Blog by Emma Lawford, Volunteering Manager, Royal Statistical Society
As Volunteers’ Week draws to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible contributions of our volunteers and the vital role they play in the life and work of the RSS. Volunteers are the heartbeat of the RSS, and each volunteer brings passion, expertise, and a deep commitment to using statistics for the public good.
Throughout the week, we’ve shared stories from across our community—highlighting the diverse ways our volunteers contribute. As many as 884 of our members volunteer within
80 sections and local groups. Each of these groups do amazing work promoting good practice and understanding in a particular statistical areas, or galvanising and organising statisticians and data professionals within a geographical area. This work is at the centre of the impact of the Society, and is completely pivotal to achieving greater, better data-based decision making across government, industry and academia.
‘Volunteering has opened up new opportunities to connect with others and play an active role in the wider data and statistics community. It’s helped me grow my network and gain valuable experience.’
—Jennifer Hall, committee member of the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Section and a William Guy Lecturer
One of the most inspiring examples of this is our
Statisticians for Society (S4S) initiative. This programme connects professional statisticians with third-sector organisations in need of data expertise. The results have been transformative—not just for the organisations receiving support, but for the volunteers themselves, who gain new perspectives and the satisfaction of applying their skills to real-world challenges. Volunteer’s Week gave me the chance to speak with one such volunteer, Dario Domingo, and it was brilliant to hear how his S4S experience played a role in his being appointed to a new position, as well as the experience being personally enriching and valuable.
Across 210 projects since 2017, our 574 registered volunteers have achieved amazing things. Participating charities reported an average 25% increase in their ability to use data and evidence to inform decision-making; a 30% boost in their confidence to use data across their organisation; and a 19% increase in their ability to achieve their charitable aims, suggesting that better use of data directly strengthened their overall effectiveness and impact.
‘I really enjoy being able to speak with lots of different charities’ and find out about all the great work their doing, and how as volunteers we can support that work.’
—Laura Howell, volunteer on the Scoping Committee of S4S
Finally, we were delighted to share a special video message from our CEO, Sarah Cumbers, and our President, John Aston, who both expressed their heartfelt thanks to all our volunteers:
As we look ahead, we’re excited to continue building a vibrant, inclusive and supportive volunteer community. Whether you’re a long-time volunteer or just thinking about getting involved, your time, your voice, and your skills matter – and together, we can continue to champion the power of statistics to make a difference.
Sign up to Statisticians for Society—and read our fatastic impact case studies.
Find a section or local group to join, or start your own!
Explore the full range of RSS volunteering opportunities.