Charities and Voluntary Work
Why should I volunteer?
- Gain valuable work experience
- Build your confidence
- Connect with your community
- Excellent experience to put on your CV
- Demonstrate your motivation to employers
- Meet new people, make new friends
- Improve your English if it's not your first language
If you are planning to volunteer, try to ensure that it will be a useful development opportunity from which you can enhance your skills and experience. Volunteering can be great for everyone, but particularly if you:
- have been out of work for a while
- have never had a job
- would like to change career
- are international student who has some time left on their student visa
Charities should reimburse reasonable travel expenses and lunch.
Team London
Team London match volunteers with charities. They work at providing people the opportunity to build employability skills through social action projects, supporting them on their route to work.
Take look at the film clip below to find out more about 'speed volunteering' with Team London.
Volunteering Opportunities
Large database of volunteering opportunities (recommended): http://www.do-it.org.uk/
Team London: https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/volunteering/search/
Website to help find your nearest volunteer centre: http://volunteering.org.uk
Countrywide volunteering opportunities for 14 – 25 year olds: http://vinspired.com/
Where else to look...
To explore local charities see: https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/
Check your borough council website or local volunteer bureau.
For further information and link to voluntary opportunities see: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/work-experience-and-internships/volunteering
National / International Charities
There are thousands of charities in the UK. Finding opportunities with the larger more well-known ones can be competitive but will look great on your CV.