The Value of Volunteering: How Helping Others Can Help You
You may have heard of volunteering, or perhaps you might have done some volunteering in the past. Many young people do some volunteering to bolster their CV or get some new experiences.
But can volunteering help you? Read on to get the lowdown on what volunteering is and why it could help you in your career.
What is volunteering?
Volunteering is offering your time and skills to a company or organisation. But unlike a job, you won’t be paid for your services.
A lot of people will volunteer at least once in their lives. Maybe it will be a couple of hours with a school project, or you’ll spend years volunteering as a hobby. However, you do it, it’s without a doubt a noble thing to do. You’ll be helping people and giving up your time for free to benefit others.
Why should I volunteer?
The reason why volunteer can be different for everyone. Maybe you feel passionately about a cause and want to get involved. Or maybe you’re looking to meet new people. Perhaps you’re hoping to gain valuable work experience or get your start in a field you’re eager to join.
Understandably, many people are put off from volunteering as you aren’t going to be paid for your time. We get it, life is busy and amongst other responsibilities, sometimes you simply don’t have the time. But, before you completely dismiss volunteering, it’s important to consider its advantages.
What are the benefits of volunteering?
The benefits of volunteering are varied – starting with simply being a great way to get you and meet new people, gain skills or simply have a good time. Volunteering is a fantastic way to build your skills as a young person. Adding volunteering experience will not only enhance your CV, but it can be a wonderful way for you to learn more about the society you live in. The experience can leave you a more open-minded, thoughtful and considerate individual.
Having volunteering down on your CV can make you more desirable to employers or training providers. It proves you made efforts to work on yourself and to help others, which is admirable. As a result, this should increase your prospects when you’re looking for work or applying for training programmes.
What could I do?
There are many ways to volunteer! It all depends on what you enjoy and what skills you think will be valued be an organisation.
Whatever your interest, there’s usually a volunteering opportunity that will suit you. Reaching out to an organisation that you feel would appreciate your services is the best way to begin. These could range from community groups, charities, campaign groups or you could even provide your services on a much more personal level. Maybe that elderly neighbour that needs a little help in the garden? Or that family friend with a dog that needs walking.
Trying to find somewhere to volunteer can be tricky, especially when you’re a young person. Here are some organisations who support young people on their volunteering mission.
St John Ambulance
St John Ambulance Service are famous for their volunteers. They have programmes that allow people to volunteer from the age of 5 and up! Their dedicated youth team programmes are designed to make the process a lot easier for any young people hoping to get some volunteering experience. Plus, the events they work can be fun and you might even end up meeting a celeb or two!
Volunteer with City Year
If supporting children and teens is something you’d think you’d be good at – City Year are a great place to start. City Year are an international charity that have a base right here in Greater Manchester. They get young people into educational settings, to mentor people young than them. This scheme is aimed at people who are aged between 18-24.
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross are a charity that have been around for some time. You might see their charity shops dotted around. Most of these stores are run by volunteers. The British Red Cross have got a section specifically for young people on their website to search for the right opportunities for them.
Duke of Edinburgh
If you’re after more resources, the Duke of Edinburgh website is a goldmine! They have a long list of opportunities available for those who are under the age of 18 or even 16. Click here for the the Duke of Edinburgh website to start your search.
Why not get yourself out there?
Hopefully this article has shown you a little bit about why volunteering can be such a good thing to do. If you’ve got a bit of time spare this year, why not explore what options are out there?
