CITROËN CELEBRATES UNSUNG HEROES AS NEW RESEARCH FINDS NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF PEOPLE VOLUNTEER FOR SPORTING EVENTS

• Nearly two-thirds of people in the UK volunteer at sporting events, with seven and a half hours the average time each volunteer gives per month to their volunteering commitments

• Seven out of 10 travel to their volunteering commitments by car

• The research comes as part of Citroën’s ongoing partnership with England Athletics, the development body for grassroots running and athletics in England

• England Athletics currently has more than 20,000 coaches and 4,000 officials volunteering in athletics, with a further 1,800 volunteer-led affiliated athletics and running clubs in the UK

• Citroën is committed to providing accessible and comfortable mobility to all, offering the widest range of EVs under £35,000

Latest research by Citroën UK has found that nearly two-thirds of Brits surveyed volunteer at sporting events, with people giving approximately seven and a half hours of their time per month to volunteering and committing to five years of service on average. The research comes as part of Citroën’s ongoing partnership with England Athletics, which celebrates its first year this month.

Of the 1,000 volunteers surveyed, seven out of 10 travelled by car to their volunteering roles with a further 72% saying that having access to a car made volunteering easier. Volunteers are the heart of sporting events, without whom many events would be unable to take place. England Athletics currently has more than 20,000 coaches and 4,000 officials volunteering in athletics, with a further 1,800 volunteer-led affiliated athletics and running clubs and member bodies in the UK*.

Three fifths of those surveyed drove up to 200 miles per month for their volunteering commitments with nearly a quarter of those finding the driving aspect of their commitment very enjoyable. New ë-C5 Aircross has a range of 322 miles (WLTP Combined) and can charge from 20-80% in just 30 minutes, making it the ideal vehicle for volunteers travelling long distances for events. Long range variants of Citroën’s flagship midsize SUV offer up to 421-miles on a single charge (WLTP Combined).

Comfort was highlighted as an important aspect volunteers surveyed considered when travelling to and from commitments, with 84% of people saying it was important to them and a further 45% suggesting they would be more likely to volunteer for events that were farther away if they were driving or a passenger in a comfortable car. New ë-C5 Aircross offers outstanding comfort, featuring Citroën’s Advanced Comfort® Technology. All versions feature progressive hydraulic cushions in the suspension, filtering out imperfections in the road surface to deliver a smooth, almost gliding ride. Inside, Citroën Advanced Comfort® seats combine plush, high-density foam with wider cushions and integrated heating, ventilation and massage functions on selected versions.

Unsurprisingly, 88% of respondents found volunteering to be rewarding with just 2% claiming that they didn’t find volunteering to be rewarding. The biggest reason why people volunteered at sporting events was due to having a passion for sport and personal enjoyment. Marshalling, event setup/logistics and admin support were the three most popular roles at sporting events,

The new research comes as part of Citroën’s partnership with England Athletics, the development body for grassroots running and athletics in England, as well as its official charity partner, the Personal Best Foundation, to encourage physical activity for children and young people across the country. Citroën’s work alongside England Athletics and Personal Best Foundation is creating more opportunities for children and young people to access and get involved in athletics from an early age.

The first year of Citroën’s partnership with England Athletics has been a great success, with the brand supporting England Athletics at the National Championships in July 2025 along with continuing to work with the Personal Best Foundation to support schools in areas of high deprivation. This initiative aims to ensure that children who may not have access to sports can experience the joy of athletics and build skills for life. By working closely with communities, Citroën is dedicated to making a positive impact and inspiring the next generation of athletes.

In its first year, Citroën’s partnership with the Personal Best Foundation has supported hundreds of children to access fun, inclusive and structured after-school athletics programmes. For over 55%, this marked their very first experience of athletics beyond school, and their overwhelmingly positive experience is reflected in early data showing that more than 80% would like to continue participating in the sport.

Greg Taylor, Managing Director, Citroën UK, said: “Volunteers are the beating heart of grassroots sport, and this research highlights just how much time, commitment and passion they give to make sporting events happen across the country. Through our partnership with England Athletics, we want to recognise and support the incredible role volunteers play, while ensuring they can travel to and from events comfortably and confidently. At Citroën, comfort and accessibility are at the core of everything we do, and vehicles like the new ë‑C5 Aircross are designed to make longer journeys easier, whether you’re giving up your time to marshal, coach or support the next generation of athletes.”

Chris Jones, CEO, England Athletics, said: “Volunteers at all levels of our sport are fundamentally important. This new research from our partners at Citroën underlines the significance of volunteers giving up so much time to support our sport, and without them, it simply couldn’t happen. We are delighted to continue working with Citroën to support athletes on our talent pathway programmes, as well as continuing the great partnership work with our charity, the Personal Best Foundation.”

Citroën is leading the way in making electric mobility accessible by offering the most electric vehicles under £35,000 of any manufacturer. Ami 100% ëlectric, New ë-C3, New ë-C3 Aircross, New ë-C4, New ë-C4 X, ë-Berlingo and New ë-C5 Aircross are all available for less than £35,000 and thanks to the Electric Car Grant, Citroën now offers an electric version of every passenger vehicle in its range for under £35,000.

Commissioned survey conducted by OnePoll of 1,000 UK adults who have volunteered, with at least 250 who have volunteered at sporting events

* Data provided by England Athletics, April 2026