There are some great reasons why people give time for volunteering.
For many, volunteering opportunities can be a route into employment, a chance to try something new and to make a difference to the lives of others.

Quote:
I have no doubt that the skills I have acquired during my voluntary work, will be invaluable to me when I pursue my career.'
Volunteer, Hobby group

Who can volunteer?

Anyone can volunteer. It doesn’t matter what experience you have, what skills you have, what background you’re from or how much time you can commit, everyone has something to give.

Why should I volunteer?

Doing voluntary work can be a learning experience; you can develop new skills, gain knowledge, meet new people and learn about your local community. Volunteering provides huge opportunities to develop further and is highly recognised by employers.
Some other beneficial reasons to do charity work:

• Do work that is inspiring, rewarding and useful in your spare time
• Learn new skills and enhance your CV
• The chance to go on beneficial training courses and receive comprehensive resources
• Make a difference to the people you are volunteering with and give back to the community
• Gaining confidence and self esteem
• Join and work as a team
• Physical and social benefits
• Having fun

Will I need any checks before I start?

Organisations will ensure that volunteers working with children and young people are appropriate to do so. They may request a pre-registration check for some volunteering roles.
Groups will seek information on criminal records. They will ask volunteers to supply written information on any convictions, cautions or final warnings. Following this the volunteer may be asked to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau check (CRB) this will either be a Standard Disclosure or an Enhanced Disclosure depending on the nature of the volunteer role.

Benefits for organisations employing volunteers

Its not just the individual who is volunteering that will gain pluses of doing a bit of charity work. The organisation/club and members will also benefit. The following are some ways an organisation can prosper:

• The more volunteers involved within the group will help the development of the organisation
• Will help increase numbers of people attending the group
• More mentors for the users of the club – especially for the more vulnerable, younger children and disabled participants
• Can help with the facilities of the organisation
• Can help with a wider reach of the local community
• Help with sustainability of the group

There are many ways to volunteer within organisations/clubs or groups depending on how much time you can spare. Clubs may offer full and part time or evening volunteering opportunities. Some examples of volunteer duties that a small voluntary and community group may require help with:

• Mentoring children and young people
• Helping on local community events/projects
• Helping with group animals, ground and building maintenance
• Making food and drinks
• Cleaning
• Opening and closing premises
• Making sure children and young people are safer

Organisations looking for volunteers

If your organisation is looking for some volunteers to help out, here are some useful tips to help search:

• Ask the parents and relatives of those who attend your group if they can volunteer of if they could circulate the information by word of mouth
• Try and produce some information to add to notice boards, local newsletters, local newspapers eg: leaflets, posters, website
• Ask local schools, colleges, universities and local groups to promote
• Use websites such as Volunteering England, Community Service Volunteers (CSV) to help