How to start volunteering: finding a role that suits you
TUREFF• •0
Plenty of people want to volunteer but never get past the first step, usually because they are unsure what to offer, worried about the commitment or put off by a long application. The good news is that volunteering comes in far more shapes than most people realise, from a single afternoon at a park clean-up to years of mentoring. The trick is to match the role to your time, skills and temperament rather than signing up for the first thing you see.
Start with three honest questions
Before you look at a single listing, write down short answers to these.
- How much time can you really give? An hour a week that you keep up is worth more than a full day you abandon after a month. Be realistic about work, family and seasons that get busy.
- What do you want out of it? Meeting people, learning a skill, using one you already have, getting outdoors, building experience for a job, or simply doing something useful are all valid reasons.
- What do you not want? Some people love talking to strangers on the phone; others would dread it. Some want physical work; others need something seated. Ruling things out narrows the search quickly.
Know the main types of role
- Regular roles such as charity shop shifts, befriending an older person, helping at a food bank or reading with children at a school.
- One-off or event roles such as marshalling a fun run, staffing a festival stall or joining a litter pick. These are a low-risk way to try volunteering.
- Skills-based roles where you lend professional experience, for example bookkeeping, design, web work or legal knowledge. Small charities are often short of exactly these skills.
- Trustee roles, where you sit on a charity's governing board. It is a real responsibility with legal duties, but it suits people with management or specialist experience.
- Remote or micro-volunteering, such as transcribing records, answering text helplines after training, or contributing to online science projects from home.
Where to find opportunities
- Your local volunteer centre or council voluntary service, which keeps listings and can talk through options with you.
- National volunteering databases, which let you search by postcode, cause and time available.
- Charities you already care about, through the volunteering page on their own website.
- Your workplace, as some employers give paid volunteering days.
- Community noticeboards, libraries and places of worship, where small groups often advertise.
In the UK, Volunteers' Week takes place each June and is a good moment to find taster sessions, but organisations recruit all year round.
What to expect when you apply
Larger organisations usually ask for a short application, an informal chat and references. For roles working with children or vulnerable adults, the organisation may arrange a criminal record check; in England and Wales, the Disclosure and Barring Service does standard and enhanced checks free of charge for eligible volunteers. Many community roles do not need any check at all. You should not normally be asked to pay to volunteer, apart from some overseas placements, which deserve careful scrutiny.
Good organisations will also offer:
- An induction explaining what you will do and who to ask for help.
- A named contact or volunteer coordinator.
- Expenses for agreed costs such as travel, so volunteering does not leave you out of pocket.
- Clarity about the commitment, including how to step back if your circumstances change.
Making it stick
- Try before you commit. Ask whether you can shadow a shift or start with a short trial.
- Say what you need. If a role turns out to be too much, or not enough, tell your coordinator early. Most would rather adjust it than lose you.
- Keep a note of what you learn. Volunteering experience is useful on a CV, and many roles include training you can mention.
- Bring a friend. Volunteering together makes it easier to turn up on a cold evening.
- It is fine to move on. If a role is not right, leave politely and try another. Finding the right fit sometimes takes a couple of attempts.
Have you found a volunteering role you love, or are you still looking? Share your experience in the comments.