# Volunteers worth millions to NHS

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/07/30/volunteers-worth-millions-nhs/
- Published: 2008-07-30T09:26:26+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

Volunteers are probably worth millions to the NHS, according to a new pilot study
from Volunteering England.

The study assesses the impact of volunteering with NHS trusts, focusing on five 
across the country. Some trusts estimated that the economic value of volunteering
averaged around £700,000 a year in hospital trusts, £500,000 a year in mental health
trusts and £250,000 a year for primary care trusts.

Care Services Minister, Ivan Lewis said: “Volunteers play a variety of critical 
roles, at all levels, providing mutual benefit to staff, volunteers and service 
users within health and social care services. We know that their contribution is
essential and can improve the lives of patients and their local communities.”

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The study revealed that volunteers could overcome social isolation by volunteering
and that a community’s understanding of mental health issues can also be improved
through volunteers.

Volunteers’ motivations for volunteering ranged from ‘giving something back’ to 
achieving better employment prospects and wanting to give structure to a retired
lifestyle.

Trusts involved in the study derived huge benefit from their volunteering programmes,
although volunteering in the trusts was unevenly distributed and managed. Trusts
also need to take into account the opinions of paid staff.

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