There are all sorts of reasons to explore the possibility of volunteering with someone you are advising.

Whether a young person is at a loose end or needing experience, volunteering can be beneficial in many ways and there is a wide range of options for them to consider. Working without being paid may be a hard concept for a young person to grasp, so a discussion around the advantages of volunteering will be a useful starting point…

Good reasons to volunteer

Whilst people of all ages can benefit from volunteering, for a young person it can be particularly valuable. Volunteering can give them something productive to do, expand their outlook and provide them with a chance to meet all sorts of new people. It’s a great opportunity for them to try out new things and develop self-confidence, which is crucially important at any stage, but especially if they’re out of education, training or work, or struggling with certain aspects of their lives. 

A period spent volunteering can improve a young person’s communication, time management, teamworking and other transferrable skills, and perhaps give them the opportunity to develop more specific skills – anything from DIY to counselling. It can also provide insight into different careers and possibly the chance to decide whether or not they may be suited to a particular role. 

For certain careers, such as those in the media, nature conservation, archaeology, medicine or social work, having relevant experience is either helpful or essential in order to secure a course/training place or paid employment. After all, selectors want to be satisfied that applicants are fully committed and have developed some understanding of the work. 

I spoke with Emily who is in her second year studying paramedic science at Oxford Brookes University.

“There’s a lot of competition for places on paramedic courses at uni, so I was advised to get some relevant experience to enhance my UCAS application. I volunteered with St John Ambulance. Not only did I learn about first aid, I got to meet like-minded people and work at some interesting events. I’m sure it helped me get a course place but, more importantly, it made me realise I was calm in a crisis and not afraid of blood!”

Although it’s great if a young person can secure volunteering relevant for a future career, any opportunity will come in useful when they apply for courses, training or jobs; it’s something positive for them to mention in their applications and discuss at interviews. And it’s especially useful for those with no or limited work experience.

Volunteering not only allows someone to contribute to society, it can be enormously satisfying. Depending on what they do, it can also help a young person learn to respect others, develop empathy, and possibly become a better citizen and more interesting person.

All sorts of opportunities are available

There are too many to list here, but broadly speaking you can help the young person you are advising explore volunteering that involves:

• working in the community – to mention a few opportunities … helping at a homeless shelter, working on hospital radio, befriending an older person, volunteering at a children’s club, coaching a local football team, providing information at a museum or walking dogs at a rescue centre
• practical work – archaeological digs, gardening, nature conservation or ecological fieldwork, for instance
• raising funds for a cause – such as collecting money on flag days, working at a charity shop or organising fundraising events
• working behind the scenes with a charity in areas such as campaigning, administration, digital marketing or finance, or as a trustee or committee member.

It’s worth pointing out that volunteering can be a one-off event (such as marshalling at a charity race or helping with a theatrical production), a regular commitment (supporting a weekly swimming session for children with disabilities, for example), an intensive project (e.g. helping at a residential retreat or digging a community garden) or part of a gap year in the UK or overseas (working on an organic farm or helping at a school).

Factors to consider

Encourage the young person you are advising to ask themselves some searching questions.

• What is their motivation to volunteer? 
• What sort of things do they enjoy?
• Do they have a commitment to a particular cause? 
• What sort of activity would suit their personality and aptitudes?
• Do they have a career in mind where it would be useful to get some relevant experience?
• What skills would they like to develop?
• Where do they want to volunteer – at home (online), up the road or in Timbuktu?
• How much time do they have to commit and how regularly? 

When considering the options for volunteering, make sure that the young person finds out whether there are any specific entry criteria; they may need to be a certain age or have relevant experience. They should find out what support, supervision and training will be available. It’s also important that they get a clear idea about any costs involved. If going abroad, what about flights, insurance, visas and project fees? In some cases, expenses and/or pocket money is paid, and food and accommodation are provided. 

How to get started 

It’s possible for a young person to volunteer through their school/college, employer, an organisation they belong to (such as Scouts or Guides), through a charity or voluntary organisation, or off their own bat – shopping for an older neighbour or setting up their own community action project. The NCS (National Citizen Service) in England offers young people a chance to undertake social activities and volunteering is a key element of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

There’s no shortage of information on volunteering. Many towns and cities have a volunteer centre – staff there can help the young person find a suitable opportunity. If the young person has a particular interest, they could make a direct approach to a relevant organisation/charity. Otherwise, they can search for suitable opportunities and get ideas through sites such as Vinspired.com, Volunteering Wales, Volunteer Scotland, Volunteer Now (in Northern Ireland) or Volunteering Matters. There are also many organisations that offer volunteer projects abroad, including for gap-year students. Advice on how to volunteer safely overseas is available via GOV.UK.

Making the most of the volunteering experience

Volunteering can be a big commitment, so the young person you are advising should try to make the most of the opportunity. Tell them to keep a record of the tasks they have done and the skills they have used. They should be encouraged to revisit these notes when applying for training, courses or jobs in the future, and draw connections between their experiences and skills and the specific positions being pursued.

If it isn’t forthcoming, suggest that the young person asks for feedback on their performance. In this way, they can understand more about themselves, including their strengths and weaknesses.

Suggest that the young person asks for the contact details of key individuals they come across when volunteering or connects with them on social media. Developing professional relationships and building up a network in this way may prove useful in the future. They could also ask whether they can contact someone suitable for a reference if needed.

Ensure that the young person understands that volunteering is a reciprocal arrangement. Whilst, hopefully, they will experience a number of benefits, they need to be clear about their responsibilities. Perhaps for the first time in their lives, other people will be relying on them to do a good job, so they need to be reliable, work hard and cooperate.

Finally, let’s hear about Emily’s first experience of volunteering a few years ago as part of her DofE:

“I was really nervous on my first day at a charity shop, but the friendly manager showed me what to do and I soon got into the swing of things. My advice to a young person would be to always ask if they’re not sure about something. Nobody minds and they’d rather they check something than make mistakes. They should also remember that organisations that recruit volunteers usually welcome them with open arms – they may not be able to function without them!”

© Debbie Steel