Exploring Volunteering Statistics Among BAME Communities

Volunteering is an avenue for community engagement and wellbeing that has the power to bridge gaps across different societal layers.

When managing voluntary activities in the United Kingdom, particularly when working with Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) volunteers, an organisation's role goes beyond overseeing projects. You are contributing to larger objectives like promoting diversity, supporting mental health, and cultivating mutual understanding within your teams and the broader community.

As BAME communities often face unique challenges and even the organisations supporting them keep evolving, we wanted to raise awareness and point out where everyone can still do their part.

Global Trends Affecting BAME Volunteers

BAME communities play a pivotal role among UK volunteers, with their commitment often exceeding that of other demographics across a wider range of causes. From childcare and food provision to education and healthcare, the support of BAME volunteers was, on average, 10% higher than that of non-BAME volunteers.

Despite all that commitment, a recent poll from Queen Mary University underlines the underrepresentation of BAME respondents’ perspectives in politics and governance, reflecting a broader issue of visibility and equality across various spheres. While those with a BAME background make up 18% of the UK’s population, they often don’t reach 5% in certain polls, with significant differences between various groups.

Amidst the cost-of-living crisis, BAME volunteers also face unique challenges. Many organisations are already aware that volunteering rates have decreased, but these numbers are even higher for BAME volunteers, and 47% of BAME volunteers who volunteer less mention the time required for their job as a reason.

The most concerning issues are usually the ones not explicitly mentioned in daily life, and for BAME volunteering, that can be seen in the disproportionately higher number of people in voluntary organisations feeling excluded. While there are significant differences between age groups, the majority of BAME volunteers still reported they felt they were taking up space that white volunteers considered theirs. For disabled volunteers within that group, feeling left out was even more common (21% vs. 9%).

Clearly, there’s a lot of work to be done and the numbers only give a rough sketch of the idea that’s often also related to other volunteers or community members who might feel similarly but for different reasons. Let’s look at some strategies to finally counteract this trend.

Embracing Inclusive Language To Foster True Diversity in Volunteering

The language you use has a powerful impact on inclusivity within your local community. Reflecting on the terminologies that resonate with communities and individuals is crucial to creating a space where everyone feels valued and heard. Talking to a young person requires different vocabulary and approaches than engaging a retired volunteer, and in a similar vein, each volunteer role and message should account for volunteers’ cultural heritage.

Consider inclusion efforts by other organisations and recognise that the evolution of language is an ongoing process in the journey toward genuine inclusivity.

In your volunteer programs, it’s important to employ language that’s not just neutral but also equitable. Refrain from utilising acronyms that might unwittingly categorise or segregate, as these can be seen as excluding rather than uniting, often affecting volunteers’ mental health without you noticing. For instance, while we’re still using the term “BAME” because many volunteering organisations conversing with us are still searching for it, the UK government is already moving away from terms like these, illustrating a growing awareness of how language can both include and alienate.

Consider these steps to foster diversity through language:

• Review Current Practices: Examine your organisation’s language and potential bias. Reflect on how diverse volunteers might perceive the volunteer experience.
• Consult and Adapt: Engage with volunteers to understand their preferences and adapt your strategies and language to be more inclusive.
• Train Your Team: Ensure everyone involved is aware of the importance of inclusive language and behaviour and how to apply both.

By doing so, you create an inviting atmosphere for volunteers, encompassing all backgrounds and experiences. In your efforts to welcome a diverse volunteer base, the words you choose should always reflect your organisation’s day-to-day actions, showing your commitment to embracing every individual.

Navigating Volunteering and Volunteer Management in the Age of Economic Uncertainty

In the current economic landscape, volunteers are vital to sustaining community initiatives. Therefore, it’s critical to look out for those among them who are disproportionately affected by the present situation. When engaging volunteers, it’s best to account for financial pressures they may face without subliminal judgement — pressures that can affect the decision to volunteer or seek employment. 

Volunteering has long been a way for countless individuals to contribute to their communities, gain skills and make a difference. Despite economic hardships, many from the BAME community are still driven to volunteer by a sense of duty, community and personal betterment. It’s essential for your organisation to understand these motivations and create options that recognise their value.

As a volunteer manager, you can craft meaningful opportunities that are inclusive of BAME volunteers’ unique needs. It’s about more than creating roles; it’s offering respectful, rewarding and mutually beneficial experiences. This approach ensures no group is neglected and every contribution is valued equally.

You can easily adjust training and schedules with a system like Rosterfy’s that tailors each volunteer journey to individual needs and qualifications. It can help maintain a balance between the demands of roles and the personal circumstances of every single volunteer.

In every aspect of your volunteer management, maintain clear, empathetic communication and provide the necessary support systems that help navigate these challenging times.

Nurture a Diverse Community Without Worrying About Volunteer Management

Volunteering should be an inclusive and rewarding experience for everyone involved. As you adapt the volunteer environment to cater to BAME individuals and other demographics, the richness and diversity of your community will thrive. Recognising the unique perspectives and experiences that BAME volunteers bring can greatly enhance your organisation’s effectiveness and outreach.

Adapting volunteer experiences to the needs of BAME individuals doesn’t mean sidelining those of other volunteers, either. It’s about creating an inclusive environment that embraces all contributions and provides every volunteer with the resources and support they need.

To implement a successful and diverse volunteer management system, consider establishing a partnership with a trusted platform that understands the complexities of managing a varied volunteer base. Rosterfy can be a valuable partner in your journey toward nurturing a diverse community efficiently, without detracting from the core mission of your volunteer program.

If you’d like to learn more and see what Rosterfy can do for your volunteers, book a demo now.

About Rosterfy

Rosterfy is used by nonprofits, charities, sporting federations, local governments, and more to better manage their volunteer programs by improving how they can recruit, screen, train, and retain volunteers.

Our market leading technology helps you create an engaging experience throughout the whole lifecycle of your volunteer journey.

Book a call today.

Keep reading more on our blog 

Read more helpful articles on our blog:

• The Importance of Student Volunteering for Professional Development and Community Connection
• 11 Ways to Reward and Show Appreciation for Volunteers
• How Does Volunteering Help the Community?