Inclusive Volunteering: Building Healthier Communities this Social Prescribing Day
On 26 March 2026, Social Prescribing Day celebrates the power of community-based support in improving people’s health and wellbeing. Social prescribing connects people to activities, groups, and services that help them live healthier, more connected lives. One example of something that could form part of a social prescription is volunteering. This blog reports on a study around inclusive volunteering.
Volunteering has long been recognised as a meaningful way for people to build confidence, develop skills, and form social connections. However, traditional volunteering programmes have often attracted a narrow demographic. Inclusive volunteering involves creating volunteering opportunities that are accessible, welcoming, and supportive for people from all backgrounds and abilities. It focuses on removing barriers so that individuals who may face challenges - such as disabilities, mental health conditions, or social disadvantage - can participate and benefit from volunteering.
A new research project on the topic of inclusive volunteering is being led by the University of York, alongside colleagues from the University of Oxford, the University of Bristol and the London School of Economics. It is exploring how museums, heritage organisations and environmental charities can make volunteering more accessible to people from diverse backgrounds. Partners in the project include: Imperial War Museums; Beamish, The Living Museum of the North; Forestry England; John Hall Wellness Gardens; Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences; ZSL London Zoo.
The research aims to support the creation of inclusive volunteering models that focus on what individuals can gain from the experience, rather than simply what they can contribute. It will include a review of relevant literature. This will be followed by case study work with heritage, nature-based or environmental organisations. For each case study, we will interview staff and volunteers. We will also measure the wellbeing, loneliness and support available for new volunteers who have joined an inclusive volunteering programme. They will be assessed 3, 6 and 12 months after starting the inclusive volunteering programme.
Another focus of the research is to develop a tool to help organisations calculate the costs and benefits of developing an inclusive volunteering programme.
The project builds on a successful pilot at Ripon Museum Trust, where a practical guide to inclusive volunteering was developed. The research team is now testing this framework across several national organisations to create a “gold standard” model that could be adopted across the UK.
Social prescribing recognises that health is shaped not only by medical care but also by social connection, purpose, and community engagement. Initiatives like inclusive volunteering demonstrate how organisations can play a vital role in supporting wellbeing while strengthening communities.
This Social Prescribing Day, it’s worth reflecting on the power of opportunity. By opening doors to more inclusive volunteering experiences, organisations can help people rediscover untapped skills, confidence and a sense of belonging.
This research is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) School for Social Care Research. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
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There is weak evidence linking volunteering to positive well-being. In order to benefit, people may need to feel that what they do is likely to make a difference and that it is valued. This idea of ‘mattering’ highlights the fact that although not an explicit reason for volunteering, reciprocity may be important for someone to continue undertaking such work and to gain psychologically from it.