There were 21,920 people aged 12 and over who did voluntary work in 2008, according to figures released by the National Statistics Office.

The NSO said 49 per cent of these were active within a voluntary organisation, 42 per cent worked within another entity and eight per cent were doing informal voluntary work.

The majority of male volunteers gave a helping hand within an NGO and most of the females helped within another entity.

The majority of voluntary workers were aged between 25 and 49.

The main role volunteers took on was administrative (46 per cent), 38 per cent played an active role in the organisation's activities and 17 per cent had a supporting role.

Most volunteered for less than 10 hours a month but 24 per cent helped out for between 10 and 19 hours; 20 per cent for 20 to 29 hours and another 20 per cent for 30 hours or more.

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