Volunteering is when you choose to give your time to help others, either in your local community or elsewhere. It can take lots of different forms – formal or informal, individual or in groups, indoors or outdoors. Volunteers contribute a wide range of skills such as administration, IT, care for children/elderly people, accountancy, gardening and sports. Volunteers don’t get paid, instead they get the satisfaction of helping others, a chance to make new friends and an opportunity to develop new skills.
Why Volunteer?
Volunteers make a huge difference to the groups and communties they help. As well as helping others there is a lot you can gain from volunteering:
- meet new people
- develop new skills
- get involved in the community
- improve your CV if you are job-hunting
- try out a new career
- share what you know with others
- or just to have some fun.
VCH can help you choose the right volunteering placement for you, based on what you want to do, who you want to help and how much time you can offer. You could get involved in:
- Administration in an office or on office, reception
- Outdoor activities: working with animals 0r improving the environment
- Sports – coaching, fun runds, or organising tournaments
- Arts – filming, theatres, dancing, music
- Children and youth activities including mentoring and after school clubs
- Befriending an older resident or someone with disabilities.
There are over 400 different voluntary activities in Hackney, and the volunteer centre can help you choose what’s right for you! Interested contact us to get started.
What about welfare benefits?
If you are unemployed, you can volunteer without it affecting your benefits. The Job Centre and other employment agencies recognise that volunteering is an excellent route into paid employment, as it provides practical experience, recent references, a chance to learn new skills and keep existing knowledge up-to-date, useful contacts and sometimes accredited training. More information about volunteering while on benefits can be found here.
