Half of Young Adults Don’t Volunteer Because They See it as ‘Uncool’ and ‘Embarrassing’

Tue, 31 May 2022 14:12:07 +0000

LONDON, UK – Tuesday 31^st May, 2022 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd announced a new study today revealing that half (50%) of young adults feel there is a stigma when it comes to them volunteering, with reasons including it being seen as ‘uncool’, ‘something that older people do’ or even ‘embarrassing’.

Despite this, 43 per cent of Gen Zs do carry out some form of volunteering up to three times a month, with almost half (45%) wanting to do even more. Moreover, 45 per cent agree they would be more interested if there was easier access to a wide variety of roles.

In fact, over a third (38%) would have been more likely to take up a role if it was part of their education curriculum, whilst almost half (46%) state that their desire to volunteer was sparked by lockdown.

Commissioned by Samsung UK, the research uncovers the barriers faced by Gen Z when it comes to volunteering, such as not having any spare time (43%), not knowing where to start or how to get involved (25%), and being unable to find opportunities which spark their interest (16%).

This comes as Samsung UK partners with volunteering platform DoIt for National Volunteers’ Week (1^st – 7^th June), to showcase the breadth of unique opportunities available across the country, making it easy for young people to find their dream role.

Breaking the stigma around the traditional positions on offer, some of the quirky roles showcased include a Puppy Parent, Confidence Coach, Woodland Worker and Positive Podcaster.

To help spread the word to young adults across the nation, Samsung UK has enlisted the support of TV presenter and volunteering enthusiast, Laura Tobin.

Laura Tobin, TV presenter, said: “It’s great to see a shift in attitudes to volunteering but there’s still progress to be made in changing the perceptions of it being outdated.

“That’s why I want to help showcase some of the unique, incredible opportunities that are available, helping young adults easily find a role with purpose whilst developing their own skills.”

When it comes to the top volunteering sectors Gen Z are desperate to get involved with, animal and rescue tops the list, followed by working with children and helping the less fortunate.

Sophie Edgerley-Harris, Head of CSR at Samsung Electronics UK, said: “Volunteering our time has become easier than ever. The ever-growing digital world has revealed a huge range of opportunities which young adults can lend their hand to; whether using content creation skills to help a local charity increase their supporter base, or peer-mentoring another young person. At Samsung, our colleagues are offered 3 days a year to take part in volunteering activities. We want to extend this further, giving a fresh look at volunteering and equipping young people with the information they need to engage in purpose-led, meaningful work. It’s an amazing way to do something different to your ‘everyday’, develop new skills, meet new people and give back to society.”

Top 11 Quirkiest Volunteering Opportunities*

Volunteering Role	Role Overview
1. Foodie Assistant	Help to assemble the daily deliveries of food for local charities and community groups.
2. Puppy Parent	Take in a 6-week-old future guide dog puppy and raise for the first year of life.
3. Confidence Coach	Use coaching skills to empower others to progress in life and work.
4. Swimming Buddy	Support those with learning difficulties and autism during their weekly trip to the local swimming pool.
5. Woodland Worker	Get outdoors by helping Forestry England with wildlife and woodland surveying.
6. Positive Podcaster	Create podcast episodes with a team of female volunteers to inspire strong women worldwide.
7. Sight Guardian	Forge strong relationships and make a difference in the lives of lonely or isolated visually impaired people – all from the comfort of home
8. Drama Workshop Assistant	Inspire young minds through a vibrant programme of youth theatre activities.
9. Content Creator	Put design and editing skills to good use by creating meaningful promotional content.
10. Mindfulness Mentor	Lend charities a helping hand and teach classes such as mindfulness, yoga and art.
11. Football Coach	Bring children together through sport by coaching youth teams.

For more information on the roles available and how to sign up, please visit the Samsung KX website

*Quirkiest volunteering opportunities provided by DoIt.

National Volunteers’ Week – Samsung Newsroom U.K.

Half of Young Adults Don’t Volunteer Because They See it as ‘Uncool’ and ‘Embarrassing’