I want to volunteer - what do I do next?
Before contacting organisations it is a good idea to think about what you would like to do in terms of the acitivity and type of organisation you would like to work for - check out the rest of the 'I want to volunteer' section of this web site for ideas and insipiration.. At the same time consider how much time you are able to give up.
When it comes to finding current volunteering opportunities you can either:
Can I be paid something to cover my expenses?
Yes, you can. It’s a good idea for organisations to cover all your extra expenses that arise from volunteering. That includes the cost of travelling to the volunteering and meals while volunteering.
Unfortunately not all organisations do pay expenses. This could be because they don’t have enough funds or simply because they don’t realise that volunteers should be paid expenses. Before starting your volunteering, ask about expenses.
How much time do I need to volunteer for?
This is really up to you. You can find volunteering that only takes an hour a month - there’s a trend towards short-term volunteering requiring minimal commitment. Having said that, obviously the less time you have the harder it can be to find something that’s right for you.
You can volunteer at any time of the week, day or night. While much volunteering takes place in office hours, you can volunteer at evenings and weekends too, again depending on what you want to do. Typical volunteering out of office hours includes befriending, campaigning, the Samaritans, environmental and sports.
- The do-it.org.uk online database of volunteering opportunities allows you to select exactly what times you will be available for.
Will I be interviewed? What will they ask me? What can I ask them?
Most organisations will probably not formally interview you before they place you but they will probably want to have an informal chat. However, if the role has some responsibility, for instance, for money, or if you will be working with people or with dangerous equipment, the interview may be more formal. In either case this gives you, and the organisation, a chance to assess each other and an opportunity to ask questions.
The sort of questions the organisation will probably want to ask you will vary from organisation to organisation and depend on the type of voluntary work you are interested in. However, a typical interviewer (formal or informal) may ask any of the following:
- why you are interested in volunteering
- what sort of voluntary work are you interested in
- what your particular skills are
- what new skills would you like to learn through your volunteer work
- how much time you have to offer
You can ask them anything that you feel unsure about. You may want to check some or all of the following:
- reimburesement of expenses
- training/qualification opportunities
- what variety will there be in the work?
- support/supervision (someone to talk to regularly about how you are getting on)
- how volunteering may effect my benefits, if you are claiming
An informal chat or interview can also give you an opportunity to look at where you will be volunteering and meet some of the other staff and volunteers.
In addition to some form of meeting you may also be required to complete an application or registration form and in some cases provide references.
Can I leave if I don’t like it?
Yes, of course. You are under no real obligation to keep volunteering for an organisation that you unhappy in.
Having said that however it is always worth talking to somebody about this first. This could be your volunteer co-ordinator (if there is one), your supervisor or someone in the organisation who is responsible for you or someone who you have got on with well. You can then discuss with them why you feel unhappy and what you feel would improve your time as a volunteer in the organisation.
It is also something you may want to talk about with other volunteers in the organisation. You could either do this informally, or if your organisation has a Volunteers Council or a regular meeting that all volunteers attend, you could bring up your problem there.
If you feel that something is seriously wrong or someone is treating you badly it is also worth checking whether your organisation has a complaints procedure.
I’m working full-time. Will I still be able to volunteer?
Yes, there are many opportunities to volunteer that do not require you to be available Monday to Friday during the day. Don’t be put off volunteering because you work full-time! Many organisations would love to find volunteers that are able to volunteer evenings, nights and/or weekends.
Some examples of out of office hours volunteering include: campaigning, the Samaritans or other helplines, working with homeless people, befriending, environmental and sports activities.
It is important however, to check out with any organisation you are interested in volunteering for, what time commitment they have in mind. You will need to work out how many hours you will volunteer for and for how long you wish to volunteer.
What do volunteers do?
Almost anything you want to do or can think of! You can volunteer to rescue people from mountains, to farm organically, build houses, write a magazine, judge criminals as a magistrate, or fix computers. There are organisations out there you can join that cater for every interest and minority group imaginable.
Will I get training?
You need to ask your organisation this, as it varies a lot. Some organisations offer substantial training and support, but others don’t and expect you to learn on the job or contribute existing skills.
It also depends on the type of work you will be doing. So if you’re spending one day clearing overgrowth from paths, expect about 15 minutes at the start being told what to do, how to use the tools and what health and safety precautions to take. But if you volunteer to give welfare benefits advice you should get much more training. You might get 10 two-hour training sessions spread over several weeks before you see a client, plus ongoing training to keep you up-to-date.
Do I need qualifications?
Usually you don’t. Some very skilled work may demand qualifications, but usually organisations offer training to enable you to do the work.
Can I get a qualification?
It’s becoming more common for organisations to offer volunteers qualifications such as an NVQ, but it is still unusual. You may well learn a lot and gain valuable experience, skills and a reference though. If you do need a formal qualification, ask at interview, or contact your local volunteer bureau as they may know if any other local organisations offer qualifications.
Can I volunteer with my family or friends?
Yes, you can but you won’t have such a large choice as if you were completely flexible. Some volunteering is usually done in groups, so two or more people could easily join together. Examples are practical conservation and fundraising. It’s unusual for organisations to plan volunteering specially so that groups of people can volunteer together. But it is a growing trend in the USA and could be a good marketing for UK organisations wanting to attract more volunteers.
Can I claim benefits while volunteering?
Yes, you can. The benefits regulations are clear that you can volunteer.
For detailed and up to date information on volunteering whilst you are claiming welfare benefits please view our information sheet which includes information on what to tell your local Job Centre staff
I want to be a social worker. How can I get experience?
Some Social Services departments take on volunteers, but you’ll have to contact them directly.
There are also many other organisations working in the health and social care field that involve volunteers in frontline roles, for example hospitals, hospices, and organisations of or for disabled people.
Can I volunteer full-time and get living expenses?
You can, but only under certain circumstances. Most residential voluntary work offers board, lodging and some form of pocket money. This work can be for a week or two or a whole year.
How can I volunteer overseas?
There are two broad types of overseas volunteering.
-
Volunteering for at least a year, by people with a professional skill in demand for overseas development, for example medicine or construction. Such volunteers typically receive flights, accommodation and a local wage. The aim is usually to pass on skills so local people are more self-sufficient when the placement ends.
-
Volunteering for anything from a few weeks to a year by people without relevant professional skills. For this type of volunteering you will usually have to fundraise a substantial amount, perhaps as much as £2,000, though some projects are far cheaper. In return you will take part in what many see as an exciting chance to experience something completely different and gain an understanding of another culture as well as of yourself.
For both types of volunteering it is best to apply well in advance. There are well over 100 British organisations specialising in arranging overseas volunteering (for a selection of these visit our overseas volunteering page) offering a choice of either a particular country or type of work. Not all projects are well organised, so find out as much as you can beforehand by asking questions:
-
Does the project provide travel, accommodation, food and pocket money?
-
What is the minimum length of time?
-
Do I need particular skills?
-
Does the project expect any religious commitment?
-
Can I speak with volunteers who have returned from the project to find out how they found it?
It is possible to travel to a country and then find voluntary work. However, you should check first if there are visa restrictions for volunteering and bear in mind that it can take many weeks to be selected onto a volunteer programme.
