As with any decision, you'll make the best choice if you give a little thought beforehand to what you want. Here are some key questions you might like to ask yourself before searching for your volunteering opportunity.
Why do I want to volunteer?
If you're clear about what you want to get from your volunteering you're more likely to choose the right opportunity for you. You might want to:
- get skills that will help you get into paid work
- meet people and have fun
- work for a cause you feel passionately about.
These are just some of the reasons why you might want to volunteer. Whatever your reason is, be upfront about it to the volunteer organisation. It will benefit both you and the organisation if the opportunity is right for you.
Which skills can I offer?
For some volunteering opportunities you may need specialist skills, such as book-keeping if you want to manage the finances of an organisation. However, for many opportunities you don't need any particular skills or experience - you just need to be enthusiastic, and willing to work hard and learn.
If you're unsure what you've got to offer, think about skills you've developed in your personal life, such as looking after children or organising social events. There will be a volunteering opportunity where you can use these skills.
And many volunteer organisations will offer you training when you start, so you won't be thrown in at the deep end.
How much time can I spare?
Be realistic about how much time you can commit to - how many hours a week, which days of the week and for how many weeks, months or years. This will help the volunteer organisation plan their time and resources so their work gets done. You're free to leave at any time, but it will help the volunteer organisation if you give them at least a couple of weeks' warning.
Generally, you'll be able to get more involved if you can commit a fair bit of time. But you can still gain a lot even if you volunteer for just a couple of hours a week or month.
Find out more
Our advisers can tell you more about volunteering and can help you to find an opportunity to suit you. Call the Careers Advice Service on 0800 100 900 anytime between 8am and 10pm seven days a week.
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