Happy New Year! Wishing all our clients a healthy, successful and prosperous 2023!
And what better way to start this year’s blog with some good news?
Over the festive period several new research reports have been released identifying some positive trends for charities in 2023.
The first is a study by Charities Aid Foundation which suggests that charities could tap into an extra 34 million hours of volunteering time in the first half of the year, with one in 10 people saying they’d give up a day to a local charity, group or club if personally asked. The report reveals that there are potentially 1 million new volunteers that charities could recruit, with a quarter (24 per cent) of those surveyed saying they were very likely to volunteer and had not done so already over the last 12 months.
More than three quarters (78 per cent) said they believe that volunteering can really make a difference in local communities. According to the Office for National Statistics, every year, formal volunteering through a group, club, or organisation adds approximately £24 billion of value to the economy.
The key finding of this research is that people want to be asked by charities for their time, so that they know they are donating their time to a cause that requires their assistance. This is significant for charities as a second research report, which was released over Christmas shows that consumers value the mail over any other form of communication. The study by Quadient revealed that two thirds of people are more likely to open a piece of physical mail, than an email, because letters feel far more personal.
People are able to spend time with their mail, whereas social media, TV ads, email and other forms of communication tend to have to be consumed immediately or in a rush. There is also no risk of being hacked or phished through the mail. Over a third (37 per cent) also appreciate the fact that the mail feels more targeted – that they receive far less spam through their letterbox than they do their digital inboxes.
What this shows is that charities wanting to increase their volunteer base in 2023 should reach out to potential supporters with a distinct call to action, and that the mail is the best way to do this.
If you would like any information about how we can help you with a volunteer recruitment campaign using the mail or want to know more about the ongoing incentives offered by Royal Mail, please do get in touch with us!
