Community Service Volunteers (CSV) Explained

What Was Community Service Volunteers?

Community Service Volunteers, commonly known as CSV, was a major volunteering and training charity in the UK during the second half of the twentieth century. Founded in 1962 by Mora and Alec Dickson, the same couple who established Voluntary Service Overseas, CSV played a significant role in British volunteering for over five decades.

At its peak, the organisation helped large numbers of people get involved in volunteering each year. It focused on helping disadvantaged young people access learning and training opportunities.

CSV merged with Volunteering Matters in 2015 and ceased operating as an independent charity. Some of its programmes were taken over by different charities, while others came to an end. Today, CSV no longer exists in its original form.

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What CSV Did During Its Active Years

CSV ran a wide range of volunteering programmes across the UK. One of its best known initiatives was the CSV Action Desk, which operated in partnership with BBC local radio stations. These desks helped match potential volunteers with local organisations that needed support.

The charity also worked closely with broadcast media. It helped connect journalists seeking volunteering stories with not for profit organisations that could benefit from coverage and promotion. This media partnership helped raise the profile of volunteering across the country.

Training was another core part of CSV's work. The organisation provided opportunities for young people, including those facing barriers to education or employment, to gain skills and experience through structured programmes. Many of these combined practical volunteering with recognised qualifications.

CSV also supported full time volunteering placements. Volunteers could commit to longer term roles, often living away from home, working in communities across the UK. These placements typically lasted several months and covered areas such as social care, youth work and community development.

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Where to Find Volunteering Opportunities Now

Since CSV no longer operates independently, those interested in volunteering will need to look elsewhere. There are several established organisations and resources available.

Volunteering Matters absorbed much of CSV's work following the 2015 merger. The charity continues to run programmes across the UK, focusing on bringing people together to tackle social issues through volunteering. It supports projects involving young people, older adults and families, and maintains a presence in communities that CSV previously served.

For a broader search, the following resources may help:

• Do It is a national volunteering database where you can search for opportunities by location, cause or time commitment, covering everything from environmental conservation to befriending schemes
• NCVO, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, provides information and guidance for anyone interested in the voluntary sector, including resources for first time volunteers
• Local volunteer centres exist in most areas and can offer face to face advice about opportunities nearby, often with knowledge of smaller organisations not listed on national databases
• Many charities advertise volunteer roles directly on their own websites

If you are interested in full time volunteering with a structured programme, organisations such as Voluntary Service Overseas for international placements or various UK based schemes may be worth exploring. Programmes like these often provide living allowances and accommodation to enable volunteers to commit without financial hardship.

Getting Started With Volunteering

Finding the right volunteering role depends on your circumstances, interests and availability. Some people prefer regular weekly commitments, while others look for one off events or short term projects.

Think about what skills you could offer and what you might want to gain from the experience. Volunteering can provide a way to meet people, learn new things or contribute to causes you care about. It can also be useful for building experience if you are looking to move into a particular career area.

Many volunteer roles welcome people without previous experience, though positions involving vulnerable people typically require a DBS check. The organisation you volunteer with will usually arrange this if needed.

Volunteering opportunities vary widely. Some people give a few hours a month, others make it a larger part of their lives. Finding a role that suits your interests and offers genuine help is what counts.

For information about how volunteering might affect benefits, check the guidance on GOV.UK. In most cases, volunteering does not affect benefit entitlement, but there are rules worth understanding. Volunteers can usually claim back reasonable expenses such as travel costs and meals without affecting benefits. However, receiving payment beyond expenses could change your entitlement, and there may be limits on hours for certain benefits. The GOV.UK guidance covers these situations in detail.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Volunteer Role Finder lets you answer a few questions about your interests, skills, and availability and get matched with the types of volunteering that suit you best. Whether you want to work with people, animals, or the environment, we will find your ideal role. Try it now →