Impact of COVID-19 on Scottish Charities’ survey - Nov

Impact of COVID-19
on volunteering in
Scotland's charities
Summary presentation of
volunteering data from OSCR's
'Impact of COVID-19 on Scottish
charities survey' – November 2020
February 2021

Sections
2
• Research scope, structure and methodology
• Summary of key findings
• Profile of charities surveyed
• Impact of COVID-19 on the number of volunteers:
Ø Overall impact
Ø By charities' characteristics
Link to the national 'OSCR COVID-19 impact on charities survey' results: https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/surveys/

Research scope, structure
and methodology

OSCR's COVID-19 impact on charities survey
- November 2020
4
• Focus – this 'Summary presentation' focuses exclusively on the change in volunteer
numbers since the outbreak of COVID-19 (from March to November 2020). The findings
from the other volunteering-related questions in OSCR's survey will be published in
Volunteer Scotland's separate 'Full presentation' slide pack – by spring 2021.
• Objectives:
Ø To gain a deeper understanding of the impact of COVID-19 and subsequent lockdown
measures on the number of volunteers engaged by charities in Scotland in November
2020
Ø To compare the volunteering data between OSCR's two survey waves in May and
November 2020 and to analyse any changes over this period.

OSCR's COVID-19 impact on charities survey
- November 2020
5
• Research method – online surveys conducted by 'Breaking Blue' on behalf of OSCR during 5th to
15th May 2020 and 3rd to 15th of November . Link to Nov 2020 Questionnaire.
• Response – 4,827 responses in May 2020 and 2,548 responses in November 2020 which
represents a large and representative cross-section of registered Scottish charities. For each
question n represents the number of respondents with the exception of two multiple choice questions
on charities source of income and charities sector where the n number represents the number of
responses and not respondents.
• Acknowledgement – Volunteer Scotland would like to thank OSCR for providing access to their
data and for supporting this research.
Link to the 'OSCR COVID-19 impact on charities survey' results: https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/surveys/

Methodology - Definitions
6
• The "OSCR COVID-19 impact on charities survey" reports the change in volunteer numbers in seven categories
(major increase, moderate increase, slight increase, no change, slight decrease, moderate decrease and major
decrease). All seven categories are reported in Volunteer Scotland's 'Overall Impact' results.
• For the analysis 'By charities characteristics' Volunteer Scotland has analysed the results by three categories:
Ø Increase combining major increase, moderate increase and slight increase.
Ø No change
Ø Decrease combining slight decrease, moderate decrease and major decrease.
• The analysis of data 'By charities characteristics' is presented graphically as follows:
Ø The left-hand graph presents the proportion of charities from the November 2020 survey with an 'increase', 'no
change' and 'decrease' in volunteer numbers for the charity characteristic being analysed.
Ø The right-hand graph presents the 'net change' in the proportion of charities (% increase – % decrease) and
compares Nov 2020 to May 2020 for the charity characteristic being analysed.
Link to the 'OSCR COVID-19 impact on charities survey' results: https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/surveys/

Summary findings of COVID-19 on volunteer
numbers – overall impact for Scottish charity sector
8
• Between May and November 2020 there was a modest improvement of 5% in the proportion of charities
increasing vs. decreasing their volunteer numbers:
Ø In May 2020 – 34% of charities had a net decrease (increase 7% - decrease 41%)
Ø In Nov 2020 - 29% of charities had a net decrease (increase 11% - decrease 40%)
• However, when one analyses the seven-category 'increase/ constant/ decrease' scale the picture is more
nuanced:
Ø The proportion of charities experiencing a 'major decrease' in volunteer numbers reduced from 25% in
May 2020 to 14% in Nov 2020, an 11% improvement.
Ø In contrast those experiencing a 'slight/moderate' decrease in volunteer numbers increased
from 16% in May 2020 to 26% in Nov 2020, a 10% deterioration.
• The conclusion is that although there was a similar number of charities with decreased volunteer numbers
in Nov 2020 (40%), compared to May 2020 (41%), the level of reduction in actual volunteer numbers is
likely to be lower due to the significant shift from 'major' to 'slight/moderate' decreases.
• There was also an improvement in the proportion of charities increasing volunteer numbers but the
changes between May and Nov 2020 were marginal, with 3% of the 4% overall improvement due to a
'slight increase' in volunteer numbers.

Summary findings of COVID-19 impact
on volunteer numbers - by charities' characteristics
9
• The impacts of COVID-19 on charities' volunteer numbers in November 2020 vary significantly due to:
Ø Age of charity - The longer a charity has been established the worse the impact of COVID-19 on
volunteer numbers. Those that have been established for more than 50 years have been the most
adversely impacted, with 41% reporting a net decrease in volunteer numbers (4% increase – 45%
decrease).
Ø No. of paid staff - In November 2020 charities with 1-10 paid staff members were the
most adversely impacted by COVID-19, with 40% of charities reporting a net decrease in volunteer
numbers (12% increase – 52% decrease). Interestingly, the charities least badly affected
were those which engage no staff and larger charities employing 11+ staff, which had net decreases of -
27% and -29% respectively.
Ø Income of charity - Charities with an income over £100,000 were the most adversely impacted by
COVID-19, with 37% of charities reporting a net decrease in volunteer numbers (16% increase – 53%
decrease). Charities with incomes of under £2000 and £10,001 - £25,000 were the least impacted
with 27% of charities reporting a net decrease in volunteer numbers.

10
Ø Main office location - Charities geographically based in Glasgow were most adversely impacted by
COVID-19, with 39% of charities reporting a net decrease in volunteer numbers (10% increase –
49% decrease). Charities geographically based in the Lothians were least adversely impacted by
COVID-19 in Scotland, with 26% of charities reporting a net decrease in volunteer numbers (11%
increase – 37% decrease).
Ø Source of income - Charities with contracts as their main income source were most adversely
impacted by COVID-19 with 44% of charities reporting a net decrease in volunteer numbers (10%
increase – 54% decrease). Charities with grants as their main source of income have been the
least adversely affected with 28% reporting a net decrease in volunteer numbers (17% increase –
45% decrease).
Ø Scale of operations - Charities operating regionally within Scotland were most adversely
impacted by COVID-19, with 36% of charities reporting a net decrease in volunteer numbers (10%
increase – 46% decrease). Charities operating nationally across the UK were least impacted, with
15% of charities reporting a net decrease in volunteer numbers (16% increase – 31% decrease).

11
Ø Financial threat - Charities facing a 'critical' financial threat were most adversely impacted
by COVID-19, with 45% of charities reporting a net decrease in volunteer numbers (12% increase
– 57% decrease). Charities facing no financial threat were the least adversely impacted, with 17%
of charities reporting a net decrease in volunteer numbers (9% increase – 26% decrease).
Ø Legal form - The following 'legal forms' have been the most adversely impacted by COVID-19,
with net decreases as follows: unincorporated associations (-32%), charities incorporated as
companies (-31%), Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations (-30%) and 'other' legal
forms (-29%). Trusts are the least impacted with only 20% of charities reporting a net decrease in
volunteer numbers (9% increase – 29% decrease).
Ø Sector - Charities operating in 'Religion and belief' were the most adversely impacted by COVID-
19, with 38% of charities reporting a net decrease in volunteer numbers (7% increase – 45%
decrease). Charities least impacted by COVID-19 reported an overall net increase in volunteer
numbers:
o 'Advocacy, minorities and law' with a net increase of 8% (38% increase – 30% decrease); and
o 'Housing' with a net increase of 2% (34% increase – 32% decrease).

Profile of charities surveyed
- OSCR's Nov 2020 survey -

Profile of charities surveyed – by age and
income (November 2020 survey)
13
Link to the national OSCR COVID-19 impact on charities survey results: https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/surveys/
Further information on Scotland's charity population can be found at https://scvo.org.uk/policy/sector-stats
n= 2,548
n= 2,548

14
Profile of charities surveyed – by location of
main office and geographical scale (Nov 2020)
For analysis within this presentation the regional profiles
are referred to as the 'geographical base' of the charity.
n= 2,548
n= 2,548

Profile of charities surveyed – by main
source of income and legal form (Nov 2020)
15
n= 2,548 n= 2,548

16
n= 2,548
Profile of charities surveyed – by number of
paid staff and sector (Nov 2020)
(n = 3,790)

Impact of COVID-19 on the number
of volunteers engaged by charities
- Overall impact -

18
Source: OSCR COVID-19 impact on charities survey May 2020
Impact of COVID-19 on the number of volunteers
engaged by charities – overall change May 2020
(n = 3,445)

19
Source: OSCR COVID-19 impact on charities survey November 2020
engaged by charities – overall change November 2020
(n = 2,028)

20
Source: OSCR COVID-19 impact on charities survey May and November 2020
engaged by charities
Comparing November to May 2020
• The overall proportion of charities
decreasing their volunteer numbers
remained relatively unchanged at 40% in
Nov 2020 compared to 41% in May 2020.
• However, the proportion which had a
'major decrease' was significantly lower in
Nov 2020 at 14% vs. 25% in May 2020.
• There was also a modest 4% improvement
in the proportion of charities increasing
their volunteer numbers, but most of this
related to a 'slight increase' (3%).
• The conclusion is that although the overall
'increase/decrease' proportions have not
changed significantly between May and
Nov 2020, the numbers of volunteers
engaged should have improved due to the
11% reduction in charities experiencing a
'major decrease' (from 25% in May to 14%
in Nov 2020).

Impact of COVID-19 on the number
of volunteers engaged by charities
- By charities' characteristics -

19% 16% 9% 7% 4%
40% 40% 54% 50% 52%
41% 45% 37% 43% 45%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Less than 4
years
4-10 years 11-25 years 26-50 years More than
50 years
%
of
charities
(with
volunteers)
Change in volunteer numbers in
Scottish Charities by age of charities (Nov 2020)
Increase No change Decrease
22
engaged by charities – by Age
(n = 1,941)
November 2020 results
• Charities which have been established for more than 50 years have been
most adversely impacted by COVID 19, with 41% reporting a net decrease in
volunteer numbers in Nov 2020 (increase 4% - decrease 45%)
• The longer charities have been established the worse the impact of COVID-
19. In Nov 2020, 22% of charities established for less than 4 years reported a
net decrease in volunteer numbers compared to 35% of charities established
for between 26 and 50 years and 41% of charities established for more than
50 years.
• Only charities established for over 50 years had a higher proportion of
charities with a net decrease in volunteer numbers in Nov 2020 compared to
May 2020 (-41% vs. -33%).
• The most recently established charities in the last four years had the lowest
proportion with a net decrease in volunteer numbers, reducing the most of
any charity age band from –34% in May 2020 to –22% in Nov 2020.
-34% -35%
-31%
-36% -33%
-22%
-29% -28%
-35%
-41%
-50%
-40%
-30%
-20%
-10%
0%
Less than 4
years 4-10 years 11-25 years 26-50 years 50+ years
Net
%
of
charities
(%
increasing
-
%
decreasing)
Net percentage of charities increasing vs. decreasing
their volunteer numbers by age of charity (May &
Nov 2020)
May
(n = 3,346)
Nov
(n=1.941)

8% 12% 19%
56%
37%
33%
36%
52% 48%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
None 1-10 11+
%
of
charities
(with
volunteers)
Scottish Charities by number of paid staff (Nov 2020)
23
engaged by charities – by Number of Paid Staff
(n = 1,844)
• In Nov 2020 charities with 1-10 paid staff members have been most adversely
impacted by COVID 19, with 40% of charities reporting a net decrease in
volunteer numbers (12% increase – 52% decrease).
• Interestingly, the charities that have been least badly affected are those which
engage no staff and larger charities employing 11+ staff, which have a net
decrease of -27% and –29% respectively.
• Charities employing 11+ staff have seen the biggest improvement, from a
net decrease of –44% to –29%, representing a 15% improvement
• Charities with 1-10 paid staff have reported no change in the net proportion
reducing their volunteer numbers, static at –40%; similarly, for those with
no paid staff there was only a very modest improvement from –28% to –
27% net decrease.
-28%
-40%
-44%
-27%
-40%
-29%
-50%
-40%
-30%
-20%
-10%
0%
None 1-10 11+
Net
%
of
charities
(%
increasing
-
%
decreasing)
their volunteer numbers by number of paid staff
(May & Nov 2020)
May
(n = 3,221)
Nov
(n = 1,844)

4%
5%
9%
13%
16%
66%
61%
54%
42%
32%
30%
35%
36%
45%
53%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Up to £2,000
£2,001 to £10,000
£10,001 to £25,000
£25,001 to £100,000
£100,001+
% of charities (with volunteers)
Scottish Charities by charities income (Nov 2020)
24
engaged by charities – by Income
(n = 1,824)
• In Nov 2020 charities with an income over £100,000 were most adversely
volunteer numbers (16% increase - 53% decrease)
• Charities with incomes of under £2000 and £10,001 - £25,000 were least
impacted with 27% of charities reporting a net decrease in volunteer
numbers.
• Charities with an income of £25,001 - £100,000 have seen the biggest
improvement, from a net decrease of -38% to –33%, a 5% improvement.
• Charities with an income of £2,002 - £10,000 have seen the worst
deterioration, from a net decrease of –25% to –30%, a 5% deterioration.
• It's interesting that smaller charities with an income under £10,000 have
witnessed a deterioration in the net decrease in volunteer numbers,
compared to larger charities with an income over £10,000 having an
improvement in their net decrease in volunteer numbers.
-25% -25%
-30%
-38%
-41%
-27%
-30%
-27%
-33%
-37%
-50%
-40%
-30%
-20%
-10%
0%
Under
£2,000
£2,001 to
£10,000
£10,001 to
£25,000
£25,001 to
£100,000 £100,001+
Net
%
of
charities
(%
increasing
-
%
decreasing)
their volunteer numbers by income of charity (May &
Nov 2020)
May
(n = 3,174)
Nov
(n = 1,824)

9%
8%
13%
8%
12%
12%
11%
10%
24%
48%
52%
45%
52%
45%
48%
53%
40%
39%
43%
40%
43%
39%
43%
40%
37%
49%
37%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
North East
Highlands & Islands
South Scotland
West Scotland
Central
Mid-Scotland & Fife
Lothians
Glasgow
Outwith Scotland
Scottish Charities by geographical base of charity (Nov
2020)
25
engaged by charities – by Geographical Base1
(n = 1,951)
• Charities geographically based in Glasgow were most adversely impacted
by COVID-19, with 39% of charities reporting a net decrease in volunteer
numbers (10% increase – 49% decrease).
• Charities geographically based in the Lothians were least adversely
impacted by COVID 19 in Scotland, with 26% of charities reporting a net
decrease in volunteer numbers (11% increase – 37% decrease).
• Charities geographically based outwith Scotland were least adversely
volunteer numbers. Charities geographically based outside Scotland also
had the highest increase in volunteer numbers (24%).
• Charities in Glasgow have seen the biggest improvement from a net decrease
of -52% in May 2020 to a net decrease of –39% in Nov 2020, a 13%
improvement.
• The 'net decrease' figures for charities with a geographical base in the following
locations improved: Lothians (up by 7%), Mid-Scotland & Fife (up by 7%),
North East of Scotland (up by 4%), Central Scotland (up by 1%) and outside
Scotland (up by 12%).
• The 'net decrease' figures for charities with a geographical base in the following
locations deteriorated: West Scotland (down by 4%) and the Highlands and
Islands (down by 5%).
Note 1: 'Geographical base' is the main office location of the charity
-38%
-28% -30% -27%
-32%
-35% -33%
-52%
-34%
-34% -33%
-30%
-31% -31% -28% -26%
-39%
-12%

-60%
-50%
-40%
-30%
-20%
-10%
0%
North
East
Scotland
Highlands
&
Islands
South
Scotland
West
Scotland
Central
Mid-Scotland
&
Fife
Lothians
Glasgow
Outwith
Scotland
Net
%
of
charities
(%
increasing
-
%
decreasing)
Net percentage of charities increasing vs. decreasing their
volunteer numbers by Geographical base of charity (May & Nov
2020)
May
(n = 3,380)
Nov
(n = 1,951)

10%
17%
11%
36%
39%
48%
54%
45%
42%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Contracts
Grants
Others
Scottish Charities by Charities Income Source (Nov
2020)
26
engaged by charities – by Income Source
(n =2,573)
• Charities with contracts as their main income source have been most
adversely impacted by COVID-19 with 44% of charities reporting a net
decrease in volunteer numbers (10% Increase – 54% decrease).
• Charities with grants as their main source of income have been the
least adversely affected with 28% reporting a net decrease in volunteer
• Charities dependent on grants as their main source of income have
seen an improvement from a net decrease of -36% in May 2020 to -28%
in Nov 2020, an 8% improvement.
• Charities dependent on contracts as their main source of income have
seen a deterioration from a net decrease of –36% in May 2020 to –43%
in Nov 2020.
-36% -36% -34%
-43%
-28%
-31%
-50%
-40%
-30%
-20%
-10%
0%
Contracts (NET) Grants (NET) Others (NET)
Net
%
of
charities
(%
increasing
-
%
decreasing)
their volunteer numbers by source of charities
income (May & Nov 2020)
May
(n = 5,100)
Nov
(n = 2,573)

10%
10%
9%
16%
13%
48%
44%
49%
53%
49%
41%
46%
43%
31%
38%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
A local community or small number…
Regionally within Scotland
Nationally, across Scotland
Nationally, across the UK
Internationally (outside the UK)
Scottish Charities by Scale of Charity (Nov 2020)
27
engaged by charities – by Scale
(n = 1,962)
• Charities operating regionally within Scotland were most adversely impacted
by COVID-19, with 36% of charities reporting a net decrease in volunteer
• Charities operating nationally across the UK were least impacted, with 15%
of charities reporting a net decrease in volunteer numbers (16% increase –
31% decrease).
• Irrespective of the scale of charity operations all charities reported a lower
proportion with a net decrease in volunteers in Nov compared to May 2020.
• Charities operating nationally across the UK have seen the most significant
improvement, from a net decrease of –33% in May 2020 to –15% in Nov 2020,
a 15% improvement.
• Charities operating at the local community level have seen the least significant
improvement, from a net decrease of –32% in May 2020 to -31% in Nov 2020,
only a modest 1% improvement.
-32%
-43%
-38%
-33% -33%
-31%
-36% -34%
-15%
-25%
-50%
-40%
-30%
-20%
-10%
0%
A local
community or
small number
of local
communities
Regionally
within Scotland
Nationally,
across
Scotland
Nationally,
across
the UK
Internationally
(outside the
UK)
Net
%
of
charities
(%
increasing
-
%
decreasing)
Net percentage of charities increasing vs. decreasing their
volunteer numbers by scale of charity (May & Nov 2020)
May
(n = 3,445)
Nov
(n = 1,962)

12%
12%
9%
32%
48%
65%
57%
41%
26%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
A critical threat
Some threat
No threat at all
Scottish Charities by Financial Threat (Nov 2020)
28
engaged by charities – by Financial Threat
(n = 1,955)
• Charities facing a critical financial threat were most adversely impacted by
COVID-19, with 45% of charities reporting a net decrease in volunteer
• Charities facing no financial threat were the least adversely impacted,
with 17% of charities reporting a net decrease in volunteer numbers (9%
• For charities facing threats there were some marginal improvements.
• Charities subject to 'a critical threat' have seen a 4% improvement from a
net decrease of –49% in May 2020 to –45% in Nov 2020.
• Charities subject to 'some threat' have seen a 3% improvement from a net
decrease of -32% in May 2020 to -29% in Nov 2020.
-49%
-32%
-16%
-45%
-29%
-17%
-60%
-50%
-40%
-30%
-20%
-10%
0%
A critical threat Some threat No threat at all
Net
%
of
charities
(%
increasing
-
%
decreasing)
their volunteer numbers by financial threat to charity
(May & Nov 2020)
May
(n = 3,321)
Nov
(n = 1,955)

6%
16%
15%
9%
10%
55%
37%
40%
62%
51%
38%
47%
45%
29%
39%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Unincorporated
association
Company
SCIO
Trust
Other
Scottish Charities by Legal Form (Nov 2020)
29
Source: OSCR COVID-19 impact on charities survey November 2020
engaged by charities – by Legal Form
(n = 1,853)
• The 'legal form' of charities was a new question
included in the November 2020 survey, so a
comparison with May 2020 cannot be completed.
• The following 'legal forms' have been the most
adversely impacted by COVID-19, with net
decreases as follows:
Ø Unincorporated associations (-32%)
Ø Charities incorporated as companies (-31%)
Ø Scottish Charitable Incorporated
Organisations (SCIOs) (-30%)
Ø Other legal forms (-29%)
• Trusts are the least impacted with only 20% of
charities reporting a net decrease in volunteer
* n = number of responses not respondents, for this multiple choice
question.

7%
9%
10%
11%
15%
15%
17%
17%
18%
19%
19%
21%
26%
26%
34%
38%
48%
55%
53%
45%
50%
41%
41%
39%
34%
41%
36%
32%
35%
39%
34%
32%
45%
36%
37%
44%
35%
44%
42%
44%
48%
40%
45%
48%
40%
34%
32%
30%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Religion and belief
Culture and arts
Sports and recreation
Education and research
Grant giving, philanthropy and funding
Environment and animals
Social care – older people
Health
Social care - Children and families
Social care - People with disabilities
Social care - Young people
Mental health
Community development
Umbrella body, intermediary or support organisation
Housing
Advocacy, minorities, rights and law
Scottish Charities by Sector (Nov 2020)
30
engaged by charities – by Charity Sector
(n = 3,790)
• Charities operating in 'Religion and belief'
were the most adversely impacted by
COVID-19, with 38% of charities reporting a
net decrease in volunteer numbers (7%
• Charities operating in 'education and
research' and 'social care – children and
families' also had more than 30% of
charities reporting a net decrease in
volunteer numbers (33% and 31%
respectively).
• Charities least impacted by COVID-19
reported an overall net increase in volunteer
numbers:
Ø 'Advocacy, minorities and law' with a
net increase of 8% (38% increase –
30% decrease); and
Ø 'Housing' with a net increase of 2%
(34% increase – 32% decrease).
* n = number of responses not
respondents, for this multiple choice
question.

31
engaged by charities – by Charity Sector
• Only two sectors reported a
deterioration:
Ø 'Religion and belief' - from a net
decrease of –33% in May 2020
deteriorating to –38% in Nov
2020
Ø 'Grant-giving, philanthropy and
funding – from a net decrease of
–17% in May 2020 deteriorating
to –21% in Nov 2020.
• The two sectors with the largest
turnround were:
Ø Charities operating in 'Advocacy,
minorities and law' which moved
from a net decrease of –44% in
May 2020 to a net increase of
8% in Nov 2020, a 52%
improvement.
Ø Charities operating in 'Housing'
which moved from a net
decrease of -28% in May 2020 to
a net increase of 3% in Nov
2020, a 32% improvement.
8%
3%
-25%
-21%
-14%
-27%
-29%
-28%
-31%
-25%
-27%
-27%
-33%
-32%
-8%
-21%
-38%
-44%
-28%
-41%
-36%
-28%
-40%
-40%
-37%
-38%
-31%
-32%
-33%
-36%
-32%
-8%
-17%
-33%
-50% -40% -30% -20% -10% 0% 10%
Advocacy, minorities, rights and law
Housing
Social care - Young people
Social care - People with disabilities
Community development
Mental health
Environment and animals
Culture and arts
Social care - Children and families
Social care – older people
Health
Sports and recreation
Education and research
Other
Umbrella body
Grant giving, philanthropy and funding
Religion and belief
Net % of charities (% increasing - % decreasing)
Net percentage of charities increasing vs. decreasing their volunteer numbers by
sector of charity (May & Nov 2020)
May
(n = 7,004)
Nov
(n =3,790)
* n = number of responses not
respondents, for this multiple choice
question.

Impact of COVID-19 on Scottish Charities’ survey - Nov

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