The Development of Local Voluntary Action: Longitudinal Trends and the Impact of Changing Area Characteristics, 1971–2021

There are long-standing concerns about unevenness in the distribution of voluntary organizations across local areas, reemphasized by the sector’s role in responding to the pandemic. Using longitudinal data on a subset of voluntary organizations across six census periods (1971–2021), we estimate growth trajectories in the number of charities per capita for local authorities across England and Wales. We assess whether the shape of these trajectories is associated with an area’s demographic and geographic characteristics, including its level of material deprivation, ethnic composition, and regional location. We reveal sizeable and enduring differences between local authorities over time, driven by a homogenous growth trajectory for all areas. Our findings suggest that national efforts are needed to address inequalities in the distribution of charitable organizations, as well as reverse recent declines in the per capita density of these organizations.