Have you considered volunteering?

You don’t have to be retired to become a volunteer however volunteering can be a fantastic way to occupy spare time if you have plenty of it!  In addition, volunteering can be very rewarding and is a great way to;

• meet new people
• gain new or use existing skills
• get experience
• make a big difference to a community
• improved health (physical and mental)
• build confidence
• have an adventure

There are so many different volunteering opportunities to choose from depending on your skills, interests and availability. Whether you are keen to go do something locally or further afield, volunteering could be your next big adventure.   

Read on for volunteering ideas as well as useful links to various organisations for further volunteering information and opportunities.  ​

Volunteering at home

You don't need to look far to find organisations willing to accept the generosity of your time.  Have a think about the type of people you'd like to work with, the skills you are able to share or the experience you'd like to gain.  Here are just a few suggestions:

Scouting
Every week the Scout Association, with the help of over 100,000 volunteers give almost half a million 6-25 year olds the skills they need for school, college, university, the job interview, the important speech, the tricky challenge and the big dreams: the skills they need for life.
Volunteering with the Scout Association is open to people of all ages, genders, races and backgrounds.  Whatever your skillset, you are invited to lend a hand for as little or as much time as you can spare, and the Association promise you’ll get more out than you put in.  Opportunities range from helping a leader to run an activity in the local town hall, organising a night away, or buttering 120 slices of bread a group of very hungry eleven year olds - no two Scout meetings are the same.
Training is provided. 
For more information about vacancies at a national and local level click on the link: Scout Association 

School or College Governor
School or College Governors support the senior leadership team within the setting.  Governors help with;

• the school strategy
• holding the headteacher to account for a school’s performance
• making sure the school’s budget is properly managed

No prior knowledge of education or governance is required and full training is given.
Governors must be aged over 18.
You can apply to be a Governor online or you can apply directly to your local school or college.  Click on the link for more information: Governor

Magistrate
Magistrates are volunteers who hear cases in courts in their community. They can hear cases in the criminal court, the family court, or both. Magistrates are supported by a legal adviser who ensures the law and processes are adhered to.
Magistrates deal with crimes like:

• minor assaults
• motoring offences
• theft
• handling stolen goods
• TV licence evasion

Magistrates must be over 18 and under 65 and usually serve for 5 years or more.  Full training is given and no specific qualifications are needed.  Good candidates for Magistrates are people who are;

• aware of social issues
• mature, understand people and have a sense of fairness
• reliable and committed to serving the community

Magistrates need to be in court for at least 13 days a year, which are usually full days.  If you are still working, an employer must, by law, allow you reasonable time off work to serve as a magistrate.
For more information about vacancies in your area click on the link:  Magistrate 

Care in the community
Lots of neighbourly volunteering has been happening during the Covid19 pandemic.  Shopping for those that can’t, doing odd jobs and even just popping in for a cuppa (when restrictions are lifted) are essential lifelines for the elderly and vulnerable in the community.

Many local community services organise troops of volunteers to help local people to thrive in their homes and as well as the websites detailed below, you can also contact your local community centre, council and organisations such as Age UK.  Food banks, local charities and a range of support services are also often looking for an extra pair of hands. Contact Age UK to explore opportunities near you: Age UK

​Caring for animals
If you love animals why not get in touch with local rescue centres, wildlife centres, zoos, animal sanctuaries, stables and of course organisations such as the RSPCA.  These organisations rely on volunteers to help with fundraising events, tasks such as feeding, walking, cleaning and general care of the animals.  Some also rely on volunteer foster carers while animals are recovering from injury, illness or while looking for new owners.
For more information about opportunities offered by the RSPCA click on the link: RSPCA

Citizens Advice
Across 280 local Citizens Advice in England and Wales are 21,300 highly trained volunteers who are invaluable to helping people find a way forward with the problems they face, and campaigning for changes to unfair policies and practices.  Citizens Advice helped 2.6 million people face to face, over the phone, by email and by web chat in 2017-18.

There are so many ways to get involved, from admin, fundraising, and trusteeship, to helping clients find the information and advice they need. Click on the link  to find out more about volunteering for this essential service: Citizens Advice 

Museums and places of interest
Many museums, attractions and places of interest rely on volunteers for a range of tasks from tour guides, welcoming visitors, organising collections and supporting learning.  Organisations from the National Trust to Historic Royal Palaces welcome help from volunteers and many of the roles available are detailed on their websites.  Check with your local museum or place of interest to discover how you can get involved.  Check out volunteer vacancies at Historic Royal Palaces and The National Trust
 
Charities
Every charity relies on the help of volunteers to operate and raise funds for their cause.  Whatever is special to you, there is probably a charity operating for the greater good of the cause.  Contact charities directly for volunteering opportunities.
 
Further information and organisations who can inform of local opportunities:
Do-it.org is a database of UK volunteering opportunities. You can search more than a million volunteering opportunities by interest, activity or location and then apply online.
Volunteering England to find volunteering opportunities in your area.
Volunteering Matters to find volunteering opportunities in your area.
Join-in runs local sporting and community volunteering projects as a legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
National Association for Voluntary and Community Action a database of local volunteer organisations across England who offer support and can connect you with local charities.
local Volunteer Centre a database of local volunteer organisations across the UK
Reach Volunteering a website for volunteers with specific skills including accountancy, marketing, law, management, mentoring or IT
Rest Less a website featuring a host of volunteering opportunities
 

Volunteering overseas

If you are considering volunteering abroad, don't be put off getting involved because you’re not the classic gap-year student volunteer. According to Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), around two fifths of its volunteers are in their fifties or sixties, with 2% in their seventies.
Overseas volunteer projects can last from one week to three months, and could include anything from helping to build a school to providing assistance after a natural disaster, teaching English to conservation and wildlife. 

Check out these organisations to get a feel for the type of projects you could get involved with:  

Voluntary Service Overseas runs education, health, food, training and farming projects in 24 countries, from Zimbabwe to Papua New Guinea. It needs volunteers with experience in everything from teaching to business, engineering and IT.
Global Vision International Offers more than 150 volunteer abroad programmes in areas ranging from marine conservation to healthcare, animal care, construction and sport. Family volunteer holidays are also available. 
Projects Abroad offer opportunities to anyone aged 16 to 75-plus, in 30 destinations, covering the likes of micro-finance, community work, creative arts, agriculture, childcare and much more. 
POD Volunteer is a non profit volunteer organisation who offer volunteering with animals, communities and long term partners worldwide.
Kaya Volunteer is a volunteer organisation offering volunteering with animals, communities and long term partners worldwide.

The great thing to remember about volunteering is that it doesn’t have to be a huge commitment.  Start with just a few hours and build from there  - if you are willing and able and do it because you enjoy it.
 
We’d love to hear your stories and recommendations of organisations to volunteer with.  Please post in the comments so that others can benefit from your experience. ​