Harriet Bradshaw-Smith recently took on the role of Volunteer Officer at mentoring charity ReachOut, after volunteering with the charity for 3 years whilst studying at University. As well as landing a fantastic job, Harriet recognised the multiple benefits of volunteering. Read on to find out from her why you should volunteer too!
Here are my top 5 reasons why you should volunteer too.
1. You can make a difference
Volunteering allows you to get hands-on and make an impact with projects and initiatives of all kinds whether it be volunteering at a sports club, helping at an animal shelter or working with young people. As vInspired say, there are “thousands of volunteering opportunities across the UK which help young people make a mark on causes they care about” so there’s definitely an opportunity for you to get involved with that you feel passionate about.
2. Give back to your local community
Local charities and projects work directly in their communities to help improve the environment, quality of life or aspirations for the local residents, so volunteering on a local project will have a real impact on the area you’re living in and the people living there. ReachOut partner with local schools to help raise young people’s aspirations and help them grow in character and attainment which in turn improves quality of life for both the individual and in the local community.
3. Challenge yourself and grow
Volunteering gives you a chance to break out of your normal daily routine… challenging yourself can result in new passions and new skills, leading to increased confidence. One of my favourite mantras is that if you fail to challenge yourself you are not living to your full potential, pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone allows you to become more flexible, sharper, and more confident.
4. Boost your CV
Volunteering not only enhances and allows you to gain new skills you may not get from education but also gives you something different to talk about during interviews. Reed, speaking from an employer perspective, believe that “whilst qualifications are undoubtedly of importance, voluntary work can help you get the experience you need.”
5. Meet new people!
Getting involved in a volunteering programme is a great way to meet like-minded people and gain another social group whilst studying. Whether you volunteer with fellow animal lovers, people who have a passion for the arts or those who love sports – you’ll be sure to make friends and love volunteering even more.
ReachOut are looking for volunteers to give a maximum of 2 hours a week to make a difference to the lives of local young people through one-to-one mentoring.
Sign up today: www.reachoutuk.org/mentor or get in touch with your local Volunteer Officer:
London – Harriet
Manchester or Oldham – Davy
