Understanding spontaneous volunteers
Following commissioned research into volunteer contributions during the 2022 Wennington fire, one key recommendation was to better understand the role and value of spontaneous volunteering in emergencies.
This review brings together existing evidence on spontaneous volunteers – people who step in to help outside formal response structures – examining the roles they play, the challenges their involvement can present, and the guidance and models available to support their safe and effective engagement. It also highlights key gaps in evidence and practice, pointing to areas for further research to strengthen community-led emergency responses.