What’s Happening in the Third Sector?
Would Paid Volunteering Leave Increase Participation Levels?
The idea of giving employees paid time off to volunteer is back in the spotlight, this time in a new report from Power to Change. It echoes previous proposals that suggest workers should have the right to request up to three days’ volunteering leave each year.
The argument goes that such a move could help strengthen democracy and rebuild trust in society. But John Mohan, professor of social policy at the University of Birmingham, urges caution. While there are links between volunteering and greater civic engagement, the evidence that one causes the other is far from clear.
Most research, including the Power to Change survey, shows associations, not cause and effect. Long-term UK studies suggest any impact on political engagement is limited at best. And the people most likely to take up paid volunteering leave? Those already active, engaged, and better off.
There’s also a practical side to consider. For many small organisations and overstretched public services, losing staff time – even a few days a year – could be a real burden. Meanwhile, workers in precarious jobs or on zero-hours contracts are unlikely to benefit at all.
Mohan suggests that instead of offering rights that only the already-privileged can realistically use, we should focus on improving the conditions that make participation possible in the first place – decent work, stable hours, fair pay, and security. That’s what might actually move the dial on trust, inclusion, and engagement in the long run.
Volunteering and Museums: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
This candid reflection on managing volunteers in the museum sector takes a look at the highs and lows of managing volunteers in the heritage sector. From incredible contributions (like volunteers stepping in to write exhibition content) to the challenges of rota management, boundary-setting, and navigating sometimes very honest feedback, it captures the reality of day-to-day volunteer coordination.
The piece champions volunteering for the right reasons: passion, community, personal growth—not cost-cutting. It also stresses the need for strong strategy, communication, and inclusion so volunteers feel valued and part of the team. A timely reminder that good volunteer management isn’t just admin—it’s essential infrastructure.
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