Who Else Volunteers?

Volunteering is no longer an old fashioned word - it’s not just something for older people with plenty of time on their hands.

Lots of celebrities do voluntary work- Angelina Jolie does it all over the world, Coldplay, U2 and Madonna all did it at Live8, Davina McCall went to Africa to do it, Princes William and Harry spent their gap years doing it, and hundreds of others regularly give up their free time to a good cause.

Of course, you don’t have to be a celebrity to volunteer - virtually anyone can do it!

You just need to be enthusiastic, open-minded and willing to help others. Self-discipline and patience are also useful skills, although you’ll learn these along the way! Remember - a smile and a friendly ear can be all it takes to brighten up someone’s day. It doesn’t really matter what skills you have, EVERYONE has something to give.

All sorts of people volunteer for many different reasons, but one thing that unites them all is that they find it challenging, rewarding and varied. Chances are, you’ll meet lots of like-minded, cool new people who are passionate about their interests and like having fun!

Why Volunteer?

Though there are some paid positions, most volunteers are unpaid. But don’t let that put you off. As well as the fact that it can feel really good to help others, there are loads more benefits to volunteering. Here’s just a few:

• Meet new people and try new things
• Learn new skills
• Get a qualification
• Build up your confidence and help other do the same
• Get valuable work experience
• Make a difference to other people’s lives
• Get a great sense of satisfaction and achievement
• Do things you always wanted to but thought you never would
• Have a lot of fun!
• Meet like-minded, cool people

"Volunteering is a win-win activity. You get to have fun and help others. Nobody loses..."