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Volunteer Voices – our research

Volunteering extends the reach of our service and helps us to equip blind and partially sighted people with the skills and confidence to be able to live the life they want to lead.

"Volunteering has challenged me, built my confidence and brought me fulfilment and new friendships - as well as offering me opportunities I may not have otherwise got to experience."

Products for Life volunteer

So, it is important that we have a deep understanding of the volunteering experience at RNIB, including how volunteers feel about their involvement, what is working well and what we could be doing better. Our Volunteering team conducts regular surveys at different points of the volunteer journey.

Volunteer feedback is crucial to our future work to ensure the volunteering experience at RNIB, for both current and future volunteers, is a positive one. This page highlights the key findings from our volunteer surveys.

A massive thank you to everyone who has completed our volunteer surveys and shared their feedback. It is greatly appreciated and invaluable to our work to ensure a positive volunteer experience at RNIB.

Upcoming research

Our next volunteer survey will go live in winter 2025.

Volunteering experience: key stats

  • 95% of volunteers feel volunteering improves their wellbeing.
  • 94% of volunteers would recommend volunteering with RNIB to others.
  • 92% of volunteers feel like they are making a difference in the lives of others by volunteering with RNIB.
  • 91% of respondents feel valued for the time and effort they have donated to RNIB.
  • 88% of volunteers feel supported in their role.
  • 88% of volunteers agree their manager provides a good volunteering experience.
  • 88% of volunteers agree their manager is available to talk to if they need support.
  • 88% of volunteers feel a sense of belonging through volunteering with RNIB.
  • 83% of volunteers are satisfied with the communication they receive from their manager.

Volunteering insight activities and reports

We have two volunteer experience surveys a year, in addition to surveys at different points in your volunteering journey and following specific events, such as Festival of Volunteering.

For more information or to become a volunteer email us on [email protected].

“Volunteering with Rnib is very important to me as I can use my existing skills to help others. I believe in giving people confidence and empowering them and I can do this through my volunteer work with Rnib.”

Technology for Life volunteer