Visionary: Costello Medical and Pilotlight Survey Reveals UK Health Charities Have an Urgent Need for 23,000 Skilled Professional Volunteers

• research
• Volunteering

Thursday 22 January 2026
11:30 am to 12:30pm
Zoom

The charity sector is facing a challenging environment with decreasing funding, rising costs, increasing demand and heightened competition for resources, all compounded by ongoing economic uncertainty, shifting political priorities, and global volatility. Therefore, Costello Medical and Pilotlight partnered to develop a collaborative survey that aimed to identify the organisational, scientific and strategic needs of UK health charities, helping to build a case for targeted professional support. The results reveal a critical gap between the sector’s purpose-driven work and its need for professional expertise.

We invite you to join us for a session where Costello Medical will present key findings, focusing on volunteer engagement as a sector strength and inviting discussion on your organisation’s experiences.

Report

Ahead of the session, feel free to read the summary report, “Supporting Health Charities” (opens PDF), which highlights how organisations need more than just funding; they require skilled volunteers to grow, manage, and deliver their work effectively.

About Costello Medical and Pilotlight

• Costello Medical (opens new window) is a B Corp-certified scientific consultancy with a long track record of providing pro bono work free-of-charge to non-profits in the healthcare sector.
• Pilotlight (opens new window) is a UK charity that connects people across sectors to create real-world learning, stronger organisations, and greater social impact.