John Mohan is Professor of Social Policy at the University of Birmingham.
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 -- .