Volunteers Week 1-7 June 2013
Volunteers Week is about saying ‘Thank You’ to the millions of volunteers who regularly contribute to society across the UK.
Volunteering can make a real difference to the lives of those around you as well as your own. It’s a great way to gain new skills and experience and it can also have lots of social benefits. If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, there are a number of ways of going about it.
If you want to find out about opportunities in your local area, a Volunteer Centre can be an ideal place to start. You can search the Volunteer Centre finder at www.volunteering.org.uk.
You can also visit the national database of volunteering opportunities at www.do-it.org.uk. There are over one million opportunities and you can apply to offer your services online.
Another option is Ivo, a social network that connects people and organisations and allows you to search through over 25,000 volunteering opportunities. Visit www.ivo.org for more information.
Canine Partners, our chosen charity of the year, are always looking for volunteers. One of the ways you can help is by becoming a puppy parent. Volunteer puppy parents train pups in their own homes under supervision and take part in regular training classes. There are various satellite groups you can join around the UK. This is an excellent opportunity to help the charity fulfil its mission and it covers all expenses. For more information visit www.caninepartners.org.uk.
Whatever you do, not only will you build your own skills, you'll also feel good about helping others - and there's no greater feeling than that!
If you’re involved in any volunteering and you’d like to share your experiences, we’d love to hear from you.