Volunteering for Young People

There is often a misconception amongst the youth of today that voluntary work is mainly for middle aged and middle class people and mostly made up of women or those who have retired and have got plenty of time on their hands but they’d be very much mistaken. There are thousands of young volunteers, many of whom will be under 18, who will be out and about as you read this giving their time and their skills voluntarily. And, whilst it is true that some organisations and certain voluntary roles require you to be older, there are plenty of opportunities for younger people to get involved in volunteering and many charities will actively try to attract the younger element citing a younger person’s energy and enthusiasm along with their fresh approach and willingness to come up with new ideas and ways of doing things as a healthy complement to the more mature and established views offered by the more experienced volunteer.

What to Look For As a Young Volunteer

Just like anybody else who is involved in volunteering, younger people must first identify those causes and projects that they’re attracted to, that they can offer a firm commitment to and ones which will allow them to best demonstrate the skills and personal qualities they have to offer. It’s also important to choose a role which can provide you with a real training opportunity in order to increase your skills base which will inevitably look favourable on your CV as it’s quite common for younger people to have to rely heavily on any experience they can think of in order to get their first break on the career ladder and a carefully managed period of voluntary work is always considered highly valuable by prospective employers, especially when you’re just starting out. It demonstrates commitment, a willingness to learn, an ability to work as part of a team and an appreciation of a particular cause – all qualities that are highly desired by employers.

Doesn’t It Cost Too Much and Will it Take Up Too Much Of My Time?

These are probably the three most frequent objections cited by youngsters when questioned about voluntary work. However, there are plenty of opportunities out there which rely on people of all ages to make a contribution and the charities and organisations behind these initiatives are getting keener to ensure that they try to be flexible as possible when it comes to the amount and regularity of time that people need to put in. They also understand the pressures faced by younger volunteers in terms of juggling school or college commitments, maybe a paid part-time or full-time job as well as other commitments such as sports and social activities, all of which tend to be high up on the agenda of the younger volunteer. They also appreciate that money is often not a premium when you’re younger so in the majority of cases, you can be assured that you will be reimbursed any travel expenses you may incur and you may even be entitled to a meal allowance also. There are also plenty of opportunities to combine hobbies and pastimes in a voluntary capacity.

What Kind Of Voluntary Jobs Are Available To Young People?

Younger volunteers are so sought after these days that the range of opportunities available to you is almost endless. However, typical work can include helping out with environmental and conservation projects locally e.g. cleaning up rivers and ponds, working in hospital radio, helping younger children with basic maths, reading and writing, working in a charity shop and there are countless opportunities to find voluntary work in both the arts and sports volunteering sector where you can combine your passion for a particular hobby and still make a very valued contribution to society – a good example could be getting involved in refereeing disabled 5 a side football matches or wheelchair basketball tournaments or designing stage sets for your local community theatre. The key thing is to appreciate that volunteering is for everyone and that no-one needs to feel excluded and, for a young person, it can not only help you to feel good about yourself but it can also teach you new skills, improve your self-esteem and how to relate to other people of all ages and backgrounds with whom you may not have previously come into contact with and it will give you a real sense of purpose and an appreciation of your ‘place’ in your own community. Furthermore, a stint of volunteering will often prove to be the foundation of the transition to adulthood as you start out to pursue a career and your experience will often instil a good set of values within you which you will carry throughout life.