Become a Volunteer

Volunteering is giving your time to help someone else or a cause you care about, simply because you want to and without expecting payment. Volunteers make an important contribution to community life.

Lots of people engaged in voluntary work might not consider themselves as volunteers. They may see themselves as 'just helping out' or 'lending a hand'. The list of things that volunteers do is almost endless.

Volunteering helps you make new friends, increases your confidence and lets you play a part in your community. It can also give you a better chance of getting paid work, improving your career prospects or getting a place at university by helping you to:

• learn new skills
• practise the skills you have
• build your confidence
• discover new hobbies and interests
• meet people who can help you find paid work
• include volunteering experience on your CV
• show employers you can keep regular hours and handle commitment
• get references
• have fun doing something you've never tried before
• have a sense of satisfaction and achievement
• get the opportunity to make new friends with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences