What is volunteering?
This video from the University of East Anglia shows what volunteering is all about.
Volunteering gives you the opportunity to help out in the community, with a charity, or another organisation.
Volunteering is a way to make a difference to peoples’ lives and the community around you, but can also look great on a CV, apprenticeship application, or personal statement.
This video from the University of East Anglia shows what volunteering is all about.
There are lots of opportunities for volunteering. Some of these might include:
No, volunteering is not paid. You will be giving up your time on a voluntary basis.
It’s important you know what you’re signing up for before you start volunteering. Make sure you’re getting good experience from it, that what the organisation is asking from you is reasonable, and that you’re able to commit to the time.
Number of volunteers who said volunteering had helped their communication, influencing and relationship skills
Source: Education & Employers
Number of volunteers who felt they had gained a better understanding of society and social issues
Source: Education & Employers
Volunteering can look great on your CV. It can help show you’re passionate about a particular cause or organisation and have gone the extra mile to demonstrate that. It can also give you something to talk about in job interviews or assessment centres, and help show good personality traits like kindness, helpfulness, and time management.
However, it completely depends on the job you’re applying for. For example, if you’re going into a retail apprenticeship, a part-time job in a shop may be able to demonstrate those skills better. Or if you’re going for an office job, an internship or a week of work experience might be able to show those skills.
Think about the skills you’re going to need for the job, apprenticeship, or course, and how you can best get experience that demonstrates them.
To find a volunteering opportunity, you can: