What is Volunteering?

Volunteering is when you spend your time (unpaid) doing something for others. It is possible to volunteer informally within communities or formally through organisations. The decision to give up one's time should always be made voluntarily. In the UK, volunteering is widely practiced. The majority of nonprofits and volunteer organisations use volunteers in some capacity. Volunteers perform a variety of tasks such as:

• Raising money
• Practical support
• Sponsoring or organising events
• Organising campaigns
• Leading tours
• Serving as a trustee (a volunteer position with legal responsibility for a charity).
• Befriending
• Advising, guiding, or offering information
• Monitoring and conserving wildlife
• Administering first aid
• Supplying legal assistance
• Driving or transporting individuals
• Administrative support

Why volunteer?

Every volunteer has their own reasons for wanting to do so. These can include:

• Gaining experience to enter the workforce or change careers
• Supporting a cause that is meaningful to them
• Networking with others
• Giving back to the community by improving something
• Using their knowledge or experience to assist others
• Trying something new or different
• Learning new skills
• Continuing professional development.

The one thing that everyone seems to agree on is that volunteering doesn’t just benefit the community and those that are being helped but that it hugely benefits the volunteer! The Royal Voluntary Service says that:

“Every year we ask the people who volunteer with us to tell us what it’s done for them. Every year, we’re delighted with the responses we get. Better physical and mental health and wellbeing. More confidence. New skills and valuable work experience. A sense of connection to others in the community. Those are just some of the things our teams say they get from giving their time.”

Research has shown that volunteering is associated with improved health and well-being, including increased longevity, adoption of healthy lifestyles and reduction in depression and stress.

As a young person, the other reason for wanting to volunteer is to gain work experience and improve your CV. A great way to win over potential employers is to demonstrate your ability to make a positive impact on society while developing the abilities necessary to pursue particular vocations. So, in addition to giving back to others, volunteering also gives you the opportunity to:

• improve the look of your CV with work/life experience
• gain valuable transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, time management, organisation and decision making
• demonstrate your initiative and proactive nature to employers
• build confidence
• explore different areas of work
• expand your network

You might also be given the opportunity to participate in training sessions as a volunteer. This could be something like a first aid course or some team building sessions. This extra training could come in handy when looking for employment and might set you apart from the competition.

How much time will volunteering take? 

Everything depends on you. Volunteering can involve a one-time commitment, an hour each month, a few days per week, or more. Before you begin looking for a placement, it is important to consider how much time and how regularly you would like to volunteer. Even if you have a hectic schedule or a full-time job, you could still be able to discover a suitable opportunity. Try not to overstretch yourself or over promise, it is better to start small and build up if you find you have more time to give. Volunteers spend an average of 50 hours a year volunteering and the majority of people only volunteer with one project at a time. How you do things is totally up to you. 

Will volunteering cost me anything?

You shouldn't have to pay to volunteer locally. You can confirm this before applying. The majority of employers will cover 'out of pocket' expenses, including reasonable travel charges. Volunteering overseas can be different, depending on the country and programme you choose. It is crucial to exercise caution and weigh all available costs. These costs can include travel, accommodation, insurance and food. You may not have to pay for all of these things. You will need to do lots of research before embarking on a volunteering program abroad and make sure you do so through reputable companies. Have a look at the list below. Go Overseas discuss this further on their website. 

Can I do it with my friends? 

The short answer is yes! If there is a friend or a small group of you who are interested in the same thing, or would like to help the same cause, then there is no reason why you could not do this together. Usually programmes are grateful for the help, but it will depend on their capacity. Remember - you may not get to spend time with your friends once you are there as you will be busy! A big part part of the joy and benefit of volunteering is to meet new people and make new friends, so it it worth thinking about challenging yourself to go it alone and see where it takes you! 

How much time will volunteering take? 

The other commitments in your life such as school, leisure activities or family will determine how much time you can devote to volunteering. There is no time restriction, but you should be realistic and make sure it doesn't interfere to much with other important aspects of your life. This may mean that you can give up a few hours per week, a few days per month, or the entire summer holidays, or, if you are on a gap year, even longer.

Where do I sign up?!

Volunteers are always needed by charities and non-profit groups including. You can also work at local community centres, hospitals, and schools.
Some groups may demand expertise and knowledge, while others may not be able to offer possibilities owing to the sensitive or confidential nature of their work. Volunteering is feasible in the majority of roles, but not all. Make sure you do your homework before applying.

There are a lot of websites out there that you can explore in relating to finding volunteering placements. We have put a few together below that you can explore:

Volunteering in the UK:

Prospects
Do-it
NCVO
Reach Volunteering
Volunteering Matters

Volunteering abroad:

There are many options to volunteer overseas if you want to travel more. You could participate in initiatives involving animals, children, conservation, the community, education, medicine, or sports.
Volunteering abroad might last anything from a few weeks to a year. As mentioned before, you can use your gap year, to take on a volunteer position.

Look online for possibilities abroad:

Beyond Academy
Frontier
Global Vision International (GVI)
International Volunteer HQ
Kaya Responsible Travel
Pod Volunteer
Tru Experience Travel
Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)
Volunteer Abroad

Start your research

There are many specialist sectors that require volunteers and you may have a particular sector that you are interested in. Here are a few ideas:

Mental Health
Animal care
Conservation
Social Care
Arts and culture
Emergency/disaster work
Elderly care
Community regeneration
Sports groups

Once you start to look online you will see there are many local and national websites linking those that want to volunteer with the places that need the volunteers.

Online Volunteering 

Did you know hat you can volunteer from home?! Online volunteering is brilliant for those of you that would love to volunteer but for whatever reason cannot do travel or do so physically. Virtual volunteering is possible in a range or areas and roles from nest cam observations to TED talk translation, check it out!

Studenteer 
United Nations online volunteering
Do-it

Over to you...

Now that you know more about volunteering and the many opportunities available you can start to look for the perfect match for you! Ask yourself these questions: What would I love to do? Who might benefit from the help locally? What could I learn from the experience? How much time have I got to give? 

If you would like help looking or applying for opportunities, have a look at our Finding and Applying for Jobs section. 

Have fun!