[holding answer 13 November 2008]: The number of formal and informal volunteers are measured each year by the Citizenship Survey, which began in 2001. There are no comparable figures available before this date. Figures since 2001 in England and Wales are as follows:
At least once a month At least once a year 2001 2003 2005 2007-08 2001 2003 2005 2007-08 Percentage who had engaged in each activity Informal volunteering 34 37 37 35 67 63 68 64 Formal volunteering 27 28 29 27 39 42 44 43 All respondents 9,430 8,922 9,195 8,804 9,430 8,922 9,195 8,804 Equivalent number of people, estimate (Million) Informal volunteering 13.5 14.9 14.9 14.4 26.5 25.1 27.4 26.4 Formal volunteering 10.5 11.1 11.6 11.1 15.3 17 17.9 17.7 Population base1 39.5 40 40.3 41.1 39.5 40 40.3 41.1 1 2007-08 population figures based on Office for National Statistics 2006 mid-year estimates.
Regular volunteering (at least once a month) Volunteering at least once in the last year 2001 2003 2005 2007-08 2001 2003 2005 2007-08 Percentage who had engaged in each activity Formal volunteering 28 25 31 27 41 40 47 37 Informal volunteering 31 32 42 30 64 54 69 54 All respondents 585 564 496 532 585 564 496 532 Equivalent number of people (Estimate) Formal volunteering 651,698 577,911 741,122 651,523 959,051 931,317 1,125,405 882,467 Informal volunteering 726,281 753,002 998,529 727,875 1,477,986 1,274,412 1,631,666 1,295,486 Population base1 2,316,500 2,341,400 2,380,000 2,404,700 2,316,500 2,341,400 2,380,000 2,404,700 1 2007-08 population figures based on ONS 2006 mid-year estimates. Notes: 1. 2005 population figures based on ONS 2004 mid-year population estimates. 2. 2003 population figures based on ONS 2002 mid-year population estimates. 3. 2001 population figures based on ONS 2001 mid-year population estimates. Source: Citizenship Survey, Communities and Local Government