Volunteering not only enriches your practical social experience but also makes friends from all over the world. Volunteering for a charity is an excellent option for students as they can help others. Dedicating yourself to a charity will also add a nice touch to your CV. Previously, the commissioner has written a list of suitable part-time jobs for school students in the UK. Therefore, in this blog, we will talk about how to apply for volunteer work in the UK.
How to apply for volunteers
Generally, volunteers apply online. For example, every school has a website dedicated to volunteers. You need to complete a CV, and then you can look for volunteer activities. Some schools will also send you emails about volunteer work according to your interests so you can pay more attention to the information released by your school’s Student Union. Alternatively, you can sign up for an account on other volunteering websites, fill in your details and apply.
After you send out your application, the website will send your profile information to the email address of the person, organisation or company offering this job opportunity. Then all you have to do is wait patiently for their reply. Here are some of the websites where you can find volunteer jobs.
Comprehensive Volunteer Website
NCVO
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) is an organisation that has been providing volunteering services in England since 1919. As a helpful bridge between voluntary organisations, companies and students, NCVO provides volunteer opportunities in various sectors.
There are NCVO Volunteer Centres in every region of England. Go to the official website and enter your postcode to find your local Volunteer Centre, where you can talk to the staff face-to-face and find the exemplary volunteering service for you.
Do-it
Do-it is a website with over a million volunteer opportunities that can be declared online. The site’s search engine helps you narrow your choices based on your interests. There’s information about helping animals, children, the homeless, and even helping victims of domestic violence, just to name a few. Then, depending on your regional location, you can enter the postcode of your home address and search for volunteer opportunities nearest to you. Also, you can recruit volunteers for it.
Vinspired
Vinspired is also a volunteering website that covers the whole of the UK. The website’s Volunteer section allows you to search by address, the type of work you’re interested in, the project, the hours you’re comfortable with, and more, making it easy to find volunteer opportunities near your home. Once you’ve spotted an opportunity, you can also check out the skills required for the job, the specific tasks, and more to see if you’re suitable for the volunteering job.
Reach Volunteering
Suppose you have a particular skill set, such as law, accountancy, sales, management, teaching or IT. In that case, this site should be perfect for you, as Reach Volunteering works with several organisations to provide them with skilled volunteers. If you want to find a job related to your field of study in the UK, you can apply for volunteering jobs on this website to familiarise yourself with the working environment and build a network.
Step Together
Step Together is committed to volunteering to help young and marginalised people broaden their horizons and learn job skills that will enrich life satisfaction. The sense of fulfilment is instantaneous when you see the people you’ve helped find work, become self-supporting, or feel hopeful about life!
Volunteering Matters
Volunteering Matters (formerly Community Service Volunteers) is the UK’s largest voluntary organisation offering full-time, part-time and one-off volunteering. In addition to posting volunteering opportunities for major corporate organisations, Volunteering Matters also provides help for marginalised groups and families in society. These people in need are categorised as Young People, Older People, Disabled People and so on, helping them to learn life skills or companion care. People can click Start Volunteering to find volunteering services in their area.
Charity
Save the Children
Save the Children is one of the world’s largest charitable organisations focusing on children. They need volunteers to help children improve their learning skills, such as reading and speaking skills, or to help run the day-to-day work, help promote organisational events, etc. You can check out the official website for volunteer information.
British Red Cross
British Red Cross, there are not only volunteering services related to healthcare, but you can also apply to help with crowdfunding, helping older adults, teaching at a charity school, getting an internship in the charity sector, helping refugees, and even applying for volunteering in Europe or paid work opportunities abroad, and so on. You can always keep an eye on the official website for volunteer information.
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is London’s best-known dog and cat rescue centre. Volunteers are needed to help with their day-to-day office requirements, representation at meetings, giving tours of the rescue centre to visitors and the ability to raise money for charity and much more. If you are a big fan of small animals, you can also apply to look after these cats and dogs. You can visit the official website to see their volunteer information.
Requirements for Becoming a Volunteer
Different organisations may have additional age requirements; they do not have an upper age limit, but some may not accept people under 16 or over 80 because of their compensation policy. Even if you have a criminal record, you can still volunteer, and it will depend on the specific offence and the severity of the offence to determine the type of volunteer work that can be done. For example, if you are applying to help children or disabled people, the background check will be much stricter. Apart from the first two conditions, you can apply to volunteer as long as you legally reside in the UK.
Rights and Benefits of Volunteers
As a volunteer, you won’t have a formal contract, so you may have different rights than a regular employee, but you will be given an agreement that explains what you will be doing. You will be given an agreement describing how you will be supported in your work, training, or possibly public liability insurance, safety and health issues, a travelling allowance, food or any expenses related to your work.
In addition to the allowance, you will also get a volunteer certificate. Some sites also provide a log book of time certificates, which you can apply for once you have accumulated a certain number of hours of volunteer work. Of course, the most important thing is that you can add your CV. Whether you are applying for a job or postgraduate studies, volunteering shows that you are responsible and dedicated!
There is no age, occupation, gender or nationality required to volunteer. Anyone can do something for the world if they have the heart. Even if many people are now working, they occasionally participate in voluntary work to support charitable organisations and contribute. The commissioner also hopes that everyone can try volunteer work, and together, we can make the world a better place and help more people!
FAQ
1. What does the application form usually entail?
While forms may vary, they typically ask for your details, preferred roles, availability, and sometimes a brief explanation of why you’re interested in volunteering.
2. Do I need to have specific skills or qualifications to apply?
Not necessarily. Although some roles may require specific skills, many organizations seek individuals with a strong desire to make a difference. Training is often provided to equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills.
3. How can I make the most out of my volunteering experience?
Stay open-minded, be proactive, and embrace every opportunity to learn and grow. Remember, every effort you make contributes to a brighter future. Your decision to volunteer is a significant step towards making a difference.
