Substantial claims are made about the extent and impacts of volunteering, often characterised by limited engagement with research evidence. Volunteering is highly stratified, so whether it can bridge social divisions in an unequal society is questionable. Volunteering may have some benefits for individuals and communities, but these impacts are often marginal; volunteering is not a treatment that can be prescribed with certainty. There is certainly a strong 'spirit of service' evident in the British population, but it requires considerable faith to believe that it can be extended to all. This book provides a comprehensive and original overview of evidence about the patterns and impacts of volunteering, underpinning a novel, but sceptical, assessment of the contributions of voluntary action to British society.
By:
John Mohan
Imprint: Manchester University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 216mm,
Width: 138mm,
ISBN: 9781526145529
ISBN 10: 1526145529
Pages: 312
Publication Date: 02 April 2025
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Primary
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming
Introduction 1 Concepts and definitions: hunting Snarks and ‘mapping volunteerland’ 2 Trends in volunteering and trends in the voluntary sector Part II Introduction to Part II 3 Diversity and inequality in voluntary action 4 Core and periphery 5 Community level variations in voluntary action: what they mean and why they matter 6 Circumstances, habits and trajectories: journeys into and through volunteering Part III Introduction to Part III 7 Do not expect miracles: the impacts of voluntary action 8 Volunteering, employability and policy 9 Volunteering, health and well-being 10 Volunteering and civic engagement: a virtuous and privileged circle? Part IV Introduction to Part IV 11 Demographic change, economic circumstances and attitudes to volunteering 12 Cultivating and conserving the spirit of service? 13 Covid and voluntary action Conclusions: Beveridge and the spirit of service References Index -- .
John Mohan is Professor of Social Policy at the University of Birmingham.
Reviews for Volunteering in the United Kingdom: The Spirit of Service
This long overdue analysis is a welcome contribution to our understanding of the scope and impact of volunteering. Based upon a wide-ranging review of post-war trends, policies and practice, this thought-provoking critical analysis challenges widely held views on volunteering. It ultimately questions why policy makers and practitioners alike are interested in volunteering – and provides insights into how we might support it in the future. Volunteering shouldn’t be taken for granted – and this analysis should inform volunteering policy and practice over the coming decade. Karl Wilding, University of Kent -- .
