Paul Twivy
Paul Twivy, founder of Your Square Mile, says the example of the Olympic Games Makers should be used to inspire new volunteers
Potential volunteers are being held back by a lack of knowledge about how to give their time, a survey has concluded.
The survey, conducted by Your Square Mile, an organisation that encourages community participation, asked 1,000 British adults, asking whether the example set by the Games Makers had inspired them to volunteer.
It found that 45 per cent of respondents were more likely to volunteer but 60 per cent would not know where to start.
People aged between 25 and 34 were the most confused about how to start volunteering, with 69 per cent saying that they didn’t know where to start. The over-55s knew the most about how to get involved, with 48 per cent unsure about how to get involved with voluntary activities.
Paul Twivy, founder of Your Square Mile, said: "The 70,000 Games Makers have been rightly praised for fulfilling their job title, but we now need to convert their energy into creating community makers, who can bring the same spirit to every neighbourhood in the UK.
"While they don’t always have uniforms or cheering crowds surrounding them, volunteers are the backbone of civil society, the invisible utility and resource without which we couldn’t function. It’s crucial that this new generation of potential volunteers is given the practical advice and support they need to make positive change".
