Why do you want to volunteer?
Do you want to give back to your local community? Or do you want to help causes further afield? Do you want to use your skills from your degree to help others, or perhaps learn new skills to assist in your career and enhance your CV along the way? Maybe you love what you have learnt at university and want to pass on your newfound knowledge. Considering these questions can really help you in deciding the right direction for your volunteer work.
Make your volunteering meaningful...
There are thousands of different organisations offering all sorts of opportunities in a wide range of areas, so you can choose your volunteering work according to what suits you. So, if serving in a soup kitchen or helping in an animal shelter isn’t really your cup of tea, think about what else might be available just round the corner. There may be a scheme to help disadvantaged or ill children, or perhaps a local homeless shelter or Big Issue office that has some opportunities, or even various schemes at your local library or council.
Volunteering starts at home...
Even though some volunteers sign up for worldwide organisations or programmes that take them overseas, it is a good idea to start on a smaller scale and see what opportunities are available closer to home. Not only will this ease you in to volunteering, it is more manageable if you already have commitments at home.
If you are considering volunteering abroad however, get loads of information before you go and speak to your doctor about the immunisations you will need. Talk to other people who have volunteered with your intended organisation too and find out more about their experiences before you make any commitments.
Match your volunteering to you...
Choose your volunteering work according to your own interests and skills, so you still have fun and get as much value as possible from your work. Consider what sort of person you are. Do you love to work with people, or animals? Perhaps you prefer to work with children? Or numbers? Do you love to speak, or write, or use your hands? Do you prefer to be indoors or outdoors?
By having a good idea of what you would like to try, and what you are good at, you will be able to find a volunteer organisation that suits you. Of course, volunteering is a great opportunity to learn more about what you enjoy and your current skills, as well as what may not be for you, so you can use this chance to dabble in a range of areas and try different and new things.
Before you commit...
...consider the basics. How much time can you offer, where can you travel to and will you be willing to work evenings and weekends? Before you contact an organisation, think about the questions you would like to ask and what they are likely to ask you. Also, consider whether you will need out-of-pocket expenses paid, insurance and whether any volunteering work will affect any state benefits you might be claiming. By thinking of all this beforehand, you can focus on getting the right volunteering work for you.
Where to start looking...
There are a number of ways to get involved in volunteering and find out what is available for you
Help from Graduate Extra...
We have joined up with some Graduate partners to offer you help and advice to get you volunteering. Have a look and get on your way to giving something back
Do-it.org.uk (YouthNet UK)
An internet database of UK local volunteering opportunities. Read more about Do-it by logging in to your Graduate Extra account
Volunteer bureaux or centres act as a volunteers' "job shop". They can tell you what voluntary work is available locally and put you in touch with local organisations, as well as offering advice and available options. There is a volunteer bureau in most areas, which can be found in the phone directory or by calling Volunteering England on 0845 305 6979
Councils for Voluntary Service often act as a volunteer bureau if there is no local bureau. Often known by different names, look in the phone book or Yellow Pages under "Council", "Volunteers" or "Voluntary". In rural areas the equivalents are Rural Community Councils.
Ask colleagues, neighbours and friends if they know of any voluntary work you could do.
Public libraries often have a notice board or a file of information on voluntary work. There are several published directories of voluntary work, and most libraries will have at least one of these in the reference or careers section. ‘The Voluntary Agencies Directory’ is particularly useful if you know exactly what you want to do as it has an excellent index of types of organisation from Abducted children to Zoology.
Timebank matches your interests and skills to volunteering opportunities in your area. They also provide a volunteer guide and newsletter, regular updates about volunteering opportunities and handy hints about giving time.
To register call 0845 601 4008 or for general enquiries 0207 401 5438
You can also register online at www.timebank.org.uk
Through work: some employers encourage and support their staff to volunteer. Your employer may be able to provide information about opportunities and support such as money, equipment, or time off to volunteer. Contact the community affairs manager to find out if your company has an employee volunteering programme.
Local hospitals often offer volunteering opportunities. Social Services Departments sometimes take on volunteers, and are often a good source of information on where to volunteer.
The Guardian newspaper features an interesting selection of about 100 volunteering opportunities. These appear most Wednesdays in the jobs section.
Local press and radio may have special programmes or regular articles about voluntary work.
REACH is a charity which recruits people of all ages and backgrounds throughout the UK with specific business, professional, managerial or technical career experience and finds them part time, expenses only opportunities, with voluntary organisations which need their expertise. For further information contact REACH on 020 7582 6543 or visit www.reach-online.org.uk