Extensive Voluntary Effort in Norway
The Centre for Research on Civil Society and Voluntary Sector has studied the extent and characteristics of voluntary effort in Norway since 1998. These studies have documented that the extent of voluntary effort is significant in Norway compared to most other countries, particularly in areas such as sports, culture, leisure, and the local community. The studies have also shown that those who participate in voluntary work are often resourceful, with higher education and income, and that much of the effort is related to (their own) children's leisure activities.
Changed Motivation and Affiliation
Studies of voluntary effort have also shown that volunteers' relationships with organisations have changed over time. Many volunteers have weaker affiliations with individual organisations and engage more based on individual motivation. Fewer take on committed roles, while more engage in single activities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the voluntary sector was also hit hard by infection control restrictions, with cancelled events and reduced activity. In the years following, society has been marked by economic and security-political turbulence. Together, such developments may have various consequences for the operation of volunteer organisations.
Further Developing Knowledge About Voluntary Effort in Norway
In the coming period, the centre will continue previous studies of voluntary effort and investigate how changes in motivation and affiliation, as well as broader societal conditions, have led to changes in volunteering. This includes analyses of:
- Extent and characteristics of voluntary effort in Norway
- Similarities and differences in voluntarism and community engagement between Norway and other Nordic countries
- Changes in organisational affiliation and motivation for volunteering
- Contextual understanding and approach to volunteering
- New forms of voluntary effort and the significance of digital media
- Parental involvement in children's activities, including how this varies between the majority and immigrant populations
Projects
- Surveys on Voluntary Effort 2025–2029
- The Norwegian Dugnad: Motivation and Variation
- Contextual Understanding and Approach to Volunteering
- New Trends in Civil Engagement and Digital Media 2025-28
- Norwegian Volunteering and Community Engagement in a Nordic Comparative Perspective
- Involvement of Immigrant Parents in Children's Leisure Activities