What stops people from contributing to society, and how can these obstacles be overcome?
Explain the challenges that can stop people from contributing to society, such as lack of time, money or awareness, and how these can be overcome
A scaffolded answer to the challenges that stop people contributing to society and how to overcome them. Barriers such as lack of time, money, awareness and confidence, and solutions including flexible opportunities, encouragement and removing barriers.
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What this dot point is asking
This dot point asks you to explain the challenges that stop people from contributing to society, and how those challenges can be overcome. The examiner wants you to show that many people who would like to help are held back by practical barriers, such as lack of time, money, awareness or confidence, and that these barriers can be reduced. A strong answer pairs each challenge with a matching solution, showing that the problem is often not unwillingness but obstacles that can be removed.
The answer
Lack of time
A common challenge is lack of time. Many people are busy with work, study and family responsibilities, so even when they want to help, they feel they cannot fit it in. This is one of the biggest barriers, because it affects willing people, not just unwilling ones. The solution is to make contribution flexible: offering short, one-off, weekend or online opportunities lets busy people help around their commitments rather than having to make a large regular commitment.
Lack of money
Some people feel they cannot contribute because they do not have money to give. They may think contribution means donating, and assume only the wealthy can help. The solution is to show that contribution does not require money: people can give time, skills or simple acts of kindness instead. Making clear that everyone has something to offer removes the idea that helping is only for those who can afford it.
Lack of awareness
Many people do not contribute simply because they do not know what needs exist or how they could help. People cannot act on problems they are unaware of. The solution is to raise awareness: campaigns, schools, the media and organisations can publicise needs and show exactly how people can get involved. When people clearly see a need and an easy way to help, more of them step forward.
Lack of confidence and how barriers are overcome
Some people hold back because they lack confidence, fearing they will not know what to do or will not be good enough. The solution is encouragement and support: giving training, pairing newcomers with experienced helpers, and recognising contributions builds confidence. Across all these barriers, the key idea is that contribution is often blocked by practical obstacles, not by a lack of care, so removing the barriers, through flexibility, awareness, and support, unlocks many willing helpers.
Examples in context
Example 1. Flexible and online volunteering. Organisations that offer short, one-off or online ways to help make it possible for busy students and working adults to contribute around their schedules. This directly tackles the lack-of-time barrier and shows how flexible opportunities unlock willing helpers.
Example 2. School and campaign encouragement. When schools build service into their programmes and campaigns publicise local needs, more young people become aware of how to help and gain the confidence to start. This shows awareness and encouragement overcoming barriers, and it links to the reasons people contribute to society.
Try this
Q1. State two challenges that can stop people from contributing to society. [2 marks]
- Cue. Any two of: lack of time, lack of money, lack of awareness of needs, and lack of confidence.
Q2. Explain how lack of time can be overcome to help busy people contribute. [3 marks]
- Cue. By offering flexible, short, one-off, weekend or online opportunities, busy people can help around their work, study and family commitments, so they no longer need a large regular block of time to contribute.
Q3. Explain why someone with little money can still contribute to society. [3 marks]
- Cue. Contribution does not require money: people can give their time, skills or simple acts of kindness, such as volunteering or helping a neighbour, so everyone has something to offer regardless of wealth.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SEAB exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Original6 marksExplain two reasons why some people do not contribute to society as much as they would like.Show worked answer →
Reason 1: lack of time. Many people are busy with work, study and family, so they feel they have no time to volunteer or help others. This matters because even willing people may not contribute if they cannot fit it in.
Reason 2: lack of awareness. Some people do not know what needs exist or how they can help, so they do not act. This matters because people cannot contribute to problems or causes they do not know about.
What markers reward: two clear barriers (lack of time, money, awareness, or confidence), each with a short explanation of how it stops people from contributing. The strongest answers note that many willing people are held back by practical barriers rather than by not caring.
Original7 marksExplain how the challenges that stop people from contributing to society can be overcome.Show worked answer →
Solution 1: flexible opportunities. Offering short, flexible or one-off ways to help, such as weekend or online volunteering, lets busy people contribute around their commitments. This overcomes the barrier of lack of time.
Solution 2: raising awareness. Campaigns, schools and organisations can publicise needs and show people exactly how to help, which overcomes the barrier of not knowing what to do.
Solution 3: encouragement and support. Giving people training, support and recognition builds their confidence to start, and encouraging a culture of giving makes contribution feel normal. This overcomes a lack of confidence.
What markers reward: two or three solutions, each matched to a barrier (flexible options for time, awareness campaigns for ignorance, support for confidence), each explained. A short conclusion that removing barriers unlocks willing helpers lifts the answer.
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