds. For the age groups between 25 and 64, and over 65, patience was the most common response.
- Of the respondents who indicated they were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, over half identified improvement in learning a new language, followed by resourcefulness, attention to detail, and confidence.
- Most commonly, 59 per cent of the respondents with a non-English speaking background felt that they had become more patient as a result of volunteering, followed by increased confidence (56 per cent), and learning a new language (54 per cent).
Hidden diamonds: Uncovering the true value of sport volunteers, Join in, (2014). Our starting hypothesis was that volunteers should not be seen as a cost saving but as investors – people who invest their time, skills and energy both for their own benefit and for the wider community. Going beyond traditional valuation methods, which use the cost-replacement model, the research investigated the true value of sports volunteering to personal wellbeing and happiness of the volunteers themselves, plus the wider benefit to their communities. Sport is the single biggest sector of volunteering in the UK. More than one fifth of the 15 million people who volunteer regularly spend their time volunteering in sport – 3.2 million people in total. Combining the emerging science of the economics of wellbeing with traditional approaches and wider industry research, we can value the contribution of volunteering in sport to society by adding the following factors: 1. The economic value of the time given by the volunteer; 2. The value of the personal wellbeing, mental and physical benefits to the volunteer; and 3. The participation capacity and benefits that every volunteer enables. If we accept the assumption that these benefits are all separate and additional to each other, then we arrive at a figure that suggests every individual volunteer in sport produces over £16,032 worth of social value to communities in the UK. This is over 30 times the old value under simple cost replacement. And with each volunteer in sport staying involved for 6.2 years on average, the profit of volunteering in sport is truly astonishing.
- Compared to those who have never volunteered in sport, people who have volunteered agree that they: have 10% higher self-esteem, emotional wellbeing and resilience; are 15% less likely to worry; are 28% more likely to feel what they do has importance; are 18% more likely to feel proud of themselves. 87% agreed that their life has meaning. 88% agreed that they had a lot to be proud of.
- The average club has 24 volunteers and 204 members (SRA 2014 1 ). In other words, one volunteer creates the capacity for 8.5 members (or players).
- Compared to those who have never volunteered in sport, people who have volunteered in sport score these measures: 3 x higher: I feel it’s important to be part of my community; 4 x higher: I trust others in my community; 3 x higher: Being part of my community makes me feel good; 5 x higher: I put a lot of time and effort into being part of my community 8 x higher: I feel that I have an influence over what my community is like; 4 x higher: My important needs are met by being part of my community
Sport and Social Capital, Australia, 2010, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Catalogue Number 4917.0, (March 2012) Final report (ceased). This report examines the relationship between participation in sport and physical recreation and social wellbeing using a range of indicators from the 2010 General Social Survey (GSS). This report shows the associations between participation and a range of social indicators that may be used to assess social capital and wellbeing. Literature suggests that volunteering in the community is an important contributor to the development and maintenance of social capital (Nicholson and Hoye 2008). Data from the GSS show that sport participants are an important source of volunteers in the community. Over three quarters of those who volunteered their time and services to an organisation also participated in some sport or recreational activity during that same time period. The participation rate for non-volunteers was much lower.

Football volunteering and subjective well-being: a multi-country study of different voluntary roles and well-being measures, Pamela Wicker, Tim Thormann, Larissa Davie, European Sport Management Quarterly, (17 March 2023). Differences in volunteering hours between during and before the pandemic are positively associated with differences in SWB. Administrative and sport-related hours are negatively associated with some SWB measures in the linear models, while the IV models reveal a positive association for sport-related roles. Operational roles tend to be positively related to SWB independent of estimator and SWB measure. The monetary values of the IV estimations are higher than those of the linear models. The values from the happiness models exceed those of the life satisfaction models. One hour of volunteering in an operational role is valued higher than one hour in a sport-related role. For scholars, it is more important to distinguish between different voluntary roles than between different SWB measures. For practitioners, the results imply that support should be targeted particularly at volunteers in administrative and sport-related roles.
“It Shaped My Future in Ways I Wasn’t Prepared for—in the Best Way Possible”: Alumni Volunteers’ Experiences in an Adapted Sports and Recreation Program, Meredith Wekesser, Guilherme Costa, Piotr Pasik, et al., Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, Volume 40(2), pp.303-322, (2023). Adapted sport participation can have many positive benefits for adults with disabilities. However, one barrier to implementing successful adapted sport programs is lack of knowledgeable volunteers who understand accessibility and disability. In fact, little is known about volunteers’ experiences in adapted sport programs. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively examine experiences of able-bodied volunteers in an adapted sport program. A sample of 105 able-bodied volunteers (M age = 24.28 ± 1.93) completed an online qualitative survey to share their experiences. Data were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis, and seven main themes were identified. Results showed that despite differences in initial motives for volunteering, involvement in an adapted sport program was transformative and, for some, life changing. Able-bodied volunteers experienced a wide range of benefits including deeper understanding and awareness of disability and inclusion in sport. Practical recommendations are provided for volunteer-based adapted sport program leaders.
Volunteering and Subsequent Health and Well-Being in Older Adults: An Outcome-Wide Longitudinal Approach, Eric Kim, Ashley Whillans, Matthew Lee, et al., American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Volume 59(2), pp.176-186, (August 2020). During the 4-year follow-up period, participants who volunteered ≥100 hours/year (versus 0 hours/year) had a reduced risk of mortality and physical functioning limitations, higher physical activity and better psychosocial outcomes (higher: positive affect, optimism and purpose in life; lower: depressive symptoms, hopelessness, loneliness, and infrequent contact with friends). Volunteering was not associated with other physical health outcomes (e.g. diabetes, hypertension, stroke, cancer, heart disease, lung disease, arthritis, overweight/obesity, cognitive impairment, and chronic pain), health behaviors (e.g. binge drinking, smoking, and sleep problems), or psychosocial outcomes (e.g. life satisfaction, mastery, health/financial mastery, depression, negative affect, perceived constraints and contact with other family/children).
Australia, Sheranne Fairley, Pamm Phillips, Chapter 1 in 'Sports Volunteers Around the Globe: Meaning and Understanding of Volunteering and its Societal Impact', Kirstin Hallmann, Sheranne Fairley (eds.), Springer, pp.7-20, (2019). Volunteerism is a central part of Australian society. In the sport sector, volunteers have been described as the backbone of the sport system. Sport relies heavily on volunteers – not only to stage sport events but also to deliver sport to the masses through a well-structured and formal network of community clubs and organizations. Australia’s hosting of large-scale events such as the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships, and the 2018 Commonwealth Games has illuminated the value of volunteers, the reliance upon them, the skills that they contribute, the work that they undertake, and the contribution that they make to Australian society. Further, these events highlight how important engaging in volunteer roles can be to the health and well-being of those individuals. While events can be leveraged for volunteer outcomes, there is much more that can be done to capitalize on the attention that events bring to volunteers and the contribution that they make to society.
Is mid-life social participation associated with cognitive function at age 50? Results from the British National Child Development Study (NCDS), Bowling A, Pikhartova J, Dodgeon B, BMC Psychology, Volume 4, article 58, (December 2016). This study investigated the associations between life-course social engagement (including volunteering, sport participation and civic participation) and cognitive status, at age 50. Data were taken from the National Child Development Study in the United Kingdom, a nationally representative, prospective birth cohort of 9119 subjects (4497 men and 4622 women). Cognitive ability was measured at 11 years, participation in activities at age 33 years, participation in sports at age 42 years and cognitive ability (i.e. memory and executive functioning) at age 50 years. Frequent engagement in physical activity and voluntary community activities were significantly and independently associated with cognitive status at age 50 after statistically adjusting for covariates (health and socio-economic status and gender). Being physically active and engaging in civic participation during mid-life appears to promote cognitive function in later life. The strength of this study is in its longitudinal design, but the authors caution that causation is not implied. This paper contributes to the body of literature on potential behavioural risk factors for cognitive decline and the potential benefits of physical activity and civic participation.
Volunteering is associated with lower risk of cognitive impairment, Infurna F, Okun M, Grimm K, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Volume 64(11), pp.2263-2269, (November 2016). Longitudinal data (1998 to 2012) taken from the Health and Retirement Study (N=13,262) in the United States looked at whether psychosocial factors, such as volunteering, are associated with risk of cognitive impairment. Interviews with subjects age 60 years and older were conducted every two years to collect data and assess the risk of cognitive decline associated with a number of factors. The study found that volunteering regularly over time, independently decreased the risk of cognitive impairment over the 14 year period of this study. This finding was independent of other known risk factors for cognitive impairment. Civic engagement among older adults has been associated with lower risk of cognitive impairment. This knowledge should provide the impetus for possible interventions. Given the increasing number of baby boomers entering old age, these findings support the psychosocial benefits of volunteering.
Pioneer volunteers: the role identity of continuous volunteers at sport events, Fairley S, Green B, O’Brian D, et al., Journal of Sport and Tourism, Volume 19(3-4), pp.233-255, (2014). This study looks at the role identity of 125 volunteers during lead-up events as well as their participation in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. In addition, a small sample were interviewed 12 years after the Olympics. Six themes described the experience of ‘pioneer volunteers’ (i.e. continuous volunteer participation): (1) friendship and teamwork; (2) prestige; (3) behind the scenes access and knowledge of the event; (4) learning enabled by their experience; (5) a sense of connection with and ownership of the event; and (6) transition to Games time roles. Pioneer volunteers experienced a strong and sustained identification with their role and sought out continued opportunities to volunteer in future events.

Team UTSNZ - Workforce Development Programme, University and Tertiary Sport NZ, YouTube, (27 June 2023). Promotional video for the UTSNZ volunteering/work development program. Imagine getting your foot in the door to your dream career in the sport industry as you represent your university. Get real-world experience, develop your skills, connect with industry professionals, and build lasting friendships with Team UTSNZ. Join our team!

Personal and professional development

Sport volunteering can have a positive impact on individual's education, employment, and career prospects.

Impact

Personal and professional development

Volunteering in sport can provide opportunities for individuals to be involved in activities and roles that reflect their interests and provide an avenue to use or grow their professional development and skills in a meaningful way. ^{3, 5, 22, 33}

37% of Australians who volunteered in 2020 (35% of females and 38% of males) saw it as providing opportunities for them to use their skills and experience. ⁷
The ‘State of Volunteering in Australia’ report found that: ⁶
- 60% of volunteers improved their patience.
- 55% improved their teamwork skills.
- 40% improved their problem-solving abilities (highlighted as the most commonly improved professional skill).

Employment and career development

Participating in sports, including as a volunteer, can have a positive impact on education, employment, and future career prospects. ^{2, 31}

International research found that employers and students agreed that engagement in sport, especially in a voluntary leadership or management role, provided ‘added value’ beyond standard academic qualifications. ³²

In Australia, Volunteering Australia and the Settlement Council of Australia found that: ⁵

95% of employers believe that volunteering can be a credible way of gaining real work experience.
92% of employers said that relevant volunteer experience gives candidates an advantage in job interviews.
85% of recruiters believe that volunteering is just as credible as paid work if it is relevant to the role or industry the person works in.

Because of these potential advantages, many individuals are motivated to volunteer.

In 2020, around 19% of Australian volunteers (22% of females and 16% of males) were motivated by learning new skills and/or gaining work experience. ⁷
In 2019, volunteers from migrant and refugee backgrounds in Australia were largely looking to contribute to society, make friends, improve their English, or gain local work experience. ⁵
In 2015, 25% of New Zealand volunteers were motivated by the opportunity to gain new skills, this was higher (36%) for 16- to 24-year-olds. Additionally, 22% of this age group wanted to improve their employment opportunities. ¹⁹

Future volunteering strategies, both for the sector and for individual organisations, might consider what opportunities are available to help engage more volunteers with personal and professional motivations. This could include promoting the valuable skills and attributes that can be gained through volunteering and considering if there are ways to provide accredited training, qualifications, or even employment pathways for volunteers. ^{2, 33}

Volunteers: the "heartbeat" of Olympic legacy, International Olympic Committee, (6 December 2019). Volunteers are often hailed for being the “lifeblood” of the Olympic Games, working tirelessly to ensure their success, but since their introduction at the Olympic Games London 1948, volunteer programs have contributed to much more than delivery of the Games. Volunteers have gained lifetime skills and unique experiences, promoted the Olympic spirit and created new volunteer cultures and legacies which continue to benefit their countries to this day. More than 200,000 applications to volunteer at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were submitted, a number which reflects the unprecedented enthusiasm for the Games across Japan.

Sport Volunteering in Europe: Realities, opportunities and challenges, V4V: Skills acquired through volunteering in sport project, European Observatoire of Sport and Employment, (October 2023). This report is the first intellectual output from V4V, a major three-year collaborative partnership project, co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ sport programme, consisting of 12 partners (national and international federations, universities and education bodies, sport and research institutes, and national, European and global umbrella organisations) all of whom have a deep interest in the promotion and development of sport volunteering. V4V was led and coordinated by the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE). Key findings suggests that volunteers get a lot from their sport volunteering experience. Sport volunteering contributes to the acquisition of new knowledge and skills, and to social and economic mobility.
European Report on Skills Needs Identification: Situation, trends, perspectives and priorities for the sport and physical activity sector, European Observatoire of Sport and Employment, (March 2023). In every nation in Europe, the backbone of the sector is a network of sport clubs, most of which are volunteer-run and not-for-profit. The contribution of volunteers to the sport sector, which while not direct financing is worth billions of euros to the European sport sector and indeed sport would grind to a halt without volunteer input of time and effort to make sport happen in communities. In relation to benefits of volunteering, some of the key insights include:
- It will be important for the sector to promote the positives of volunteering as opposed to ‘exploiting’ volunteers at the expense of employing paid staff. It may be important in the future for organisations to have a clear volunteering strategy which, whilst valuing volunteering, also provides routes to accredited training/ qualifications for volunteers and opportunities for volunteers to transition to part-time or self-employed status perhaps through entrepreneurial training.
- The skills and attributes acquired through volunteering experiences in the sector should also be emphasised to support personal development as well as employability and career development. This could be a strong added value to encourage citizens to get involved in volunteering activities all over Europe.
- An organisation that uses services of volunteers should take care of improving their qualifications to prepare them for their roles. Nonformal education of volunteers must be an important element supporting sports volunteering.
Evidence Insights: Volunteering and mental health, Jack McDermott, Dominic O'Neill, Volunteering Australia, (October 2021). This review focuses on the effects of volunteering on the mental health of volunteers themselves. The review concludes with a discussion of priorities for future research and the policy implications of the findings presented. Key insights include:
- Insight 1: Volunteering is associated with better perceived mental health and quality of life. Volunteering has been found to improve self-assessed psychological wellbeing, self-esteem, happiness, and satisfaction with life. It g is also associated with lower symptoms of depression and anxiety, and lower indicators of suicide risk. Those who contribute more than 100 hours a year experiencing stronger wellbeing benefits.
- Insight 2: Volunteering supports mental health by increasing psychological and social capital. Research suggests that the key mechanisms which link volunteering activity to better mental health are social interaction and sense of purpose.
- Insight 3: The mental health benefits of volunteering vary among groups. Some mental health outcomes, like trajectories of depression, have only been linked with volunteering among older people. There is some evidence that volunteering is particularly beneficial to the mental wellbeing of people with disability.
- Insight 4: Type of volunteering activity has not been found to affect mental health outcomes.
- Insight 5: The extent to which volunteers experience mental health benefits depends on their motivation to volunteer and satisfaction with the volunteering experience. Satisfaction with the volunteering experience is associated with higher perceived wellbeing and social connectedness.
- Insight 6: Volunteering can support mental health recovery. Volunteering can be a component of social prescribing programs, in which primary care providers link patients with non-medical sources of support within the community.
- Insight 7: In some situations, volunteering activity can have mental health risks. Volunteers experience slightly different mental health impacts than paid staff. This is particularly relevant in high-intensity sectors such as emergency management and crisis intervention.
General Social Survey, Australian Bureau of Statistics, (June 2021), latest release. During the time that the GSS was conducted in 2020, initiatives were in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and support the economy. Because of changed methodology and the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the Australian population, care should be exercised when making comparisons with previous years. This report provides a breakdown of the volunteer characteristics:
- Australians had volunteered for 489.5 million hours in 2020 and 596.2 million hours in 2019.
- One quarter (25%) of Australians aged 15 years and over participated in unpaid voluntary work through an organisation in 2020, lower than the 30% in 2019.
- Volunteering rates for males and females were similar at 23% and 26%.
- The most common types of organisations for which people volunteered were those relating to sport and physical recreation (31% of volunteers), religious groups (23%), and education and training (19%).
- The main reasons given by people who did not do any voluntary work through an organisation in the 12 months prior to the survey in 2020 were 'No time (family / work commitments)' (52%) and 'Not interested / no need' (33%).
- One third of Australians (33%) reported 'Always' or 'Often' feeling rushed for time. [this may impact willingness or ability to volunteer].
Participatory arts, sport, physical activity and loneliness: the role of volunteering, what works wellbeing, (December 2020). We looked for studies published worldwide between 2009 and 2019. We found twenty-seven sources examining volunteering, wellbeing or loneliness and participatory arts or sport/physical activity. In these studies, we found that the wellbeing benefits of volunteering in participatory arts and sport/physical activity are connected to three key themes: (i) giving and sharing skills, expertise and experience; (ii) creating places/spaces of security and trust; and (iii) providing opportunities for personal skill development. Some of the wellbeing outcomes can include:
- Enhancing cognitive and emotional capital; Resilience; Empathy; Self-worth; Self-efficacy; Improved mental wellbeing; and Sense of accomplishment.
- Alleviating loneliness; Autonomy; Self-esteem; Self-empowerment; Sense of connection; Belonging; Self-confidence; Escape; Respite; Trust; Coping; Improved mood; Being valued; Pleasure; Self-appreciation; and Pride.
- Wellbeing benefits could be difficult to realise when there is: poor resourcing; inappropriate matching of volunteers to those needing help; a perception of unfamiliar or unsafe environments; a lack of trust; a feeling of volunteers being under-valued and overworked; a lack of access to appropriate training and guidance.
Volunteering and Settlement in Australia: A snapshot, Volunteering Australia, Settlement Council of Australia, (May 2019). Volunteering Australia and the Settlement Council of Australia have conducted a National Survey on Volunteering and Settlement in Australia to inform our findings. Motivations to volunteer differ for everyone, however respondents were largely looking to contribute to society, make friends, improve their English or gain local work experience. This snapshot aims to synthesise the survey’s findings into useful data for Volunteering Australia, SCoA and their members and stakeholders, and identify possible themes for further research, policy development and advocacy.
- Volunteering has many benefits for both the volunteers and organisations. Volunteering is critical to building strong and resilient communities by encouraging economic participation, mitigating isolation and loneliness, and increasing social inclusion, community participation and cohesion. Volunteering can also lead to employment, by increasing workforce participation and helping people to develop key skills.
- Volunteering can lead to employment by increasing workforce participation and connecting people to career paths that are better paid and more stable. 95% of employers believe that volunteering can be a credible way of gaining realwork experience to add to your resume. 85% of recruiters believe that volunteering is just as credible as paid work as long as it is relevant to the role or industry the person works in.92% of employers said that relevant volunteer experience gives candidates an advantage in job interviews.
Value of Sport, Sport NZ, (March 2018). A study exploring the value of sport to New Zealanders, their communities and our country. The Value of Sport is based on extensive research, including a survey of around 2,000 New Zealanders and a review of previous studies from here and around the world. Active NZ in 2013/14 estimated that 28.1% of adults had volunteered at least once over the previous year and these volunteers contributed 67.7 million hours of volunteered time over 12 months with an estimated market value of NZ$1.031b.
- 35% of volunteers state that their reason for volunteering is to contribute to their community.
- Around 25% of volunteers state the opportunity to gain new skills as their motivation – this is higher for 16 to 24-year-olds (36%). 22% of 16 to 24-year-old volunteers stated their motivation was to improve their employment opportunities.
- Participation in sport has been linked with greater employability in graduates. This correlation is stronger for those who volunteer. Sport at university was associated with greater employability compared with attending the gym, or not engaging in sport – this effect was greater for graduates who take part in sport and volunteering. Employers listed a a wide range of attributes developed through sport including teamwork, communication skills, motivation, competitiveness and resilience.
Volunteering Australia Response on a National Sports Plan, Volunteering Australia, (July 2017). The National Sports Plan aims to guide the future priorities and approaches of the Australian sporting sector for the long term. Volunteering Australia believes that a National Sport Plan needs to acknowledge volunteering as a key pillar for sporting activity in Australia, and develop mechanisms to facilitate and enhance its contribution. They also emphasised that volunteering must be considered in policy development and workforce planning. The response highlights the need for a sustained investment into the volunteering sector by the Australian Government to ensure long term benefits.
Volunteers in Victoria: trends, challenges and opportunities, State of Victoria, Ministerial Council for Volunteers, (June 2017). [Download link] This report was developed to provide a contemporary narrative for volunteering. It also provides a summary of the known social benefits, economic value and current trends. Findings from this report highlight key trends, challenges and opportunities for volunteering and have informed the development of strategic priorities to strengthen and support the volunteer sector in Victoria. ;Some key findings included:
- Most people volunteer because they want to help others and the community (66%), for personal satisfaction (62%), or to do something worthwhile (56%).
- 75% of Victorian volunteers had a parent who volunteered.
- Sport and recreation organisations attract the highest proportion of volunteers (32%), followed by education and training (25%), welfare and community (21%), religious (19%) and health organisations (11%).
- In regional Victoria, the sport and recreation (15%) and church and spiritual (10%) sectors had the highest rates of weekly volunteering.
- Over 231,000 Victorians (48% of sport and recreation volunteers) reported contributing 50 hours or more per year, which equates to a minimum of nearly one hour per week.
- Sporting and recreation clubs are the engine room of volunteering – in 2014, 84% of people who volunteered had also participated in organised team sport as a child. This was significantly higher participation than other organised activities, such as youth groups (62%) and arts/cultural activities (52%).
Intergenerational review of Australian sport 2017, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) for the Australian Sports Commission, (2017). This review focused on the overall sports sector, with a particular emphasis on participation in sport and community level sport. In regards to volunteering the report calculates that the sector employs over 220,000 people, with a further 1.8 million committed volunteers donating 158 million hours to sport each year – equivalent in time to nearly 90,000 additional full-time jobs and $3 billion in economic value.
State of Volunteering in Australia report, Volunteering Australia/PWC, (April 2016). Volunteering Australia and PwC have conducted a survey to analyse the current state of volunteering in Australia, and to identify opportunities to maximise the potential of the volunteer workforce. The report investigates the following questions: Are the current volunteer engagement and management practices appropriate for the future? Is there alignment between the types of roles volunteers want to undertake, the sectors they are interested in volunteering in, and the needs of volunteer involving organisations? What is the appropriate framework to support informal volunteering? What are the necessary steps that need to be taken to future proof volunteering? Sport is included as one of the industries/areas of volunteer participation investigated.
- 93% of volunteers saw positive changes as a result of their volunteering efforts (appreciated by community, improved wellbeing of others, improved own sense of place in the world).
- the most benefits for organisations involving volunteers were new insights brought by volunteers (67 per cent). Many also suggested that volunteers improved the effectiveness and volume of operations (64 per cent and 62 per cent respectively). Fewer respondents found that volunteers were able to fill skills gaps (39 per cent).
- The most commonly improved skill by volunteers is patience (60 per cent), followed by teamwork (55 per cent). Problem solving abilities have been highlighted as the most commonly improved professional skill (40 per cent).
- By age group, confidence was identified as the most commonly improved trait for under 24 year olds. For the age groups between 25 and 64, and over 65, patience was the most common response.
- Of the respondents who indicated they were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, over half identified improvement in learning a new language, followed by resourcefulness, attention to detail, and confidence.
- Most commonly, 59 per cent of the respondents with a non-English speaking background felt that they had become more patient as a result of volunteering, followed by increased confidence (56 per cent), and learning a new language (54 per cent).
- Similar to those not interested in engaging in volunteering in the future, respondents who will continue to engage in volunteering have highlighted that work commitments and family commitments are the main barriers (36 per cent and 34 per cent respectively). Financial issues (income or out-of-pocket expenses), health issues, and disability (either long-term or temporary), were also identified as barriers to continuing to volunteer.
- Organisations most commonly used word of mouth (90 per cent) and personal approaches or self-referrals (62 per cent) to recruit volunteers. Online sources were also common, including an organisation’s website (78 per cent), other online platforms including social media (46 per cent) and GoVolunteer or SEEK Volunteer (44 per cent). Other methods including recruitment through their local volunteer resource centre or volunteer support organisations were also highly utilised (48 per cent).
- Respondents with volunteer shortages were asked to identify why they had been unable to engage the optimal number of volunteers. The primary problems appeared to be either a lack of suitable candidates or no means of locating them (30 per cent). There were also internal barriers such as time constraints (12 per cent), while most organisations also suggested some limitations stemming from an inadequate funding base (12 per cent). There was also a clear consensus across the states that a mismatch between desired and available candidates sustained suboptimal levels of volunteers.
- Respondents were also asked what forms of recognition were provided to volunteers. The overwhelming majority (91 per cent) said that their organisation provided personal thanks to volunteers for their work, with public acknowledgements through the volunteer involving organisation websites and newsletters also common forms of recognition (85 per cent).
Hidden diamonds: Uncovering the true value of sport volunteers, Join in, (2014). Our starting hypothesis was that volunteers should not be seen as a cost saving but as investors – people who invest their time, skills and energy both for their own benefit and for the wider community. Going beyond traditional valuation methods, which use the cost-replacement model, the research investigated the true value of sports volunteering to personal wellbeing and happiness of the volunteers themselves, plus the wider benefit to their communities. Sport is the single biggest sector of volunteering in the UK. More than one fifth of the 15 million people who volunteer regularly spend their time volunteering in sport – 3.2 million people in total. Combining the emerging science of the economics of wellbeing with traditional approaches and wider industry research, we can value the contribution of volunteering in sport to society by adding the following factors: 1. The economic value of the time given by the volunteer; 2. The value of the personal wellbeing, mental and physical benefits to the volunteer; and 3. The participation capacity and benefits that every volunteer enables. If we accept the assumption that these benefits are all separate and additional to each other, then we arrive at a figure that suggests every individual volunteer in sport produces over £16,032 worth of social value to communities in the UK. This is over 30 times the old value under simple cost replacement. And with each volunteer in sport staying involved for 6.2 years on average, the profit of volunteering in sport is truly astonishing.
- Compared to those who have never volunteered in sport, people who have volunteered agree that they: have 10% higher self-esteem, emotional wellbeing and resilience; are 15% less likely to worry; are 28% more likely to feel what they do has importance; are 18% more likely to feel proud of themselves. 87% agreed that their life has meaning. 88% agreed that they had a lot to be proud of.
- The average club has 24 volunteers and 204 members (SRA 2014 1 ). In other words, one volunteer creates the capacity for 8.5 members (or players).
- Compared to those who have never volunteered in sport, people who have volunteered in sport score these measures: 3 x higher: I feel it’s important to be part of my community; 4 x higher: I trust others in my community; 3 x higher: Being part of my community makes me feel good; 5 x higher: I put a lot of time and effort into being part of my community 8 x higher: I feel that I have an influence over what my community is like; 4 x higher: My important needs are met by being part of my community
Economic Value of Volunteering in Victoria, Duncan Ironmonger, University of Melbourne, Victorian Government, Department of Planning and Community Development, (December 2012). Although anecdotal evidence suggests that the economic contribution of volunteering is great, there are limited reliable figures on the exact monetary value. While we have various official statistics about participation rates, there are no readily available official statistics to show the important contribution volunteering makes to the Victorian economy. This report estimated that by adding the value of organised, unorganised and travel together, volunteering was worth about $7.1 billion to the Victorian economy in 1992, growing to $16.4 billion in 2006. Volunteers also provided a volume of work equivalent to 260,500 jobs in 1992 rising to 359,100 in 2006. This is equivalent to an additional 13.4 per cent of the paid number of people employed in Victoria 1992 and 14.2 per cent in 2006.
Sport and Social Capital, Australia, 2010, Australian Bureau of Statistics, (March 2012) Final report (ceased). This report examines the relationship between participation in sport and physical recreation and social wellbeing using a range of indicators from the 2010 General Social Survey (GSS). Literature suggests that volunteering in the community is an important contributor to the development and maintenance of social capital (Nicholson and Hoye 2008). Data from the GSS show that sport participants are an important source of volunteers in the community. Over three quarters of those who volunteered their time and services to an organisation also participated in some sport or recreational activity during that same time period. The participation rate for non-volunteers was much lower.
Sport’s unsung heroes: Involvement in non-playing roles, Australian Bureau of Statistics (Perspectives on Sport series), Catalogue Number 4156.0.55.001, (June 2011). Many local sporting clubs rely on volunteers to fill diverse roles; such as coaches, referees, committee members, groundskeepers and canteen workers. The time commitment involved, and in some cases the need for specialised skills and knowledge, makes the people who occupy these non-playing roles a valuable community resource. This article looks at the characteristics of people in non-playing roles in the sport and active recreation sector.
The economic contribution of sport to Australia, Frontier Economics report to the Australian Sports Commission, (2010). There are three main ways in which sport delivers economic benefits to society: (1) promotion of physical activity for public health benefit delivers an estimated saving of $12 billion in health care costs, (2) labour input of volunteers is valued at around $4 billion, and (3) the international success of elite Australian sportspeople is one of the most significant measurable positive impacts on social well-being; with a value that is likely to exceed the current annual budget for elite sports.
The Future of Sport in Australia, Crawford M, Australian Government, Independent Sport Panel (2009). The report of the Independent Sport Panel, commonly known as the ‘Crawford Report’, highlighted the critical importance of volunteers to Australian sport. The report noted that, "The Australian Government should develop and fund a national volunteer program for sporting and physical activity organisations that aims to attract and retain volunteers to sport through education, accreditation and recognition, and in particular takes account of the potential offered by the growing number of older Australians to become volunteers".

“It Shaped My Future in Ways I Wasn’t Prepared for—in the Best Way Possible”: Alumni Volunteers’ Experiences in an Adapted Sports and Recreation Program, Meredith Wekesser, Guilherme Costa, Piotr Pasik, et al., Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, Volume 40(2), pp.303-322, (2023). Adapted sport participation can have many positive benefits for adults with disabilities. However, one barrier to implementing successful adapted sport programs is lack of knowledgeable volunteers who understand accessibility and disability. In fact, little is known about volunteers’ experiences in adapted sport programs. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively examine experiences of able-bodied volunteers in an adapted sport program. A sample of 105 able-bodied volunteers (M age = 24.28 ± 1.93) completed an online qualitative survey to share their experiences. Data were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis, and seven main themes were identified. Results showed that despite differences in initial motives for volunteering, involvement in an adapted sport program was transformative and, for some, life changing. Able-bodied volunteers experienced a wide range of benefits including deeper understanding and awareness of disability and inclusion in sport. Practical recommendations are provided for volunteer-based adapted sport program leaders.
Volunteering and Subsequent Health and Well-Being in Older Adults: An Outcome-Wide Longitudinal Approach, Eric Kim, Ashley Whillans, Matthew Lee, et al., American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Volume 59(2), pp.176-186, (August 2020). During the 4-year follow-up period, participants who volunteered ≥100 hours/year (versus 0 hours/year) had a reduced risk of mortality and physical functioning limitations, higher physical activity and better psychosocial outcomes (higher: positive affect, optimism and purpose in life; lower: depressive symptoms, hopelessness, loneliness, and infrequent contact with friends). Volunteering was not associated with other physical health outcomes (e.g. diabetes, hypertension, stroke, cancer, heart disease, lung disease, arthritis, overweight/obesity, cognitive impairment, and chronic pain), health behaviors (e.g. binge drinking, smoking, and sleep problems), or psychosocial outcomes (e.g. life satisfaction, mastery, health/financial mastery, depression, negative affect, perceived constraints and contact with other family/children).
The role of sports volunteering as a signal in the job application process, Sören Wallrodt, Lutz Thieme, European Sport Management Quarterly, Volume 20(3), pp.255-275, (2020). To examine the signaling effect of volunteering activities in CVs, 474 people involved in hiring processes (i.e. hiring managers) participated in this study. Both sports volunteering activities and internship experience were examined as different experimental conditions. Moreover, the subjects were randomly split into different experimental groups and asked to rate the skills and qualifications of a female applicant, and whether they would invite the applicant to an interview and what would be the salary offered upon hiring her for three different jobs. Sports volunteering had a positive effect on hiring managers’ perception of the qualifications of the applicant for all three jobs but affected the outcome of the application differently concerning the likelihood of inviting the applicant to a job interview or the salary that would be offered, but only if the job was closely related to the volunteering activity. The effects of internship experience were marginal.
Australia, Sheranne Fairley, Pamm Phillips, Chapter 1 in 'Sports Volunteers Around the Globe: Meaning and Understanding of Volunteering and its Societal Impact', Kirstin Hallmann, Sheranne Fairley (eds.), Springer, pp.7-20, (2019). Volunteerism is a central part of Australian society. In the sport sector, volunteers have been described as the backbone of the sport system. Sport relies heavily on volunteers – not only to stage sport events but also to deliver sport to the masses through a well-structured and formal network of community clubs and organizations. Australia’s hosting of large-scale events such as the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships, and the 2018 Commonwealth Games has illuminated the value of volunteers, the reliance upon them, the skills that they contribute, the work that they undertake, and the contribution that they make to Australian society. Further, these events highlight how important engaging in volunteer roles can be to the health and well-being of those individuals. While events can be leveraged for volunteer outcomes, there is much more that can be done to capitalize on the attention that events bring to volunteers and the contribution that they make to society.
Is mid-life social participation associated with cognitive function at age 50? Results from the British National Child Development Study (NCDS), Bowling A, Pikhartova J, Dodgeon B, BMC Psychology, Volume 4, article 58, (December 2016). This study investigated the associations between life-course social engagement (including volunteering, sport participation and civic participation) and cognitive status, at age 50. Data were taken from the National Child Development Study in the United Kingdom, a nationally representative, prospective birth cohort of 9119 subjects (4497 men and 4622 women). Cognitive ability was measured at 11 years, participation in activities at age 33 years, participation in sports at age 42 years and cognitive ability (i.e. memory and executive functioning) at age 50 years. Frequent engagement in physical activity and voluntary community activities were significantly and independently associated with cognitive status at age 50 after statistically adjusting for covariates (health and socio-economic status and gender). Being physically active and engaging in civic participation during mid-life appears to promote cognitive function in later life. The strength of this study is in its longitudinal design, but the authors caution that causation is not implied. This paper contributes to the body of literature on potential behavioural risk factors for cognitive decline and the potential benefits of physical activity and civic participation.
Volunteering is associated with lower risk of cognitive impairment, Infurna F, Okun M, Grimm K, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Volume 64(11), pp.2263-2269, (November 2016). Longitudinal data (1998 to 2012) taken from the Health and Retirement Study (N=13,262) in the United States looked at whether psychosocial factors, such as volunteering, are associated with risk of cognitive impairment. Interviews with subjects age 60 years and older were conducted every two years to collect data and assess the risk of cognitive decline associated with a number of factors. The study found that volunteering regularly over time, independently decreased the risk of cognitive impairment over the 14 year period of this study. This finding was independent of other known risk factors for cognitive impairment. Civic engagement among older adults has been associated with lower risk of cognitive impairment. This knowledge should provide the impetus for possible interventions. Given the increasing number of baby boomers entering old age, these findings support the psychosocial benefits of volunteering.
Pioneer volunteers: the role identity of continuous volunteers at sport events, Fairley S, Green B, O’Brian D, et al., Journal of Sport and Tourism, Volume 19(3-4), pp.233-255, (2014). This study looks at the role identity of 125 volunteers during lead-up events as well as their participation in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. In addition, a small sample were interviewed 12 years after the Olympics. Six themes described the experience of ‘pioneer volunteers’ (i.e. continuous volunteer participation): (1) friendship and teamwork; (2) prestige; (3) behind the scenes access and knowledge of the event; (4) learning enabled by their experience; (5) a sense of connection with and ownership of the event; and, (6) transition to Games time roles. Pioneer volunteers experienced a strong and sustained identification with their role and sought out continued opportunities to volunteer in future events.

Team UTSNZ - Workforce Development Programme, University and Tertiary Sport NZ, YouTube, (27 June 2023). Promotional video for the UTSNZ volunteering/work development program. Imagine getting your foot in the door to your dream career in the sport industry as you represent your university. Get real-world experience, develop your skills, connect with industry professionals, and build lasting friendships with Team UTSNZ. Join our team!

References

Sport and Social Capital, Australia, 2010, Australian Bureau of Statistics, (March 2012) Final report (ceased).
European Report on Skills Needs Identification: Situation, trends, perspectives and priorities for the sport and physical activity sector, European Observatoire of Sport and Employment, (March 2023).
The National Standards for Volunteer Involvement, Volunteering Australia, (2015).
The economic contribution of sport to Australia, Frontier Economics report to the Australian Sports Commission, (2010).
Volunteering and Settlement in Australia: A snapshot, Volunteering Australia, Settlement Council of Australia, (May 2019).
State of Volunteering in Australia report, Volunteering Australia/PWC, (April 2016).
General Social Survey, Australian Bureau of Statistics, (June 2021).
Volunteers in Victoria: trends, challenges and opportunities, State of Victoria, Ministerial Council for Volunteers, (June 2017).
Giving and volunteering in culturally and linguistically diverse and Indigenous communities, Commonwealth Department of Social Services, pp.44, (2016).
Australia, Sheranne Fairley, Pamm Phillips, Chapter 1 in 'Sports Volunteers Around the Globe: Meaning and Understanding of Volunteering and its Societal Impact', Kirstin Hallmann, Sheranne Fairley (eds.), Springer, pp.7-20, (2019).
Volunteering Australia Response on a National Sports Plan, Volunteering Australia, (July 2017).
Sport’s unsung heroes: Involvement in non-playing roles, Australian Bureau of Statistics (Perspectives on Sport series), (June 2011).
Volunteers: the "heartbeat" of Olympic legacy, International Olympic Committee, (6 December 2019).
Pioneer volunteers: the role identity of continuous volunteers at sport events, Fairley S, Green B, O’Brian D, et al., Journal of Sport and Tourism, Volume 19(3-4), pp.233-255, (2014).
Hidden diamonds: Uncovering the true value of sport volunteers, Join in, (2014).
Building on the value of Victoria’s community sector, Victorian Council of Social Services, (2015).
Evidence Insights: Volunteering and mental health, Jack McDermott, Dominic O'Neill, Volunteering Australia, (October 2021).
Active Lives, Department for Health and Ageing, Government of South Australia, prepared for the Office of Recreation, Sport and Racing, (2019 and 2021).
Value of Sport, Sport NZ, (March 2018).
Intergenerational review of Australian sport 2017, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) for the Australian Sports Commission, (2017).
Volunteering is good for us and the community! Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing, Government of South Australia, (13 August 2020).
Participatory arts, sport, physical activity and loneliness: the role of volunteering, what works wellbeing, (December 2020).
Is mid-life social participation associated with cognitive function at age 50? Results from the British National Child Development Study (NCDS), Bowling A, Pikhartova J, Dodgeon B, BMC Psychology, Volume 4, article 58, (December 2016).
Altruism: How to Cultivate Selfless Behavior, Kendra Cherry, very well mind, (8 May 2023).
Key facts and statistics about volunteering in Australia, Volunteering Australia, (2015).
Youth volunteering in Australia: An evidence review, Walsh L and Black R, Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY), (2015).
The impact of volunteering on happiness and health, Volunteering Victoria, (August 2016).
Regular volunteer work provides demonstrable benefits for the health and well-being of older adults, Elsevier, Medical Xpress, (11 June 2020).
Volunteering and Subsequent Health and Well-Being in Older Adults: An Outcome-Wide Longitudinal Approach, Eric Kim, Ashley Whillans, Matthew Lee, et al., American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Volume 59(2), pp.176-186, (August 2020).
Volunteering is associated with lower risk of cognitive impairment, Infurna F, Okun M, Grimm K, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Volume 64(11), pp.2263-2269, (November 2016).
The Value and Benefits of Sport: Education, Clearinghouse for Sport, (accessed 19 July 2023).
The impact of engagement in sport on graduate employability: implications for higher education policy and practice, Kerry Griffiths, Steve Bullough, Simon Shibli, et al., International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, Volume 9(3), pp.431-451, (2017).
Sport Volunteering in Europe: Realities, opportunities and challenges, V4V: Skills acquired through volunteering in sport project, European Observatoire of Sport and Employment, (October 2023).

See more on this topic:

Overview Benefits of sport Factors influencing participation Volunteer management Policies, programs, and supporting structures Awards and recognition

IS THIS INFORMATION COMPLETE?

The Clearinghouse for Sport is a sector-wide knowledge sharing initiative, and as such your contributions are encouraged and appreciated. If you would like to suggest a resource, submit a publication, or provide feedback on this topic, please contact us.

Alternatively, if you would like to be kept up to date with research and information published about this topic, please request a research profile setup.

Explore

Search

Clearinghouse for Sport

Networks

Share

BENEFITS OF SPORT

IMPACT

Sport sector

Community

Physical, social, and mental wellbeing

Personal and professional development

Employment and career development

IS THIS INFORMATION COMPLETE?

BENEFITS OF SPORT

IMPACT

Articles

Books

Guidelines

Reports

Research

Reports

Research

Articles

Reports

Research

Videos

Articles

Reports

Research

Videos

See more on this topic:

IS THIS INFORMATION COMPLETE?