First-of-its-Kind Survey Reveals UK Health Charities Have an Urgent Need for 23,000 Skilled Professional Volunteers

New research on the state of health charities in the UK points to a growing capacity gap, as funding dries up and the need for support grows across the population. 

 The research, conducted by Costello Medical and Pilotlight, is the first of its kind to survey the support needs of UK health charities. 

The report, "Supporting UK Health Charities", highlights the vital role of health charities but also their vulnerability and a pressing need for support. While health charities are strong on vision and values, they are often weaker on operational practices and are looking for, but not finding, professional support. The survey estimates a need for approximately 23,000 additional skilled volunteers to support health charities across the UK. 

The report calls for businesses to open up more options for employees to use their skills as volunteers and points to the business benefits of doing so. 

The findings are welcomed by Wes Streeting, Health and Social Care Secretary, who says:

Health charities play a vital yet often unsung role in supporting the NHS and wider society, both of which already benefit hugely from the hard work and generosity of tens of thousands of volunteers. But this report makes clear how much more health charities would benefit from more businesses and volunteers using their expertise and getting stuck in.

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The report calls for businesses to open up more options for employees to use their skills as volunteers and points to the business benefits of doing so. 

The survey of 197 health-focused charities identifies several key findings:

• Operational weaknesses: Health charities are more likely to have an up-to-date mission and values statement than the wider voluntary sector, but are less likely to have strategic tools such as a business or strategic plan.
• Volunteer vs. staff capacity: The sector's strong volunteer engagement is a key strength, with an average of three volunteers for every paid staff member. However, a lack of investment in staff is a core challenge, with over two-thirds of charities spending less than 2% of their annual expenditure on training.
• AI high on the list of support needs: Charities need wide-ranging support with marketing and AI top of the list. The most urgent scientific support needs are on communicating information effectively to funders, patients, and the public, along with needs for evidence development and policy guidance.
• The Confidence Gap: While 65% of charities are looking for professional support, less than one in seven (14%) are confident they know where to find it.

There are around 6,000 health charities in the UK, according to the voluntary sector network, NCVO. The survey was conducted with the help of a range of key health charity networks: the Association of Medical Research Charities, Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance, Beacon for Rare Diseases, Blood Cancer Alliance, Brain Tumour Alliance, Cancer52, Hearing and Deafness Alliance, National Kidney Federation, National Voices, and Visionary. 

“Health charities often need more than just money; they need professional advice and expertise to grow and manage their work,” said Ed Mayo, outgoing CEO of Pilotlight. “We urge businesses and professionals to step forward: share your skills and join the pro bono movement. By working together, we can help these charities achieve more and improve health outcomes for all.”

Lucy Eddowes, Scientific Director at Costello Medical, comments that “over the past 15 years, we have seen first-hand the difference professional expertise from companies like ours can make to charities in health. We have also seen how much it brings to our people and our company culture. This report shines a light on the need for professional support, and I hope that it inspires other businesses to start making an impact through pro bono volunteering.”

Wes Streeting, Health and Social Care Secretary adds that “Our 10 Year Plan set out our ambitions to expand community care through increased voluntary sector engagement, and our recently launched volunteering website makes it easier than ever for people to find meaningful opportunities to give back that fits in with their lives."