The impacts of volunteering on the subjective wellbeing of volunteers: a rapid evidence assessment

 There is a growing body of research on the links between volunteering and wellbeing. This review (co-published with Spirit of 2012, and in partnership with the Institute of Volunteer Research) brings together the most relevant studies. Click here to access King's Fund blog

Participating in Local Food Projects Linked to Improved Mental Health

A new study U.K. study suggests that participating in local food projects may have a positive effect on well-being and psychological health. Click here to read PsychCentral article

The role of volunteers in the NHS: views from the front line

This report was commissioned by Royal Voluntary Service and Helpforce in July 2018. Its intention is to ascertain the perceptions of frontline NHS staff working in acute care about the operational pressures they face, how they understand the roles and value of volunteers and what gaps there are that volunteers could help fill. Read King's Fund report here

Seven day stroke service wins Welsh national award

Twenty physiotherapists were part of an award-winning therapy team whose seven-day pilot service improved the care of stroke patients at the University Hospital of Wales.

The project involved 54 volunteer therapists and aimed to provide earlier therapy assessments in the hospital’s acute stroke unit.

Have your say on Health Education England's draft volunteering strategy

HEE is asking for responses on its draft volunteering strategy, which explores the benefits for the NHS and highlights existing good practice.

Benefits of Dementia Befrienders into an acute hospital wards

People with dementia account for approximate 3.2 million hospital bed days per year with about 25% beds occupied at any one time.

Some of the most common reasons for their admission include falls,  urinary tract infections, chest infections and stroke.

Following a review of dementia care in hospitals by the CQC (Cracks in the Pathway, CQC 2014) it was suggested that these patients were likely to experience poor care at some point along their pathway.

James Paget Universities Hospitals NHS Trust staff describe an innovative volunteer scheme.

Public health working with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector: new opportunities and sustainable change

The case studies in this report show how public health and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) are working together to make a real difference to people's health and wellbeing. The case studies demonstrate how harnessing the skills, enthusiasm and expertise of VCSE organisations and volunteers can help to improve population health and reduce health inequalities.

• Report
• LGA publications

Engaging Health Care Volunteers to Pursue the Triple Aim

This report from the American Hospital; Association showcases how volunteer services support the Triple Aim, a framework developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement that outlines an approach for maximizing the performance of the health care system. This framework looks at improving the patient experience of care; improving the health of populations; and reducing the per-capita cost of health care.

Mealtime assistance may increase the energy and protein intake of hospitalised older patients

This study demonstrates an increase in energy and protein intake among older in-patients with mealtime assistance. Further well-conducted studies are needed to establish the cost-effectiveness of mealtime assistance. Volunteers spent more time with patients at mealtimes than nurses, were positively perceived, and could be trained and employed more widely.

How do we invest in volunteers?

Volunteers play a crucial role in helping local Healthwatch reach as many people as possible in their community to find out their views. But recruiting and keeping volunteers is not always straightforward. Healthwatch Islington explains how they invest in those who donate their time.

Defining volunteering in hospice and palliative care in Europe: an EAPC White Paper

A White Paper published by the European Association for Palliative Care, exploring the role, position, value and identity of volunteering in hospice and palliative care.

Helping In Hospitals: A Guide To High Impact Volunteering In Hospitals

The Helping in Hospitals programme was founded on the belief that much more can be achieved through well-designed and implemented volunteering in hospital settings - that we are only scratching the surface of what volunteering can do for hospital life.

With funding from the Cabinet Office and the Department of Health, Helping in Hospitals worked with ten hospital trusts from 2014 to 2016 to help them build significant impact volunteering programmes. This included increasing both the scale and scope of impact volunteering in hospitals. 

This guide provides further details on how the hospital trusts developed their volunteering programmes...