NHS organisations and local decision makers are ignoring the health benefits of volunteering when designing support, experts are warning.

Despite volunteering proving effective in reducing loneliness, improving mental and physical health and supporting people with dementia, too often it is seen as only an “add on” to planning local support rather than a priority, according to support service Volunteering Together 4 Health (VT4H), which is supporting the development of health volunteering in London.

The call has been made following last year’s NHS 10-year plan that highlighted how “volunteers can play an important role in supporting neighbourhood services”.

VT4H said this focus on NHS Neighbourhoods is “a perfect time to start thinking about volunteering differently”.

“We have seen across the country that the scope and potential of volunteering within health seems to be limited to only as an add-on to support the delivery of a health service,” said VT4H operational lead Dominic Pinkney.

“The numerous and significant benefits of the act of volunteering seem to be ignored or forgotten and we are strongly recommending that decision-makers, planners and commissioners treat volunteering as a strategic asset."

NHS organisations and local authorities are being urged to work together “strategically to align their investment in volunteering to create mutual benefits and save costs through this important prevention activity”.

‘Equal partners’

They are also urged to talk with charities at the start of developing support and to treat them “as equal partners” that values “their time and contribution in the same way as clinical/health staff”.

Already councils are investing in local volunteering infrastructure but they continue to face financial constraints on their budgets, said VT4H.

But by strategically aligning with NHS partners to prioritise volunteering there can be “huge returns” from “small levels of investment”, it added.

“More socially active communities are more cohesive and resilient but also create clear demonstrable physical and mental health impacts that support neighbourhood and system health and wellbeing,” said the support service.

A study in recent years by mental health charity Mind detailed the mental health benefits of volunteering in charity shops. One in ten said the emotional support they receive from the work is a major factor in their decision to volunteer.

Among its charity shop workers surveyed was Emma Jordan, who started as a volunteer two decades ago and manages one of its stores.

“When I first started volunteering with Mind, I had very little confidence and struggled in social situations,” she said.

“I was 21 years old with barely any work experience, so the job centre suggested that I volunteer in a local charity shop. Without a doubt I would not be where I am today if I hadn't volunteered.”

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