I won’t be that tone-deaf girl who says ‘everyone should volunteer because I know it’s not an option for a lot of us. Sometimes you have no time due to uni or you need to prioritise your job and that is absolutely fine! I have written this article for those of us who have the time and finances behind them to go out and volunteer in the community.
The benefits of volunteering
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You get to meet so many different people. If you’re a self-confessed introvert, volunteering in a busy environment may not be for you but volunteering can allow you to meet people from all walks of life. Volunteering for a local community/events group would allow you to meet people of all ages and you never know who you’ll meet!
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You can make a difference in an area that is important to you. My passion is education and helping children fulfil their potential which is why I volunteer with Universify Education. However, maybe you love animal rights or want to fight for climate justice! Whatever your passion is, there is definitely an opportunity out there for you where you can make a real hands-on difference to that cause.
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You will gain skills that you can use for the rest of your life. In anything you do, you will adopt new skills. Whether it is public speaking, organisation or attention to detail, you will undoubtedly unknowingly develop and nurture so many skills you can use in your day-to-day life and also future careers.
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You can gain some self-confidence. Volunteering in any way will not only grow your confidence in that sector but also within yourself. We tend to find that the more confident we get in the opportunities we take, the more we feel confident within ourselves to be ourselves and go with our gut.
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You can challenge yourself! Some people love a challenge, and others are more cautious. Whichever category you fall into, challenging yourself every so often is overwhelmingly a good thing. In life, you don’t get to sit in your comfort zone all the time so the more you get used to being outside it, the more you will grow confidence and the more ready you will be when life inevitably throws a curveball your way.
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It looks good for your CV. Never say in an interview that you volunteered because it looked good, but it does. Showing prospective employers that you not only give your time to things that are not essential but also have a keen interest in a specific area is nothing but beneficial to your character. It shows employers that you can manage time well, stay organised and that you also tend to your passions.
How to find volunteering opportunities
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Volunteer Scotland. Volunteer Scotland not only lets you search for volunteer opportunities but also lets you browse by theme, making it easier to find an opportunity suited to you. https://www.volunteerscotland.net/
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Prospects. Prospects not only gives you databases to search for volunteering opportunities at home but also chances to volunteer abroad! https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/work-experience-and-internships/volunteering
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Indeed. Indeed is not only a jobs website but you can also search for volunteering opportunities here as well. https://uk.indeed.com/Volunteer-jobs
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Your university’s careers service. This will differ depending on your uni but most universities have a careers website that includes volunteer opportunities. https://abdn.targetconnect.net/unauth?leap=https:%2F%2Fabdn.targetconnect.net%2Fleap%2Fjobs.html¤tUserLocale=en_GB
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Organisation websites. This is often the best place to look. It can take longer but you will find all opportunities offered by organisations on their own websites. https://www.universifyeducation.com/volunteer https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/support-us/volunteer-with-us/ https://ejfoundation.org/get-involved/volunteer