Volunteering: why bother?
If you've got something you're passionate about, why not turn it into a proper commitment - and improve your future prospects at the same time?
What does the word 'volunteering' mean to you? Would it be right to sum up your feelings about volunteers as: I admire them, but volunteering isn't for me"?
In a recent TheSite.org user survey on volunteering, respondents said: "I can't afford it"; "I don't often have that much time, or energy"; "I need quite a lot of 'me-time' to relax and chill out, otherwise I get ratty".
Any of these reasons sound familiar?
In fact, you could easily have already done volunteering or be closer to doing the 'v' word than you think. After all, volunteering is about turning what you enjoy into an activity that benefits others. This puts you in the driving seat.
These are the telltale signs that you're close to turning your spare time into a 'v' thing and not just a 'me' thing:
- Your spare time just seems to evaporate;
- A couple of passions in particular take up the bulk of your spare time;
- It's something you believe in;
- Others benefit from what you do.
What turns a passion into volunteering?
In a word: commitment! Whatever your passion and however it benefits others, the magic ingredient is the commitment you are prepared to make.
Here are some examples:
- Football's your passion, it soaks up your spare time and you've started to stay late at training sessions to help younger players. Training's the benefit to others, and as you begin to do this on a regular basis your footballing passion has become volunteering;
- Music's your life. Your every waking moment is spent listening to music. You're learning to DJ and have performed at a local fundraiser with some friends for your school. For the right cause, you're committed to doing it again in future;
- You take a real interest in the environment, persuading those around you to change their habits. A friend has suggested you organise a campaign event, together you accept the commitment.
So what's in it for you?
If you're not volunteering now, what would be likely to get you volunteering? According to a Mori opinion poll of more than 5,000 young people from around the UK, carried out for the Russell Commission on Youth Action and Engagement in January 2005, CV enhancement not financial reward was the biggest attraction of volunteering.
Around half of the participants said that they valued volunteering for its impact on career opportunities or for making their CV shine (52%), being 'youth friendly' (50%) and fun (51%), for training or qualifications (49%) and as a chance to meet new people (44%). Receiving perks/benefits/'freebies' is a lesser priority although a quarter (25%) said this is important.
These findings confirm that passions are more important than perks and even money when it comes to volunteering. As one volunteer put it: I don't have a job, and it drives my mum insane. So she offered to pay me for doing voluntary work. I didn't like the idea of that, when I volunteer, I don't want to do it for money."
Article produced by the Choose Action Alliance.
Written by Patrick Daniels
Why volunteer?
Improve your CV: A stint working as a volunteer shows potential employees that you're not just motivated by money. It proves a willingness to help others - a key aspect of team-working - as well as demonstrating your drive and initiative.
Boost your confidence: Get out there, get stuck in, and relish the buzz that comes from all your good work. It'll remind you that you do have something useful to contribute, and reward you with a lasting sense of achievement.
New skills: It beats sharpening up your Playstation talents, and gives you a hands-on chance to develop practical skills that could work for your career and many other aspects of your life.
Good karma: You'll sleep better, feel better, perform better in bed and become irresistibly attractive to people who would never otherwise pay you a second glance. No, honestly.
A foot in the door: It's your chance to show an employer what you can do, and why they should pay you to do it! It's just a question of finding a voluntary opportunity in a field that really interests you.
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