Everyone has heard the stories from their distant family relatives who have travelled the world, or built schools in Africa, or helped vulnerable people. The stories sound wonderful, but you start thinking to yourself, should I volunteer?

Volunteering has great benefits, both for the community and for yourself. Volunteering doesn’t mean you have to give up three months of your life to travel to another country if you don’t want to! There are lots of things you can volunteer for in your local community!

Abroad:

Helping people and communities, as well visiting a new country, sounds like an amazing opportunity! There are lots of opportunities out there for you to travel abroad and help out a community! You could help build a school, or teach English, or play sports!

Since you’d be travelling abroad to volunteer, there might be added costs for visas, travel, food and accommodation. So if you’d like to volunteer abroad then make sure you do your research and make sure you can both afford the fees and have the time to do all of the amazing projects that the company ask you to do in the country!

Here are some links of where you can volunteer abroad:

• https://thinkpacific.com/
• http://www.internationalservice.org.uk/
• https://www.eastafricanplaygrounds.org/
• https://www.challengesabroad.co.uk/

Locally:

In your local community there will be charities that need wonderful people like you to help out on a variety of tasks! From helping baking cakes for a bake sale; working with vulnerable people; to helping out at a nursery or care home! Well known charities such as Oxfam, PDSA, Mind and others might have stores in your town; they will need people to take in donations and display them in store. If fashion is your thing, then maybe ask the charity store if you can style the mannequins in the window!

With a growing older generation, Dementia and Alzheimer’s is an increasing problem. If you’re compassionate and empathetic, or maybe you want to work with older people in future, for example if you’re doing an Occupational Therapy or a Nursing degree, then volunteering for a Dementia charity would be great for you!

If you want to volunteer, but don’t think you have time; you could always do some fundraising! Taking part in a bake sale, running a marathon, putting on a raffle, or even hosting a fashion show! Not only would the money raised be great for your chosen charity, but it will give you the life skills that employers look for in potential candidates!

If volunteering locally interests you, then ask around in your community! I’m sure there will be people ready and waiting for your help!

So what are the benefits of Volunteering?

Aside from giving you a warm and fuzzy feeling from helping someone, volunteering can help you attain some amazing skills. If you work with children or elderly people, you’ll learn great communication skills and relationship building skills. If you organised a fundraising event then you’ll learn project management skills, IT skills, and communication skills!

Volunteering looks great on your CV too. Employers love candidates who have learned life skills outside of their education, and if you have dedicated time outside of your responsibilities then it shows Employers that you are a hard-working, dedicated individual!

Volunteering, both locally and abroad, gives you the opportunity to meet new people! Whether it’s working with vulnerable children in Africa, or baking cupcakes for a bake sale for your local nursery, you might meet your lifelong best friend! Plus, you will work with a range of people; people who have different backgrounds, ideas, and thoughts to you! This will be an exciting opportunity to work with people that you have never had chance to before!

So what are you waiting for? Get Volunteering!

By Charlotte Brindley | Careers Ambassador | YSJ