Volunteering experience looks good on your CV, or on an application for a college or university course, or for a job or apprenticeship. You may be able to put your volunteering organisation down as a reference for a job application.

Other benefits to volunteering include:
  • Using your existing skills and knowledge to help others
  • Getting involved in something that interests you
  • Trying out an area of work you might want to do as a paid job
  • Learning new skills and knowledge
  • Improving your career prospects by gaining experience in certain sectors, such as healthcare
  • Getting back into work if you’re unemployed
  • Improving your self-confidence
  • Making new friends and learning to work with others
Where can you volunteer?

There are many different ways to volunteer and lots of organisations out there that would value your time. Here are just a few examples of voluntary work opportunities:

Hospitals
The NHS has lots of volunteering opportunities, such as helping with patient escort duties or in specific hospital wards, such as those for children or older people. There are also opportunities to do administrative work and fundraising. Hospices also have volunteers who befriend patients and may phone them up or keep them company. 

Supporting older adults
Visiting people at home or helping to provide meals. Ringing people for a chat and to check they are ok.

Animals 
Dog walking, providing a clean space for animals at rescue or rehoming centres.

Charities 
Doing house to house collections, helping in a charity shop or supporting other charity work.

Education 
Helping with adult literacy groups or home tutoring.

Conservation groups/environmental schemes 
This could involve draining or cleaning out old ponds, planting trees and repairing walls. This type of voluntary work is often done at weekends or in the summer.

Summer play schemes 
During the school holidays, there are opportunities to help with play schemes for children.

Events 
Festivals and large events often require volunteers to help with roles such as stewarding and litter picking.  Other volunteers help charities to promote their cause at the event. You may get free entry if you volunteer.

Virtual volunteering 
Helping an organisation to run their social media sites, which can be done from home.

Some things to consider if you’re thinking about volunteering
  • If you volunteer full-time, it may be better to do this on a short-term basis, as you won’t be earning any money.
  • If you are under 18, you will need to do some form of education and training alongside your voluntary work.
  • Some volunteering opportunities are only available to those aged 18 or over.
  • How much time can you give? How far you can travel? Do you have other commitments to think about, such as exam revision or homework?
  • Some organisations require you to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before you can start volunteering. This checks whether you have a criminal record and is usually done when you will be doing volunteer work with vulnerable people such as children or older people. You shouldn't have to pay for the DBS check. 
  • You may need to undergo training before you can start volunteering, so find out if you can commit to attending. 
Useful websites

Below are some useful websites that may be helpful if you are considering volunteering. You could also search 'volunteering' on your local council website. Some local councils and charities may offer extra support if you need it.

www.ncvo.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering/volunteering-opportunities
Links to organisations that offer volunteering opportunities.

www.gov.uk/volunteering/volunteers-rights
More information about your rights as a volunteer.

www.dofe.org
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a programme of activity for young people aged 14 to 24 that helps to develop their skills for life and work. Involves helping the community through voluntary work. 

www.kingstrust.org.uk
The King's Trust offers 12 week personal development programmes for unemployed young people aged 16 to 25, including a community project. See www.kingstrust.org.uk/how-we-can-help/grow-skills-and-confidence/team for more information.