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“By creating we think, by living we learn” Patrick Geddes

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Becoming a Volunteer

What is voluntary work?

Around 23 million people volunteer in the UK each year. Many of the people you meet daily are volunteers. They:

raise funds
answer telephone helplines
befriend people with mental health problems
are hospital drivers
teach skills
organise sports clubs
conserve the environment
work in charity shops
start charities and run self-help groups
serve as trustees and on management committees
and many more activities

These are just a few activities that volunteers are involved in. People volunteer from all ages and walks of life and for a wide variety of reasons.

Voluntary work is not always unpaid. For example, if you are working with VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) you are paid a modest living allowance to cover your basic expenses. At the other extreme, some voluntary work placements (especially overseas) require you to raise funds in order to take part. Much depends on the type of voluntary work you are doing.

Although many opportunities for voluntary work are with charities, some employers are happy to provide unpaid work experience. With a bit of imagination and initiative you can create your own voluntary work. An employer is likely to be very impressed and receptive to someone who approaches them with a specific project or task in mind.

Why volunteer?

Whether or not you receive payment for the work you do, working voluntarily will not earn you the equivalent of a paid job. So why volunteer?

Each person's reasons for volunteering are different. It helps to be aware of yours as they are often the key to finding the right voluntary work for you. You may want to volunteer for personal or career reasons or a mixture of both. Personal reasons may include:

feeling strongly about a charity's cause and wanting to help.
having a year off to fill before going to University, starting a training course or job.
a friend, who is a volunteer, asking you for your help.
having time available on a regular basis and wanting to do something useful
wanting to meet new friends.

If you are thinking about developing your career, your reasons might include:

wanting to learn a new skill
trying to improve your employment prospects and add to your CV
needing specific practical experience before applying for a training course or job
thinking you might like to work in the voluntary sector but wanting to check it our first.

Depending on your chosen career area you may find that relevant work experience is essential before you are considered for paid employment. In these cases voluntary work is less of an option than a necessity to gain the required experience. Environmental and media related careers are two fields where this applies in particular, but you can be sure that any potential employer will be impressed by someone who has made considerable effort to gain work experience.

Another benefit of volunteering is that you are likely to receive some training and, depending on the nature of the work, this may be quite structured and detailed. Not only will you gain practical experience, therefore, but you will be trained in the skills and knowledge required before you begin the work. All the more to add to your CV and make you more attractive to a future employer.

Of course, you don't necessarily have to undertake voluntary work full-time. There are lots of opportunities to volunteer on a part-time basis, perhaps offering your services for as little as a couple of hours a week. This means you could be a voluntary worker while studying for your degree - building up some valuable work experience during your time at University.

Applications

You may be asked to fill in an application form and some organisations ask for references. Agencies working with vulnerable people and children usually have to get police screening for both paid and volunteer staff.

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Updated: Summer 2011