In 2015-2016, 41% of people in the UK reported formally volunteering at least once in the previous year (IVR.org.uk). Surveys and studies have revealed that the benefits of dedicating your time to a charitable cause extend far beyond having an extra paragraph on your CV!
Those who volunteer are happier people!
Although the idea of giving back to society is often persuasion enough to volunteer, donating time to a good cause can positively impact the individual in other ways too.
As well as the sense of gratification gained from giving your time to people who need it, you can also benefit from many other mental and physical gains such as:
- Increased confidence by trying something new
- Meeting new people and being part of a community
- Learning new skills
- Being active (depending on the role)
- Having fun!
The social values of volunteering are numerous but, as you might imagine, difficult to quantify. Studies have however, revealed that volunteers are generally happier and healthier than non-volunteers (ons.gov.uk).
Volunteering is great for your CV!
This is a chance for you to gain experience in an industry that interests you and acquire new skills. For example, if you have an interest in events management, why not join a fundraising team?
As well as this, volunteer work reflects well on the individual. Through these sorts of extra-curricular activities, your employer is given in insight as to your personality; the fact that an interviewee is willing to donate their time and energy into helping others, without asking for anything in return, is an indication of their morals and good nature. Remember, when interviewing applicants, a large part of the interview process is understanding if that person will fit in with the organisation and the people involved!
The Economic Value
It’s estimated that the annual value of formal and informal volunteering in the UK is £45.1 billion (Volunteering England).
The government fully endorses the idea of people committing their free time to volunteering and giving back to the community. The charity and not-for-profit sector as a whole has recently seen its funding cut. Whilst recruiting more paid workers may not be a viable option for some charities who rely heavily on government funding, seeking volunteers means that they can continue to provide their services and hopefully help more people.
Tayside Re-Users’ Volunteers
We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for our amazing team. If you’d like to find out more about volunteering at Tayside Re-Users, we would love to hear from you.
