What this tool does

It helps you work out what kind of volunteering might suit you, based on what you enjoy, what you are good at, and how much time you can realistically give. Instead of scrolling through long lists of charities and causes, you get a shortlist of role types worth looking into, along with suggestions for where to find them.

Who it is for

This is for anyone in the UK who wants to volunteer but is not sure where to start. Maybe you have just retired and want to stay active, you are a student looking for experience, you are between jobs, or you simply want to give something back locally. It is also useful if you have volunteered before but fancy trying something different, or if you have a specific skill, like bookkeeping, gardening, driving, or languages, that you would like to put to good use.

It is less useful if you already have a specific role lined up, or if you are looking for paid work. In that case, you would be better off going straight to a charity's website or a jobs board.

How it works

You answer a short set of questions about your interests, the causes you care about, the skills you are happy to use, whether you want to volunteer in person or from home, and how many hours a week or month you can spare. The tool then gives you a plain English summary of role types that fit, with short notes on what each involves and a pointer towards reputable places to apply, such as NCVO, Do-it, your local Volunteer Centre, or specific charities. Your answers are not saved or shared, and you do not need to sign up or give an email address to use it.

Treat the results as a starting point rather than a final answer. Once you have a shortlist, it is worth contacting one or two organisations directly to ask about their current needs and what a typical week looks like.