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Want2Vol
So! You're thinking about Volunteering?
What is volunteering?
Volunteers are those of all ages and backgrounds, who give their time and skills
for free to help individuals or their communities. There is a huge variety of
volunteering opportunities on offer. For example, you could be working with
young people, befriending an older person, providing essential transport as a
driver, or helping out in a conservation project. These are just a few of the
things available for volunteers at Volunteer Centre Lutterworth.
Why volunteer?
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Volunteering helps you develop your existing skills or learn new ones.
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Volunteering gives you the chance to use skills and the experience you've
already got. Many volunteering placements also involve training to ensure
you get the most out of them.
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Volunteering helps you build your confidence and self-esteem. Volunteers are
often faced with a variety of challenges, even if it’s simply adapting to
doing something new. Overcoming them improves your self esteem and
self-confidence in a supportive environment.
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Network and improve your CV.
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Employers are often interested in your volunteering experience. If you’re
trying out a new area of interest, as a volunteer you will not only gain
insight into a possible new career, but benefit from networking
opportunities too.
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Volunteering helps you to meet new people .
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Volunteering offers you the chance to make a visible difference in your
local community, broaden your horizons and meet like-minded people.
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And remember - volunteering is also about enjoying yourself!
What kind of opportunities are there?
The range of volunteering opportunities is vast.
Click
here for examples of some of the things on offer either in Lutterworth or LeicesterShire.
Frequently Asked Questions
I work full time – can I still volunteer?
Certainly! A lot of organisations need volunteers who are available in the
evenings or at weekends, but check with your Volunteer Centre. Also, bear in
mind that your company may offer opportunities for employee volunteering.
How much time will I need to volunteer for?
This depends on you and what you want to do, and the opportunity you choose.
There are opportunities that only require a few hours a week, whereas others
might take place every evening or only occasionally. It’s up to you.
Will I get training?
Because there is such a wide variety of volunteering placements available, the
level of training you need also varies. For example, volunteering with Citizens
Advice Bureau will require a much larger training commitment than working on a
conservation project. Some organisations offer training while others require you
to use your existing skill base – be sure you are clear about the training
requirements before you agree to volunteer.
Will I be interviewed?
Most organisations will not need to formally interview you, though it is
reasonable to expect they will, at least,
want to speak to you and get to know you
beforehand. However, volunteering placements involving responsibility
 for money,
dealing with children or vulnerable adults, or using dangerous equipment, may require a more lengthy interview.
I'm on benefit. Will this be affected?
You should always check with your local Citizens
Advice Bureau or Job Centre before embarking on volunteering if you are on
benefit. Mostly, there is no problem. However, depending on the type of benefit
and the volunteer work you wish to do, this may be affected in a small number of
instances.
The organisation might ask:
• Why you want to volunteer
• What your skills are
• What you would like to learn from your placement
• How much time you can contribute.
What if I want to leave?
As a volunteer you are free to leave your
placement for any reason. If possible, it's a good idea to talk to your named
contact in the organisation or Volunteer Centre first, to try and address any
problems you may be having – the solution might be easier than you think. If you
need to leave for other reasons – for example, if you get a job or if your
circumstances change – it's always appreciated if you give the organisation as much notice as possible.
We appreciate that people’s circumstances change over time
and that volunteers move on.
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