Two-thirds of Brits feel fragmented and back volunteering to bring people together

The new nationally representative poll, carried out by Censuswide, on behalf of Oxfam, also found that:

• 62% of Brits said young people should consider volunteering in the first three years after leaving school instead of going straight into paid work or further education
• This was despite the fact that 76% of the group said they themselves either went straight into paid work or further education (48% paid work and 28% education)
• 74% say volunteering experience makes young people more attractive to employers

Karen Gurney, Volunteer Development and Experience Manager at Oxfam GB:

“Oxfam’s network of 500 shops across the UK is buzzing with opportunities for people of all ages, including for young people over 14, to build skills, connect across generations and make a real difference in their local communities.

“Our store managers are always interested to hear from new volunteers who want to be part of our retail and bookstores. We can train you up and add you into our teams, whether you can volunteer for Oxfam for a few months or many years.

“We know that the connections we build in our volunteer teams have a positive impact on our volunteer’s wellbeing. I am so proud to keep hearing that the work they do for us also benefits them. The social cohesion from making connections across generations can be so powerful in our communities. Oxfam is encouraging more people to consider volunteering and be part of a global movement bringing people together to tackle poverty and inequality. To find out more, or to sign up to be a volunteer please visit our website. Together we can make a difference.”

Ross Taylor, volunteer at Oxfam in Magdalen Street, Norwich:

“We have a really good community in here. Everyone's lovely, we all get on like a house on fire. We're all very different people, but we've all got something in common - we care about the cause and we enjoy being here amongst like-minded people. What makes every day especially satisfying is the treasure hunt - you never know what's coming in.

“I think the managers are excellent at finding the strengths of each volunteer and finding out where they might fit in. It wasn't long before I felt very at home. The community here is excellent, the people working here are all just absolutely lovely.  I've developed skills that I didn't know I had that. It's been a learning process, but it's been excellent and for a single parent looking to get back into a workplace, not quite ready to jump in with both feet, it's an excellent place to do that.” 

Anna Deas, volunteer at the Bedford Street Oxfam bookshop, Norwich:

“First impressions of the shop was it was really friendly. A real eclectic group of people. So many different backgrounds, ages, I just felt really welcome. I'm here because I want to help, but also, I'm here so that I can be amongst books.

“The thing I love most about this role at Oxfam is conversations with the customers that come in. That's the best thing. It's nice when selling things on the till, even if it's just a small sale, it's a little reminder that I made a difference today. Like someone brought something in that belonged to them and they wanted to pass it on and now I've sold it to someone else. And it makes you feel really connected with that cycle.

“I work with a lot of younger volunteers, and it's really nice seeing them become more confident.  I think it's nice when someone who's maybe a bit older joins because the younger volunteers, even though they're only in their teens, might not have had a paid job yet, they are the senior volunteer, so they know the ropes and it's up to them to teach us how to do the job. I think it gives them a sense of empowerment because they're actually able to teach us something. And that was really lovely.

“I was being shown how to put books on the shelves, how to research books, how to price them, by someone who's like 10 or so years younger than me. I think that was really beneficial to them because it helped them develop their communication skills and their confidence, and actually take the lead, which is probably something that they've not really had the opportunity to do before. So, it was really nice to be part of their development as well.”

Notes to Editors:

• The survey was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Oxfam between the 20th and 24th March 2026 with a sample of 2000 nationally representative UK consumers.
• Oxfam GB has a network of 500 shops and around 20,000 retail volunteers. We are always looking for new members to join the team there is more information on volunteering here. We accept volunteers from the age of 14.
• Oxfam GB is a partner to communities around the world, working in around 80 countries to tackle the inequalities that lead to poverty. Our work is built on the priorities of working for humanitarian justice, climate justice and valuing all women’s work.