Volunteering, why bother?

By Joshua Wright

In what can often feel like a self-centred and individualistic society, volunteering is an astoundingly generous act in which one sacrifices a small part of their free time in order to help their neighbourhood or further a good cause. This article will promote the benefits of volunteering and highlight several opportunities local to Nottingham for those wishing to get actively involved in helping their community.

Why Volunteer?

There are several reasons why one may consider volunteering in their spare time. First and foremost, volunteering is a great way to give back to society. It’s an opportunity to do something selfless and demonstrate that you care about your local community. Many charitable organisations simply couldn’t operate without ordinary people volunteering so individual support can make a huge difference. Secondly, volunteering opportunities can be good fun. Teamwork roles enable participants to meet new people and develop friendships whilst working towards a common goal. Besides being a great chance to socialise, evidence of volunteering looks impressive on a CV. It demonstrates grit and determination among other skills that are often highly sought after by prospective employers.

Where to Volunteer?

If you are local to Nottingham, the Nottingham CV’s website Nottingham CV’s website lists a whole host of volunteering opportunities in a variety of different fields. Whilst I strongly recommend having a look at the full catalogue of listings, I’ve highlighted a few of the opportunities below to give a sense of the available roles.

• The Fearless Youth Association are looking for young people between the age of 16-30 to volunteer as Youth Ambassadors. Volunteers will help to tackle many of the employment barriers young people experience. Participants would be expected to volunteer for approximately 10 hours a month, whether that be attending events in-person or online. If this is something that interests you can find more information about the opportunity using this link.

• Nottingham City Museums are looking for a Tudor Kitchen’s Volunteer to engage with visitors at Wollaton Hall. The role involves welcoming people to the kitchens, interacting with visitors and talking to people about what it would have been like to live in the 16th century. If you are a budding Historian or have always been fascinated by the Tudors, this is the perfect opportunity to share your passion for history and give back to the local community. Ideally, prospective candidates will be able to volunteer a full Saturday or Sunday at least once a month. You can find out more details using this link.

• The organisation Independent Age are actively recruiting volunteers across Nottingham to help build friendships and connections with older people who feel isolated within their community. Volunteers will spend time with companionship and support where needed (potential activities include helping with shopping, providing support on how to use technology, going on walks and meeting up in Cafés for tea and coffee. If you want to make a real difference in someone’s life, consider volunteering for Independent Age (visit the link for more details).

• The British Heart Foundation are looking for several “Warehouse Warriors” to help keep stock moving in their Long Row Nottingham Warehouse. Last year the British Heart Foundation charity shops raised an astonishing £28 million towards combatting heart-related diseases. However, this would not have been possible were it not for the incredible hard work of volunteers who kept charity shops across the country stocked for business. If you’re able to help keep the warehouse tidy, load vans with necessary stock and assess whether items are suitable for sale in stores, consider volunteering. To find out more about the role and sign up, please use this link.

• The Vine Community Centre are looking for volunteers to help develop a community courtyard. It is a low commitment, short term opportunity to make a lasting impact on the local area, creating a pleasant space that will hopefully be enjoyed by many for years to come. The role requires participants to get a little mucky, pitch in for the team and most importantly have a bit of fun together. You can find out more information about the role and how to apply using this link.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading today’s article on volunteering opportunities. I hope you’ve found the topic informative and useful. Have you volunteered in the past? Please share your experience both good and bad with Kutambua readers in the comments section below.

If you enjoyed this article, please consider checking out my other blogs. I recently wrote an article on finding local community events. If you feel bored in your local area and can never find the exciting events taking place around you it may be worth reading.