Volunteering
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About
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Websites
Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, try new things, support a worthwhile charity or cause and do something that makes you feel good about yourself.
It gives you the opportunity to develop your skills and interest and to gain some valuable work experience. Volunteering looks good on your CV and will impress employers and course admissions tutors.
Whatever your interests and passions there is a wide range of volunteering opportunities you could get involved in. These range from activities in your local community to opportunities in other parts of the UK and overseas. You can get an idea of what’s available by browsing the Do-it database. There are some restrictions on the type of volunteering that under 16’s can do, you can find out more about this by following this link.
Volunteers give as much time as they’re able. This could be anything from a few hours each week to whole weeks during the holidays. Some young people choose to do extended periods of volunteering during their gap year. You’ll need be realistic about how much time you have to give to volunteering.
You won’t get paid for your volunteering but you may get your travel costs, living costs if you’re away from home, and other expenses paid. You should be given all of the support and training you need. Some organisations and charities give their volunteers the opportunity to gain qualifications and awards. This is a great way of getting your hard work recognised - make sure you take advantage of it. Find out all about volunteering at direct.gov.
See the websites tab above for a selection of organisations that can help you find the volunteering opportunity than you want.
