► Volunteering in the UK

Volunteering can be a great way to do something for your local community and can also give you experience and meet new friends. It will enhance your CV and help you build skills for future jobs and situations. You can volunteer for many different types of organisations such as animal welfare, sports, arts and heritage and with other young people. You could arrange to do some volunteering on a weekend, during summer or even take a gap year. The Volunteering England website gives you lots of advice on how to go about volunteering and how to find opportunities - www.volunteering.org.uk. You can also do voluntary work whilst getting benefits, to find out more about this contact your local job centre. Some of the opportunities available can be great fun, see below for the wide range available:

More help4u:
Direct Gov website - The Government website for information on Volunteering in the UK
The Site - Volunteering Opportunities, A site to search for national and local volunteering opportunities. Can be searched by postcode.
Volunteers Club - A national site for all age volunteering.
National Council for Voluntary Organisations - An information and opportunities exchange for groups of volunteers.
Connecting Community - Connecting community & volunteers in the one voice network of voluntary groups in County Durham
The Princes Trust - An organisation for 14-30 year olds from areas of disadvantage offering support, encouragement and in some cases financial assistance.
Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme - Usually linked to school or community groups for young people aged 14-25.
CSV website - A national volunteering organisation offering full-time volunteering opportunities for between four months and a year.
UK Youth website - Youth Achievement Awards – These recognise and accredit young people’s involvement in volunteering
V inspired website - For 16-25 year olds. If offers the chance to get involved in local projects, such as swimming assistants, girl guide helpers, computer mentors, photographers, animal care and festival volunteers.
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds website -Volunteering for the RSPB
Timebank website - Matches your skills, interests and availability with suitable volunteering opportunities in your area
Do it website - UK and overseas volunteering opportunities
London 2012 Olympics website - Volunteer to help out in the Olympic games!
BTCV website - BTCV is a charitable organisation that works with volunteers who want to improve their urban and rural developments such as arts projects, sports coaching and environmental issue.