An investigation into the motivating factors leading to volunteer engagement with charities.

Abstract

The aim of the investigation was to discover the motivations behind individuals getting involved with volunteer opportunities for charities. The investigation was written in five chapters, the Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results, Analysis and Discussion, and finally the Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations. At the end of the investigation there is an Appendices and Reference section. The data was collected for the investigation using a mixed method approach, blending both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The methods included a questionnaire with a sample of 80 people and 2 interviews with specifically selected professionals from the industry. It was discovered that there were some very specific motivations that lead to individuals volunteering for charities. These were a personal connection to the charity, to better oneself from a professional employment point of view and to do something worthwhile in ones free time.