Volunteering can be defined as giving your time and skills freely and without coercion, often to a cause you feel passionate about. In return you gain experiences and skills, alongside the satisfaction of being part of something which connects you to and impacts upon your local, national and sometimes an international, community.
“Volunteering is doing more than you have to, because you want to, in a cause you consider good.” Ivan Scheier
The beauty of volunteering is that it can be what you want it to be. Sometimes the term ‘volunteering’ might imply a long term commitment, but really it’s just helping in your community, when you can. You don’t have to make a huge commitment – it may be that you can support a one-off event or have time now and again that you can offer. Volunteering is a commitment that you can fit around your life. Giving in even simple ways can help those in need and improve your health and happiness.
Institute of Volunteering Research: IVS - What is Volunteering?
Top 10 reasons that should help you make up your mind if you are thinking of volunteering
- It brings people together, builds camaraderie and increases your social network.
- Volunteering encourages civic responsibility, you’re giving back to your community that you live in or care about. It strengthens your community and allows you to understand community needs.
- You learn a lot and discover hidden personal talents and skills.
- Volunteering can align with your values or beliefs.
- It promotes personal growth, self-esteem and self-confidence. You can feel useful and valued for your contribution.
- Volunteers gain professional experience and can test out potential careers, it can improve your chance of employment or entry into further education.
- You can share an existing specialist skill and gain new skills.
- Volunteering saves resources for the organisation and enables it to concentrate on its most vital work.
- It’s good for your wellbeing, making you feel good, reducing stress and generally healthier.
- You will make a difference, as every person and small act of kindness and help counts.
Institute of Volunteering Research - IVS - What are the benefits of being a volunteer?
Volunteering connects you to others
Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place:
- Make new friends and contacts. One of the best ways to make friends is to commit to a shared activity together. Volunteering is a great way to meet people, especially if you are new to an area. It strengthens your ties to the community and broadens your support network, introducing you to people with both similar and different interests.
- Increase your social and relationship skills. Even if you are naturally shy, it's a relaxed way of meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills, especially if you are meeting regularly with a group of people with to help with achieving a common aim.
- Volunteering as a family. Volunteering is a good way of spending time together. By giving back to the community, you are demonstrating first-hand how volunteering makes a difference and how good it feels to help others. Children who volunteer are more likely to volunteer as adults, with an increased sense of social responsibility.
Volunteering is good for your mind, body and soul
Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental and physical health:
- Volunteering makes you feel good. The social contact aspect of helping and working with others can have a profound effect on your well-being. It gives pleasure and can help counteract the effects of stress, anger, anxiety and depression. Whilst volunteering you may concentrate less on your own problems whilst you focus on helping others. It can offer a sense of purpose, positive emotions and increase confidence levels.
- Volunteering increases self-confidence. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. The better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.
- Volunteering provides a sense of purpose. Whatever your age or life situation, volunteering can help take your mind off your own worries, keep you mentally stimulated, and add more zest to your life.
- Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not. In particular, older volunteers tend to walk more, find it easier to cope with everyday tasks, are less likely to develop high blood pressure, and have better thinking skills. Volunteering can also lessen symptoms of chronic pain and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Volunteering can advance your career
If you’re considering a new career, volunteering can help you get experience in your area of interest, without making a long term commitment. It can give you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning, task management and organisation.
You could volunteer for an organisation that does the kind of work you’re interested in. For example, if you’re interested in nursing, you could volunteer at a hospital or a nursing home. It might also introduce you to professional organisations, people and networks that could benefit your career.
- Volunteering promotes personal growth. Volunteer experience can be a good way to learn more about yourself and your potential to grow and develop. It can open doors to new experiences and might even give you the skills and opportunity to change careers.
- Volunteering can offer valuable skills for employment. Just because volunteer work is unpaid, it does not mean the skills you learn are basic or the tasks are amateur. Many volunteering opportunities provide training. Volunteering supports transferable and soft skills that employees value, such as teamwork, leadership, problem-solving and people skills.
- Volunteering can build on existing skills. Use your skills to benefit others. For example, if you have experience in sales, you can raise awareness of and fundraise for your favourite cause, while further developing and improving your public speaking, communication, and marketing skills.
Volunteering brings fun and fulfilment to your life
- Volunteering is a fun way to explore different interests. It can be an escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school, or family commitments. Volunteering can also provide you with renewed creativity, motivation, energy and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life.
- Make it the time for your hobby. For instance, if you have a desk job and long to spend time indoors, you might consider volunteering to help plant a community garden or walk dogs for an animal shelter.
- Volunteering contributes to the kind of community and world you want to live in. It gives you the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than yourself. You can find out about the world around you, and learn more about causes and issues you may not know even exist. Volunteering can make you look at the world outside your window and feel proud of the part you’re playing in making lasting change. You can make the world a better place.
- Importantly, volunteering is fun. The feeling of pride and satisfaction that arises from making a positive difference is second to none. One small act of kindness can trigger a chain reaction that leads to much greater impact.
Institute of Volunteering Research - IVS - What difference does volunteering make?
