What is volunteering?

Volunteering is where you give time to help your local community, for free. People volunteer because they want to, not because they have to.

Why volunteer

Volunteering isn’t just about giving up your time; you get lots back, too. Many people volunteer because it’s fun, interesting, and can help them to make friends and socialise – it’s more like a hobby than a chore. For others, volunteering can help them to get experience to get a job, or move on in their career. People also volunteer when they feel passionately about an issue and want to make a difference. It can help people to gain confidence, new skills, and feel better about themselves. Volunteering can help people fill up their day, and feel part of something.

How do I find out about volunteering opportunities near me?

Some organisations promote their own volunteering opportunities in the local paper, others may put posters up in the local library. There are hundreds of opportunities on the www.do-it.org website. But the best way to find out what you can get involved in is to visit your local Volunteer Centre, where you can find out about a wide range of local opportunities, get answers to any questions you may have, and get in touch with organisations you are interested in volunteering for. If there’s nothing that suits you, the Volunteer Centre can help to create new opportunities that suit your interests and needs, through their many contacts. Click on Local Centres on this website to find out where your nearest Centre is.

What can I do?

Volunteer Centres carry information on hundreds of opportunities in a wide range of organisations. Have a look at the People and Interests sections in this website to see some examples, or click on the How to Volunteer tab, for a list of volunteering opportunities that Centres may hold.

Where is my nearest Volunteer Centre?

Click on Local Centres on this website to find out where your nearest Centre is.

Will volunteering affect my benefits?

If you are claiming benefits you will need to inform the Job Centre that you’re volunteering, but it should not affect your benefits as long as you are available for work. There’s no limit to how much volunteering you can do, and claiming expenses shouldn’t affect your benefits. Contact your local Volunteer Centre for more information.

Can I afford to volunteer?

You should not end up out of pocket through volunteering. Many organisations will reimburse expenses, and Volunteer Centres can help you to find opportunities close to where you live.

Will I need a CRB check?

Whether you need CRB checking will depend on what you want to do, and who you will be working with. The current government has reviewed the CRB system, and Volunteer Centres can provide more information on whether you’re likely to need a check. Volunteer Centres work with a lot of people, including ex-offenders, so having a criminal record will not automatically prevent you from getting involved in volunteering.

How can Volunteer Centres help my organisation?

Many organisations find it easier and more productive to find volunteers through a Volunteer Centre. Volunteer Centres can reach a wider audience than many organisations can reach on their own, and can help to match the right people with the right skills to the right opportunities.

Some organisations find it easy to recruit their front-line volunteers – for example, advisors at the CAB, or coaches at sports clubs - but find it hard to get people to help with office work, administration, maintenance etc. Volunteer Centres can help to fill these positions.

Volunteer Centres can provide training, information, and advice to organisations on how to recruit, manage, and retain their volunteers. This helps organisations to keep their volunteers happy and can reduce the time and effort needed to replace volunteers who leave because they are unhappy.

What about people with disabilities?

People with disabilities are involved in a wide range of volunteering activities. Volunteer Centres can help people with disabilities to find opportunities that are right for them, and work with organisations to help them to adapt their opportunities, or create new ones, to suit different people’s needs.

Want do I do if I don’t like it where I volunteer?

Go back to your Volunteer Centre and discuss your situation. If there is something that is making you unhappy and you want help in changing it, the Centre may be able to help. If you just don’t like what you’re doing, the Centre can help you to find something more suitable.

How much time do I need to give?

As much or as little as you are able. Some people volunteer every day, others might volunteer once a month, or occasionally. Volunteer Centres will help you to find something that suits your lifestyle, commitments, and working patterns.