Feel Good, Do Good: Benefits of Volunteering

| 6 min read Uncategorized

The benefits of volunteering are far-reaching. 

It’s a chance to really give back, see the difference you can personally make and get to know people in your local community. 

As well as that, it can be very personally fulfilling and rewarding. Volunteering can benefit you as a person and enrich the lives of others. 

In 2023/24, 28% of adults in England reported participating in formal volunteering at least once in the year. This is similar to the 27% rate in 2021/22. 

However, rates have been declining since 2013/14, when 45% of people reported volunteering – so now could be the perfect time for you to get involved and get started. 

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Volunteer: why it is important

The most obvious reason to volunteer is to feel the sense of helping and doing the right thing. 

But volunteering can go so much further than that. Volunteering is massively important when it comes to building communities and fostering a sense of belonging. 

Small individual contributions can collectively lead to significant societal changes. A few hours of your time volunteering really can lead to big changes in your local area. 

A great example of this is AgeUK’s friendship services.  Age UK and its partner charity The Silver Line offer free telephone friendship services so you can enjoy chatting with someone over the phone, all from the comfort of your own home.

This can foster long-term, worthwhile relationships that benefit both you and the caller. 

What sounds like something small can really go a long way and can help combat loneliness all over the UK. 

Personal benefits of volunteering

Some of the reasons to volunteer are outlined below. It can be a fantastic way to spend your time. 

Mental health improvements 

  • Volunteering can help to reduce loneliness as you’re introduced to new people in your community. As well as this, it can heighten your sense of purpose and belonging, as you will have people counting on you to be there. 
  • It can also reduce stress and improve your mental health. Moving your body around and getting up and out can do wonders to improve your mood and sense of accomplishment 
  • There are reports of social benefits from their volunteering. Almost nine in ten volunteers say they have met new people. Young people aged 18–24 (77%) and 25–34 (76%) are the age groups most likely to say their volunteering helped them feel less isolated.

Skill development

  • Volunteering is also a great chance to improve your practical skills. By working with others, you can strengthen your project management skills and build on teamworking. 
  • Volunteering can also transition into a professional career. For example, many people have volunteered in a sports setting, which has provided them with skills to go onto working in a coaching capacity or with a local team. 
  • It’s also a great start to your career. You can build up your CV and university application with examples of your volunteering. 

Networking opportunities 

  • Volunteering provides a valuable opportunity to network and to get to know people in your community. 
  • This can be done in a professional setting too. It could help you gain experience in the field you want to work in and get to know like-minded people. 

Community benefits of volunteering

Dedicating your time to volunteering can have far-reaching benefits to your local community. 

Here’s how volunteering can help not only yourself, but the wider area. 

Strengthening communities

  • There are many community initiatives in the UK you can volunteer to. This can be as simple as volunteering at a branch of a charity shop or you could put in more time and register to volunteer at a local food bank. The Trussell Trust is great for finding out about local initiatives near to you and how you can get involved. 
  • Volunteering in Britain rose massively during the Covid-19 pandemic. After this, there was a big boost in people wanting to continue to volunteer and help out. This is particularly true for food banks and local delivery services, for people who are elderly or who have mobility issues 

Addressing social issues

  • Volunteering can help to tackle on-going social issues like homelessness. You can contact local homeless charities and see how you can help out. This can include preparing meals for people, volunteering at a store or going out on walks. 
  • There is also work to be done for young people who have additional needs in your area. The King’s Trust, in particular, runs a fantastic scheme to help young people with employment.

Creating ripple effects

  • Individual efforts can inspire broader community involvement and social change.You can meet people who may introduce you to bigger community schemes or involve you in further volunteer opportunities. 
  • Community projects can often grow into larger initiatives. An example of this is how small community gardens can turn into businesses that give back to the community on a larger scale. 

How to get started

It really is very easy to get started. 

Have a think about what you want to get involved in. There’s so many routes to go down, but if you identify personal interests you have you’re more likely to enjoy it. 

Try and align it with passions and hobbies that you have. For example, if you’re interested in sport, there may be a chance to volunteer at a local leisure centre or with a sports team you know. 

Likewise if you enjoy cooking, you could get involved in a community kitchen. 

Here are some UK-specific resources to try and find opportunities 

It’s important to remember that volunteering means giving up your time. Really try to consider how you can balance this with personal and professional commitments. Try to balance it around your life now and work out how much time you can realistically give. 

Although you may be giving up some of your time, volunteering really is one of the best ways to spend it. The personal and community benefits really are far-reaching and you will not regret doing it – take your first step today. 

How to help if you don’t have time to volunteer

Not everyone is able to spare time to volunteer. From professional to family commitments, some people do not have enough hours in the week. 

Not all volunteering positions are available to everybody, as some can depend on your own personal abilities. 

But you can still help. Fundraising and donating to charity is a great way to make sure you are still helping others in need in a positive way. 

You can start your own fundraiser today. 

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Written by olivia