The Personal Benefits

Volunteering is about giving your time, energy and skills freely. Unlike many things in life there is a choice involved in volunteering; you have made a decision to help on your own accord, free from pressure to act from others. Instead of considering volunteering as something you do for people who are not as fortunate as yourself, think of it as an exchange.

Research findings: why volunteering is good for you and others

• volunteering can be energising and renewing and provides the opportunity to get out of your usual routine and experience a culture that is different from your own. You will learn about people from all walks of life and environments. This exposure opens up new horizons and builds your confidence and competence in managing a range of culturally diverse situations you will face in your professional career

• volunteering brings together a diverse range of people from all backgrounds and walks of life. Both the recipients of your volunteer efforts and your co-workers can be a rich source of inspiration and an excellent way to develop your interpersonal skills. Networking is an exciting benefit. Not only will you develop lasting personal and professional relationships, you never can tell who you will meet next or what new information you will learn that could impact on your life

• working in volunteer settings you will have opportunities to lead by persuasion and innovation. You will develop your change management and conflict resolution skills and, in building and sharing your expertise, you’ll help build the confidence in those you work with to change lives

• whilst an enhanced resume and a boost to career options are positive spin-offs from volunteering, the desire to give something back to society should be your prime motivation. However, volunteering can be the perfect way to explore new fields, to expand your career portfolio and to gain a real insight into your chosen path