Declining numbers of people giving up their time to volunteer could have a "major impact" on Norfolk, a charity has warned.
There has been a steady decline in volunteering year-on-year for the past decade, except for a short-lived peak when people wanted to help during the Covid pandemic.
But older volunteers, who stepped back during the pandemic have not returned, while the cost-of-living crisis has also had an impact.
Charity Voluntary Norfolk says the average number of hours being given by volunteers has "reduced significantly" - translating to a reduction of £31m a year in terms of the value of volunteering to the economy.
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The charity has put together a Norfolk Vision for Volunteering to serve as a countywide strategy to get people of all ages and interests to sign up to make a difference to people's quality of life.
Lucy Hogg, director of voluntary sector infrastructure at the charity, based in Colegate in Norwich, said: "Government-led research shows that over the last 10 years the number of regular volunteers has declined from 70pc to 55pc of the adult population, with the greatest decline in 2021/22.
“With the ever-increasing demand for services brought on by the cost-of-living crisis, Norfolk’s ageing population, deteriorating mental and physical health post-pandemic, and increasing environmental challenges, this reduction of volunteer availability is going to have a major impact on the voluntary and community sector’s capacity to respond.
“Our aim is to encourage statutory partners such as the NHS and local authorities to collaborate with voluntary and community organisations, so that collectively we can take stock of the situation, recognise what changes need to happen and through collaboration find creative solutions to encourage more people to get involved."
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Voluntary Norfolk works with the NHS, councils and other charities to recruit and use volunteers in a wide range of roles.
They include support for carers and the people they care for, drivers, administrative support in hospitals and GP surgeries, working in charity shops or foodbanks, helping with conservation, digital inclusion and befriending.
A conference was recently held at the Assembly House in Norwich to discuss ways to encourage more volunteering, including ways to get younger people involved.
People who want to volunteer can visit www.voluntarynorfolk.org.uk or call 01603 614474.
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