Volunteer opportunities come in all shapes and sizes, just like volunteers. You can do something for an hour a week at your local charity shop or you can volunteer for six months as an RSPB warden. And all kinds of other things inbetween. To get a better idea of what you can do, visit our Volunteer Opportunities page.

Before you start looking, remember, VOLUNTARY WORK SHOULD BE FUN!…..which means YOU, the volunteer, should get as much out of it as the people you are helping. So before you commit yourself to a voluntary role, think about what you hope to get out of it. Check out the Benefits page and find out what’s in it for you.

Of course, volunteering is also a serious commitment, because the people you have offered to help will be counting on you and will be disappointed if you let them down. So be sure how much time you have to offer. It is better to start modestly than to over-commit yourself from the start. Beginning slowly allows you to increase your commitment gradually if you wish. It gives you space to assess how much time you can give to volunteering. Taking on too much causes stress, feelings of guilt and failure and then you end up doing no voluntary work at all. That’s not what anyone wants!

To help you think about your commitment and the kind of voluntary work that will suit you best right now, consider the questions below.

• Are there any particular skills or hobbies that you’d like to transfer to volunteering?
• Are there any skills you’d like to gain?
• Do you enjoy helping people directly, such as befriending, listening, offering advice? Or do you prefer practical activities like driving, administration, shop work?
• Do you like working with groups of people or would you prefer to work one-to-one?
• Is there a particular cause you are interested in?
• How much time do you have to give? Is your situation likely to change in the near future?
• Where would you like to volunteer? Close to home, in the next town, further afield?

Your answers should help you to focus more clearly on the kind of voluntary work that will be right for you.

Please also bear in mind that anyone wishing to volunteer with children under 18, or vulnerable adults, may well be asked to undergo a Police Check. This process can take several weeks, so you will need to be prepared to wait before becoming fully involved in the project of your choice.