Why volunteer
There are many reasons that people give for volunteering. For some, volunteering can be a route to employment, or a chance to try something new which may lead to a career change. From this perspective, volunteering can be a way of:
- Gaining new skills, knowledge and experience
- Developing existing skills and knowledge
- Enhancing a CV
- Improving one's employment prospects
- Gaining an accreditation
- Using one's professional skills and knowledge to benefit others (usually described as pro bono)
For others, volunteering appeals because of its social benefits. These include:
- Meeting new people
- Making new friends
- A chance to socialise
- Getting to know the local community
On top of this, many people volunteer for a variety of other reasons, such as:
- Giving something back to an organisation that has impacted on a person's life, either directly or indirectly
- A desire to make a difference to the lives of others
- Good karma
- Helping the environment
- Helping others less fortunate or without a voice
- Feeling part of a team
- Feeling valued
- Having quality time away from work or a busy lifestyle
- Building up trust
- Gaining confidence and self-esteem
- Finding a volunteering role that suits one's own needs and lifestyle
With the wide variety of volunteering opportunities that are available today, there is bound to be something for everyone. Another reason for its popularity is that volunteering is open to all.
There are a number of useful resources on the TES Growing Ambitions website.
It's official: Volunteering is good for you
Read the University of Lampeter's report Volunteering and Health: What impact does it really have? to find out more.
