Volunteering for Health Interim Evaluation Report

Volunteering for Health (VfH) is a £10 million national programme funded by NHS England, NHS Charities Together and CW+, designed to harness the contribution of volunteering to health and social care at both national and local levels. In Northamptonshire, the programme is delivered by Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire (VIN), on behalf of Northamptonshire Health and Care Volunteering (NHCV), through a partnership involving health, voluntary and community sector organisations. Delivery commenced in April 2025 and is scheduled to continue until June 2027. The Northamptonshire evaluation is delivered by the Institute for Social Innovation and Impact (ISII) at the University of Northampton (UON), and provides a locally focused assessment of the programme, recognising the importance of understanding local context, alongside the national evaluation. The evaluation examines progress against three core programme aims:
• Embedding volunteering strategically within the health and care system
• Developing and improving volunteer infrastructure
• Improving the diversity of the volunteer workforce.

This Interim Report covers activity and evidence gathered between April 2025 and June 2026. It therefore represents an assessment of progress rather than a final judgement on programme impact. The evaluation will continue through to 2027, with further data collection intended to strengthen the evidence base, particularly around health outcomes, system-level impact and sustainability.