Help yourself by helping others

Make new friends

Volunteering is a great way to make new friends, especially if you are new to an area. Fellow volunteers are likely to have similar interests to you, and be open to meeting new people. Volunteering also strengthens your ties to the community, and gives you access to resources and activities available in the neighbourhood that you might not hear about otherwise.

Networking

Volunteering is also a great way to meet new people in a work sense. Volunteers come from all walks of life, so you could make valuable contacts you might not meet otherwise. Volunteering allows you to grow your network and leverage those connections to find out about new positions, and be at the front of people’s minds if they hear of a new opening. Remember, every person you meet is a potential lead to new career prospects.

Develop your career

If you’re considering a new career, volunteering can help you get experience and build your confidence. It's also a great way for recent graduates to get work experience on their CVs. Volunteering also enables you to get solid references, as people can see you in action and can recommend you for a role.

And if you aren’t sure about a new career move, you can trial it when volunteering before making any life-changing commitments. Even if you’re not planning on changing careers, volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills, such as communication, teamwork, problem solving, task management, organisation and leadership. Besides, a UK study showed that when recruiting, 80 per cent of employers value volunteering on a CV! (TimeBank)

Be a role model

Set a good example for your children by taking them with you when you volunteer. Not only do you get to spend some quality time together as a family, but they can see you actively taking part in your community and helping others. This will inspire them to consider those not as fortunate as themselves. Volunteering as a family is also a great way to get to know about child-oriented resources and activities in the community for when you need to fill those long school holidays.

Health benefits

Various studies have shown that volunteering can improve your health. It can reduce blood pressure, it leads to lower rates of depression for individuals 65 and older, and in one study, it was found that those who gave social support to others had lower rates of mortality than those who did not. Researchers at the London School of Economics examined the relationship between volunteering and measures of happiness in a large group of American adults and they found the more people volunteered, the happier they were. And of course, you’re giving up your time to help others – that’s got to be good karma at least!