5 Causes UK Workers Are Passionate About in 2025
What inspires you to give back?
For some, it’s the chance to be a part of something bigger. For others, it’s the opportunity to connect with their peers or use their skills beyond the day-to-day.
But for 34% of Britons1 It’s about supporting the causes they care about most.
With nearly 45% of Gen Zs and Millennials turning down employers that don’t align with their values2, many UK businesses are considering how they can leverage these motivations to drive employee engagement and enhance their CSR strategies in the year ahead.
The good news? In our latest CSR Industry Spotlight, we analysed data from over 120,000 UK employees across 133 businesses to uncover exactly where people are giving, volunteering, and investing their time.
Now, we’re sharing those insights with you.
Here are the top 5 charity causes UK teams want to support—and what you can do to meet them there.
1. Human Services
For the second year in a row, human services rank as the most supported cause for UK employees. This attention to critical needs, like food, housing, and essential resources, reflects a desire in UK teams to alleviate the disparities that directly affect their local communities. By focusing on relieving these pressures, companies can create a meaningful link between workplace values and real-world outcomes, motivating employees to stay engaged and give back
#CSRTIP: Consider offering both giving and volunteering programmes, instead of one or the other. Our data reveals that companies with dual programmes typically see stronger overall engagement.
2. Public and Societal Benefits
On an upward trajectory this year are causes tied to broader societal progress. Today’s employees, particularly Gen Z and millennials, are becoming increasingly invested in social issues — with 53% now expecting their employers to take a stronger stance on societal challenges3. Championing these causes not only helps combat systemic inequalities, but it also helps foster a culture of belonging and inclusion within the workplace.
#CSRTIP: Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) provide a safe space for employees to connect over shared ideas, interests, or experiences. These groups can play a vital role in amplifying underrepresented voices and shaping inclusive policies — which can, in turn, boost employee retention, engagement, and overall workplace wellbeing.
3. Health
This year, health-related causes remain among the top three priorities for employees. This is likely due to a combination of personal experiences, a desire to help others, and a broader sense of community responsibility. For businesses, the consistency in this trend reveals the importance of understanding how individual experiences can shape the way employees want to engage with their communities and the world.
#CSRTIP: Offering incentives like Volunteer Time Off (VTO) shows employees that you value their health and well-being. Not only does it support both physical and mental wellness4, but it also gives employees the opportunity to step away from work and connect with meaningful causes. To drive greater participation, pair VTO with other drivers such as volunteer grants and pounds for participation; or consider introducing a little friendly competition between various teams.
4. Education
From supporting underfunded schools to providing scholarships, initiatives that focus on education bridge the growing skill gap in the UK and create a pathway to equity, opportunity and long-term change. When businesses give employees the chance to support education – whether through volunteering, giving, or fundraising – they can help their teams create tangible connections within the communities they serve and provide valuable support for efforts that foster innovation and future development.
#CSRTIP: Partner with local schools to equip upcoming generations with valuable life-skills related to your industry. Through these programmes you can offer skills-based volunteering for employees to share their expertise or fundraising efforts to sponsor classroom supplies or fund technology for more accessible learning.
5. Environment & Animals
Finally, new to the top five this year, are environmental and animal welfare causes. This focus area has seen a surge in employee interest — particularly among the newest generation of workers. According to a Deloitte study, 62% Gen Zs and 60% Millennials have pressured their employer to take climate action2. And with the focus on sustainability and ESG factors showing no signs of slowing down, aligning your CSR activity with environmental causes will showcase your organisation’s commitment to responsible business to employees, prospective talent, and your consumers.
#CSRTIP: Use Engagement Elements to highlight a specific event, topic, or success story within your employee management software. This can make environmental activity and awareness feel immediate and actionable for employees, as well as showcase measurable impact.
From Insights to Action
As you begin to think about how you can approach your CSR strategy more strategically, consider how you can prioritise these causes (or those you can identify within your organisation). By doing so, you can begin to create more meaningful change while inspiring employees to bring their best to the workplace every day.
Want More Industry Trends Like These?
Click here to download the full version of our YourCause UK CSR Industry Spotlight.