Engagement in Culture, Arts, Heritage & Sport by Adults in NI – New NISRA Statistics

Findings from the Continuous Household Survey 2022/23

This report presents the findings from the 2022/23 Continuous Household Survey (CHS) in relation to engagement with culture, arts, heritage and sport in Northern Ireland. These findings are used to inform the development, monitoring and evaluation of policy.

In 2022/23, 21% of the adult population participated in volunteering within the previous year – an increase on the 2021/22 figure of 17%!

There were no significant differences in the proportions of males and females volunteering within the last year (22% and 20% respectively).  Similarly, for the proportions of those aged 45 and over and those aged 44 and under (21% and 20% respectively).

Adults from the Protestant community were more likely to volunteer (25%) than those from the Catholic community (17%). Similarly, adults who have dependants were more likely to volunteer (23%) than those without dependants (20%). However, adults with a disability were less likely to have volunteered within the last year than adults without a disability (17% and 23% respectively).

Higher proportions of those who lived in the least deprived areas (23%) volunteered in the last year compared to those who lived in the most deprived areas (16%). Similarly, adults living in a rural area were more likely to volunteer compared to adults living in an urban area (25% and 19% respectively).

Read the full report on NISRA’s website here.