Volunteering
Volunteering means giving up your own time (as little or as much as you like) to help others (individuals, groups, communities), without getting paid (apart from expenses).
As well as the satisfaction gained from spending time helping others, there are huge benefits for you too. Volunteering is a great way to:
- meet new people and be part of a team
- develop new skills
- gain valuable experience
- receive free training, and of course.
- have FUN!
Volunteering doesn't have to involve the traditional idea of working in a charity shop (unless you want to!). It can give you a chance to build on what you're already into or get support to develop your own ideas for a project that benefits your community.
Once you start volunteering you can usually expect to receive out of pocket expenses (eg. travel, lunch); training in preparation for your role, and appropriate support. There may also be opportunities to gain a qualification or other forms of accreditation to add to your CV.
People volunteer for a variety of different reasons; some to improve their CV, some to try new things and meet new people and others just want to take action and give something back to their community. Some volunteers feel it is important for them to link their volunteering experience with formal accreditation. Others want to avoid the necessary logging of progress and hours that may be involved.
There are a number a numbers of ways that you can find out more about volunteering locally.
Check out volunteering opportunities at:-
www.do-it.org.uk -list various volunteering options you can search for opportunities locally.
www.mya.org.uk - Merseyside Youth Association lists various opportunities including Millennium Volunteers.
www.vinspired.com - The site includes a volunteering opportunities search facility (based on postcode), blogs, images, Q & A forums and case studies.