Eighty per cent of people engage with charities to support vulnerable people

Eight in every 10 people believe that local charities are important in supporting vulnerable people in local communities and representing local opinion, according to a poll published today.

The ICM poll, released by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations to coincide with its annual conference in London, said people are more likely to campaign for a fair society through engaging with voluntary organisations than mainstream politics.

The poll found that over half people asked had given unpaid help to an individual not related to them, over a third had volunteered for a local group, and a quarter had attended community or residents’ meetings.

NCVO chief executive Stuart Etherington, referring to the London bombings, said, “Events over the last year have brought issues of engagement, community cohesion, citizenship and diversity to the forefront of public life. I believe the voluntary sector can be at the heart of helping society face up to the challenges.”