A summary of the final evaluation of the UKSPF Volunteering & Social Action Project.
This evaluation summarises impact and learning from Phase 2 of the UKSPF Volunteering & Social Action Project, delivered across Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland. The programme aimed to expand volunteering opportunities, strengthen the VCSE sector, and support people facing barriers to move from inactivity and isolation into community and economic participation.
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Evaluation conducted by:
The project exceeded its target (200), expanding opportunities across the region
Around 94% of roles supported were filled, showing strong conversion into active participation.
More VCSE organisations than planned received non-financial support to strengthen capacity.
High-speed training continued to attract strong demand and engagement
The evaluation finds that the programme delivered strong outcomes for individuals, organisations and communities, exceeding most output targets and demonstrating continued demand for volunteering support.
The project combined activity to expand volunteering opportunities, provide training, strengthen VCSE organisations, and deliver social action. This enabled both wide reach and meaningful impact, particularly where individuals built confidence, skills and social connections through participation.
A key strength was the increasing focus on targeted inclusion, with partners working more intentionally with young people, economically inactive residents and underrepresented groups. Volunteering supported movement from inactivity and isolation toward involvement and integration, often acting as an early-stage step toward wider participation.
Support to VCSE organisations remained central, improving governance, volunteer systems and organisational confidence. This strengthened the foundations for sustainable volunteering activity across the region.
Overall, the programme demonstrates that supported volunteering is an effective activation mechanism, with potential to support employability under the right conditions. However, stronger tracking of progression outcomes is needed to fully evidence long-term impact.
Most outputs were delivered above target, with increased delivery intensity compared to Phase 1 in several areas.
The programme consistently supported individuals to re-engage with structured activity, improving confidence, routine and social connection.
Partners worked more deliberately with priority groups, including economically inactive residents and underrepresented communities.
Non-financial support improved governance, volunteer systems and organisational resilience.
There is evidence of progression into work in some cases, though outcomes depend on context and are not consistently tracked.
The project exceeded targets across most delivery indicators, demonstrating strong demand for volunteering opportunities and support. Significant overperformance was seen in volunteer roles supported, community events, and engagement with organisations and training.
Activity was delivered at scale, alongside more intensive support to organisations, strengthening their ability to recruit and support volunteers. This combination improved both the availability of opportunities and the likelihood that roles were successfully filled.
The strongest and most consistent impact was social activation, with participants moving from isolation into structured participation, often gaining confidence, routine and a sense of purpose.
However, while outputs and initial participation are well evidenced, tracking of longer-term outcomes, particularly progression into employment. remains limited. Overall, the findings show the programme was highly effective in delivery and engagement, with scope to strengthen outcome tracking to better understand sustained impact.
After experiencing mental health challenges and a period out of work, V joined a smartphone photography volunteering group through NCVA. The project provided a clear purpose, social connections and a supportive environment, helping to rebuild confidence and routine.
Through taking part in group activities and working towards a public exhibition, V developed new skills, met like-minded people and re-engaged with their community. This experience led to further volunteering opportunities, and ultimately supported a return to full-time employment.
After connecting with a recovery service, T began exploring volunteering as a way to rebuild confidence. A placement at Ouseburn Farm provided a supportive, hands-on environment, where she took part in activities such as animal care and tree planting.
The experience helped T reconnect with others and begin rebuilding routine and confidence. Having had a positive start, she is now looking to continue volunteering and has expressed interest in supporting others with additional needs, showing early progression into a more active and contributing role.
Following a stroke that left him socially isolated, D was supported into a volunteer role aligned with his previous skills and tailored to his access needs. Adjustments enabled him to contribute in a flexible office-based role, helping restore routine and a sense of purpose.
Through volunteering, D regained confidence and reconnected with his community, while also supporting the host organisation’s administrative capacity. This example shows how supported volunteering can enable meaningful re-engagement for people facing health-related barriers, even where a return to employment is not immediately possible.
The evaluation concludes that supported volunteering is a credible and effective mechanism for engaging residents who are distant from the labour market. Its strongest impact lies in enabling movement into participation, confidence-building and social connection.
The programme also demonstrates the strategic role of the VCSE sector as part of the region’s social and economic infrastructure. Continued investment and stronger integration with employment systems could enhance long-term outcomes.
Key recommendations focus on strengthening the system around volunteering:
The evaluation highlights several key lessons: