Have you ever benefited from a service run with volunteers? Have you experienced the kindness of a volunteer or seen how your local community benefits from the time given by others?
Volunteering can make a real difference in your own life and the lives of those around you. There are many ways to get involved and plenty of organisations that can help you find a role. Not all opportunities are paid in money, but they can be an invaluable experience.
- Think about what interests or excites you. This could be something you enjoy doing now, or in the past, or something completely new.
- Think about what time and skills you can give. With so many opportunities to choose from, narrow down the choices by deciding what you're willing to give.
- Get researching!
You might feel like volunteering is an ideal way to give back. You might use your time and the skills you already have, but volunteering is also a great way to pick up new skills. Here’s a breakdown of some of the other benefits:
- Giving something back - Volunteering is an act of generosity which not only benefits the recipient, but also gives a sense of fulfilment and purpose to the volunteers themselves.
- Personal growth - Being a volunteer can expose you to diverse experiences and challenges, providing opportunities to gain new skills, from communication and leadership to empathy and resilience.
- Wellbeing - Research consistently shows that there are benefits to mental and emotional health from altruistic actions. Giving, without expecting anything in return triggers the release of endorphins, the "feel-good" hormones, promoting a sense of well-being. You can read more here.
- Community connection - Volunteering fosters a sense of community and social connection. It can bring together people from diverse backgrounds, uniting them in shared goals. This leads to friendships and social bonds that go beyond the actual volunteering.
- Improved professional opportunities - Beyond personal growth, you can gain practical experience, expand networks, and develop transferable skills that are in high demand in the job market.
Volunteer Mentoring:
Being a volunteer mentor can profoundly impact the lives of people of all ages, both young and old. Mentoring allows you to contribute positively to someone else’s life, helping them navigate challenges, make informed decisions, and ultimately reach their full potential.
Many opportunities are for mentoring young people, but mature students can have career changes and may need a vocational mentor to help them transition into a new industry.
As a mentor, you can directly influence a young person’s prospects, building their confidence and aspirations. You will act as a role model, demonstrating positive behaviours, attitudes, and skills that help shape a mentee’s personal and professional development.
Mentoring Opportunities:
If you want to find out more about the benefits of volunteering, and how you can find opportunities, you can access a range of resources here on Careers Online. You can also search in JobsOnline for local, national, and international volunteering opportunities across a wide range of vocational areas. Graduates can also register to volunteer with the Northumbria University Alumni Association mentoring programme.
You can find some other resources on volunteering, both in the UK and abroad at Prospects.ac.uk.
Volunteering in the North East:
Graduate Access:
To ensure you have access to all the Graduate Futures careers support and tools please ensure you have an up-to-date preferred personal email address to access to JobsOnline and Careers Online. If you require any assistance and would like to know about the Graduate Careers Club, please visit Graduate Futures webpages. If you can no longer access your Careers Online or JobsOnline account, You will need to re-register to use these systems as a graduate.
