This week is Volunteers' Week and thousands of individuals all over the UK are being recognised for their selfless input to many community projects that benefit society. The scope for voluntary work is immense, as an unpaid workforce toils daily to bring enlightenment to many areas of society that would suffer without this input. Work such as taking incoming calls for the Samaritans, or working with the disabled, or offering services as a driver for those unable to use public transport, the list is endless. The jolly ladies that run the charity shops in every town are unpaid, giving their time freely and with gratitude. Often these ladies have had a working life and have raised a family, and upon retirement, they "work" for the good of their community. Retirement, as such, ceases to exist.
What Kind of Work Can a Volunteer Do?
Besides health-based volunteer work, many arts and sports organisations require people to give a few hours a week of their time to enable young people to become involved in activities that might otherwise be denied them, due to economic reasons. Many young people offer to lend a hand once a week at organisations such as Scouts and Brownies, actively learning responsibility for themselves and those whom they are expected to influence. Arts Centres, usually run on a budget, are the perfect setting for a volunteer to learn administrative, research and people skills, and many young folk follow this path as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. Crucial to society in all parts of the UK is the Community Learning and Development programme, which is designed to help adults with reading, writing and numbers. This activity is usually delivered by volunteer tutors, enriching the lives of people who had previously struggled within the job-market due to poor written communication skills.
What Are the Benefits of Being a Volunteer?
Often people embark upon the volunteer path after redundancy or job-search disappointments. Working for nothing is more uplifting that not working at all. Besides a positive demeanour, which is usually brought by helping others, there is the sense of doing something worthwhile within the community. It is an opportunity to learn new tasks, meet new people, partake of courses offered by the organisation in question and to grow in confidence, knowing that spare time is not being spent idly. It opens up the spectrum of social gatherings, outings, Sunday lunches and making new friends. New skills include computer work, reception work, soft skills as one learns to meet and deal with questions or problems by members of the public. It is an opportunity to grow in strength and stature as people come to depend on the help and support that the volunteer can give. Volunteering may be the catalyst to many new and long-lasting relationships, which inspires the volunteer to continue to be all that he/she can be in helping members of the community.
A New Career Path
Volunteering could be the springboard to a brand new discipline, which might never have been anticipated previously. New skills learnt while serving the community can be transferred to the job-market and therefore must enhance a CV. Volunteering offers an individual the experience of work, which is so crucial to gaining employment at the moment, regardless of academic qualifications. Employers want to see experience on a CV. Most of all, volunteering gives a person a boost to self-esteem.
In the UK, there are many organisations crying out for volunteers to help with their projects. It could open up a new beginning for many - those requiring the services of a volunteer and the volunteers themselves. It's worth it.
Doreen Taylor - Conscientious and committed to good writing, I will endeavour to do my best for all my writers. I adore reading and learning new things ...
