Volunteering

Why is volunteering important?

For many volunteers, their driver is a genuine concern and care for the wellbeing of others. Alongside this, contributing to society brings additional benefits, including career development and the chance to meet new people. Volunteer work can add pleasure, diversity and a sense of satisfaction to everyday life. Volunteers can also develop new skills, build relationships, face new challenges and even learn more about themselves.

Below are some benefits of volunteering.

Help to set your CV apart

Volunteer work may be unpaid, but having volunteering experience on your CV can be a very impressive addition. 

Not only that, but volunteering is also a great way to get a reference and fill any gaps in your work experience. If you have time without work, volunteering can offer you the chance to try different roles and decide whether you want a change of direction.

Develop existing skills – and gain new ones

Volunteering is a great way to develop new and existing life skills. It can help you foster communication skills, especially if you find meeting new people difficult. It can be easy to get caught up in close relationships with friends, colleagues and family members, but the social element of volunteering means you will be meeting and interacting with a diverse range of people.

Volunteer work may also require working within a group; teamwork requires empathy, patience, good communication, and understanding. Developing these skills is vital in ensuring every member of the team feels valued and comfortable.

It is important to be a good listener and approachable, but also to be bold. If you have ideas, share them! You never know, your idea may improve the volunteer programme and open even more opportunities.

Build your confidence

By doing something good for others in the community, meeting new people, and taking on new challenges, volunteer work can be very effective in boosting your confidence. The natural sense of accomplishment gained from volunteering can lead to a greater sense of pride and identity. The better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to accept new experiences.

Make valuable connections

Charity volunteer work is a great way to make both personal and professional connections. Networking is a vital part of working life and, if done correctly, can help you progress in your career. Volunteering offers the opportunity to meet like-minded people in less formal situations. It is a great way to show off your skills and your personality and make connections with people who may enrich your life.

Improve your health and wellbeing

In addition to boosting emotional wellbeing, developing key skills, and improving employability, studies have found that volunteering is good for physical and mental health. Volunteer work can offer people a social life and an opportunity to get outside. It is thought to be particularly beneficial for older people, as it helps them regain a routine and a sense of purpose following the end of employment.

Student volunteering

Generally, young people tend to have higher levels of engagement in social action than any other age group. Volunteering can provide a great break from studying; it can help you to gain practical work experience, knowledge, and skills that you can’t gain from academic study alone. This can help enrich your choices about further study, career opportunities, and even life decisions.

As a student, you are often blessed with time – you are not necessarily confined to the hours of a full-time job, there are holiday breaks, and you may even have free time during the day between lectures. This presents a good window of time to explore volunteering opportunities. 

Volunteering ideas

Whatever your age or circumstance, there are lots of volunteering opportunities available. Here are just some ideas to get you started:

Gap year volunteering

A gap year (or sabbatical) is an opportunity to take time out from study or work to engage in personal development activities, such as travel or volunteering. This can be a popular option for young people between college and university, or after university.

A gap year can be a good opportunity to take part in volunteer opportunities, such as internships, or even to travel and volunteer abroad – for example, through teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) opportunities.

Volunteer abroad

There are many organisations that run volunteer placements abroad. Check out Go Overseas to see what opportunities are available.

Volunteering for a charity

Many charities look for support from volunteers. This may include manning a helpline, helping to organise events or even working in charity shops. If there's a particular charity close to your heart, why not contact them and see how you can help?

Online volunteering

Many volunteer opportunities can be done remotely. This may include offering work skills, such as helping to design a flyer or supporting people via email. Reach out to organisations and see what volunteer opportunities are available. 

How can a coach support volunteers?

Some people thrive in new environments and flourish at the new opportunities that volunteer work offers. However, it is common to lack the confidence to start something new. Or, perhaps you just don’t know where to start.

If you are ready to take on new challenges and do something for the good of others, but you need a helping hand, the first step of your journey may be to consider coaching. Here's how a coach can help and advise your pathway to becoming a volunteer:

Building your confidence and self-belief

Coaches are equipped with tools and techniques to help you build up self-belief, so if you lack confidence or are nervous about meeting new people, tell them. A coach can work with you to help you start the job with your head held high.

If you are worried, your coach can help you manage and overcome any anxieties you have about volunteering. They will teach you how to see it as an exciting opportunity, rather than something to be feared.

Finding the right work for you

It is important to find volunteer work that you enjoy, are passionate about and feel confident in doing. If you have a particular skill you wish to develop or need more experience in a specific job sector, your coach can help you decide which form of volunteer work will be most beneficial.

Common volunteering options span across nature and wildlife, social care, animal welfare, mental health and event organisation – there is an option out there for everybody. Your coach can help you pinpoint your best starting point. 

During a session, your coach will likely ask you questions about your career, wellbeing, aspirations and work/life balance. Together, you can discuss your strengths and areas for development, your key skills and passions, your time commitments, any concerns you may have, and the reasons why you want to volunteer.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions before choosing a position, both to your coach and the organisation running the programme. Asking questions shows interest and helps ensure you get the most out of the experience.

Preparing you and your skillset for volunteer work

While you will build upon skills during the work, it can be useful to go in knowing what is expected from you. Your coach will be able to prepare you for your placement by explaining the required skills and how you can work on them before starting.

A coach can also offer support and guidance throughout your volunteer work, helping you take advantage of the opportunity and really enjoy life. They can offer advice and help you build the skills essential for personal development and progression.

How do I start volunteering?

You might be looking for an informal or temporary arrangement, or for a role in an ongoing project. The best place to start is by doing your own research. If there’s a particular type of work that interests you, explore what opportunities are available.

Useful organisations

• Prospects UK
• Do-It
• Reach
• Volunteering Matters
• Your local council website 

If there aren’t any opportunities available that are of interest to you, be proactive and make contact with a charity or organisation to which you would like to donate your time.