Volunteering is giving your time freely, to benefit someone unrelated, a group, or the environment, for no financial reward.

As a volunteer you can choose how much time you want to give, and what you want to do.

People choose to volunteer for a variety of reasons. It allows you to:

• Get involved in your local community
• Make a difference to the lives of others
• Meet new people
• Help the environment
• Gain confidence and self-esteem
• Learn new skills
• Explore career options
• Gain a reference, enhance your CV

Find an Opportunity...

All of our current voluntary opportunities are uploaded to the national volunteering database, www.do-it.org.uk - where you will be able to find a wide range of different types of voluntary work in the Shepway area.

 

Need more support?

Anyone wanting to volunteer can come for an informal, confidential interview either at the Volunteer Centre or at a venue nearer home. Staff can discuss the volunteer’s interests and skills, and find out what they would like to gain from volunteering. For example, volunteering is a good way to make use of existing skills or to gain new ones, to build confidence and keep up a work routine during a period of unemployment, as well as developing new friendships and, of course, helping to improve the lives of others within the community.

Staff will suggest a number of suitable opportunities from our list of over 200 placements. We work mainly with the voluntary and community sector, although volunteers can also be placed in the public or private sector, where appropriate. All organisations will take up the usual references, and for some positions will need to undertake a Disclosure & Barring Service check. (However having a criminal record need not be a bar to volunteering.)

The Volunteer Centre then refers them on to their chosen organisation, and tracks their progress. Any support they need is also offered, and training is occasionally available. Contact [email protected] or ring 01303 259007