VOLUNTEERS

BENEFITS OF
VOLUNTEERING

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We are Warwickshire’s & Solihull's gateway to volunteering and
our remit is to promote, support and develop volunteering
across the region.

Finding the right volunterring role

Every year we help thousands of potential volunteers to find the right role for them, matching their skills with opportunities in voluntary, not-for- profit and public sector organisations, in addition to providing them with practical advice and information.

 Common reasons people volunteer include to:

  • gain confidence
  • make a difference
  • meet people
  • be part of a community
  • learn new skills / add to CV
  • take on a challenge
  • have fun
  • support physical and/or mental health
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Benefits of volunteering

Watch these clips for more inspiration on why people volunteer.

Disability Action Alliance Volunteer Charter

Warwickshire CAVA is signed up to the Disability Action Alliance Volunteer Charter, which demonstrates our commitment to inclusive volunteering . On an ongoing basis, we encourage Warwickshire’s voluntary and community organisations to raise awareness of inclusive volunteering, make the commitment and sign up to the charter.

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Volunteering - Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re unemployed, or have been out of the workplace for some time, it can be easy to lose confidence in your own abilities. You may find it difficult to stay positive and it can feel as though you lack a purpose in life. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to enter a work environment on a less formal basis, in a role where you will be fully supported and the commitment is more flexible.

Volunteering can help by giving you:

  • New skills and work experiences
  • A way into an organisation – thus giving you the potential to be considered for arising vacancies
  • Referees for job applications
  • A chance to show prospective employers that you’re willing to work
  • Access to training and qualifications (in some circumstances)
  • An opportunity to try out different types of work if you’re considering a career change.
In most cases, there’s no limit, as long as:
  • The only money you get from volunteering is to cover expenses, such as travel costs.
  • You continue to meet the conditions of the benefit you get.

For more information see: www.gov.uk/volunteering/when-you-can-volunteer

The whole ethos behind volunteering is that it is done on a voluntary basis, however, many organisations do pay expenses e.g. for travel costs, meals whilst volunteering.

Some very skilled work may need qualifications, but many organisations offer training to enable you to do the work. There are also lots of opportunities available that do not require any formal qualifications.

This depends on the type of volunteering you’d like to do. You can expect to receive training to enable you to do the work. Some organisations do offer formal training such as basic food hygiene certificates.

This varies depending on the type of work you wish to do, but generally you will need to commit to giving at least a few hours per week. There may also be a minimum time commitment e.g. 6 months.

There are some one-off opportunities available such as helping out at local events. Depending on the type of work, some organisations are willing to accept volunteers on a more flexible basis.

Warwickshire CAVA is the gateway to thousands of volunteer roles available across the County and whilst we host this site we do not personally respond to any expressions of interest that you may make towards an opportunity advertised on the site. The organisation advertising the opportunity is responsible for replying to you and whilst we cannot guarantee that in every case this will happen, we are more than happy to contact the organisation on your behalf if you would like us to.

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