So you want to work for free?

How would you respond to this.

In this article, I will attempt to dispel some of the negative views about volunteering.

The National Council for volunteering defines volunteering as "any activity that involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that aims to benefit the environment, groups or individuals". Wow, this suggest to me that it is a worthwhile activity and if done with a clear purpose, you can reap great rewards. Right?

Did you know that many organisations offer voluntary work for a range of roles such as administration and fundraising?

The benefit of volunteering are immense. As an example, you can make new friends, enhance your skills and of course learn new ones.

How to start?

1. Decide on what you want to achieve and the reason. As an example , you might want to learn how businesses make strategic decisions. In this instance, a school governor or trustee in a charitable organisation might be more relevant. As a caveat, select the type of school or charitable organisation that match your values and beliefs as this can help you maximise your learning and experience.

2. Your time commitment- A range of opportunities exist. Ensure that you are able to commit fully to this role. As an example, some opportunities might involve you reading a lot of documents and making contributions. Others might require you to attend evening meetings.

3. Research - Speak to others who have done similar roles and ask probing questions about their experiences. This will help you to make an informed decision.

Examples of opportunities you can consider

• Toastmasters- this focus on leadership, public speaking and confidence. It involves a cost and a fortnightly commitment.

• National citizenship service- offers opportunities in community building programmes nationally and internationally.

• Girl Guides/ Scouts/ Police Cadets

• NHS- Extensive opportunities exist in all aspects of Health and Social Care.

Useful resources

• www.reachvolunteering.org.uk - Provides useful information about volunteering and has a search engine which you can use to search for volunteering opportunities.

• www.ncvo.org.uk - Provides useful resources and training about volunteering.

So, next time you have a fleeting thought that volunteering is free, I would encourage you to reflect on this quote by Sherry Anderson, "volunteers don't get paid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless".