How to Become a Volunteer – Help Peoples by Donating Your Time
Volunteer : Someone who contributes time, effort and talent to meet a need or further a mission, without going on the payroll.
Why become a volunteer?
People volunteer for lots of reasons, and often it is a very personal decision. There are lots of 
benefits to be gained, including:
Gain specific skills to add to your CV
All employers look for transferable skills such as team working, problem solving, leadership and communication skills. Volunteering can be an excellent way to gain these skills and provide impressive evidence for your CV and applications. The skills that you develop through voluntary work are regarded as highly by employers as skills gained through any other type of activity. Indeed, working on a voluntary basis can also be a clear way of demonstrating your commitment, determination and drive.
Give something back
You may want to contribute your time and effort for the well being of the local community. Volunteering can be a great way to help improve the lives of others and enable you to have a beneficial impact on your local community. It can also help individuals feel more connected to their local environment and those around them.
Try out a career path
You may decide you would like to experiment with a career before fully committing yourself.
Gain experience for a specific career
You may need to get specific experience related to your chosen career. For many careers such as social work, teaching, journalism and jobs in conservation and the environment volunteer experience is essential.
Training and accreditation
Most volunteering will involve some level of training. You might also receive accredited training or the chance to work towards an award or qualification such as the Leicester Award for Employability Skills.
Make a difference
Perhaps you are inspired by a particular issue and want to make a difference in that area.
Meet new people
Volunteering can expand your social circle and put you in contact with people you might otherwise not meet. You may also find that the project you work on helps you to meet people with similar outlooks to your own.
New challenges
For fun!
It’s a brilliant way to have fun and enjoy your spare time!
Improve your health and well being
What is voluntary work?
Voluntary work is working without payment, or working for minimum expenses, for a not-for-profit organisation, such as a charity.
Why should I volunteer?
A lot of people volunteer because they want to “give back to society” or make a contribution to their community, often helping out with causes they believe in. As the volunteers’ organisation Timebank puts it: “Given the chance to do something they feel passionate about, most people develop a new sense of belonging and confidence in their community.” Voluntary work can give people the chance to travel, meet new people and accumulate life and career enhancing experiences and skills.
What can I do as a volunteer?
You can volunteer for almost everything. From national charities to local community groups, there are thousands of organisations in the UK that seek volunteers.
How much time will it take up?
As much or as little as you like – although obviously your commitment will have to be agreed with the organisation for whom you volunteer. It could be an hour a week – or it could be a long term, full time commitment, such as a two year overseas posting through Voluntary Service Overseas. You can do volunteer work during the day, the night or at weekends. You can even be a virtual volunteer – doing research over the internet or building a website.
Do I need qualifications?
Not normally, although some work may require particular skills. Voluntary organisations will offer training if necessary.
What if I volunteer then discover I don’t enjoy it?
There are no obligations for you to continue if you are unhappy – although volunteering groups advise that you talk first to the organisation you are working for.
How do I find out more about volunteering?
Several bodies exist to match volunteers with voluntary organisations. The SocietyGuardian.co.uk special report on volunteering has a list of the most useful websites. The charity YouthNet UK runs a search engine on its the Do-it website that finds volunteering opportunities within a 10km radius of your address.
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