By Aneela Aziz
Volunteering is when you spare some of your free time in helping others, but it’s also a huge benefit to yourself in the future.
It’s sometimes easy to say ‘I’m a full-time student’ if someone asks what you do in your time and there is nothing to say. You might have a job but some people may not and finding a job is very hard due to the state of the economy and too many people are trying to get a job at the same time. But this shouldn’t matter as a way in which to get a job and to stand out from the crowd. Volunteering is something you can put on your CV as volunteering is very important if you’re applying for a job or trying to get into college or uni, it shows that you are a hard working person, and you have gained experience and new skills.
I have volunteered at Mind Charity shop for seven months, my role was dealing with customers, tagging items and making sure the shop floor was maintained. From the experience of working at the charity shop I have learned to adapt to changing situations and developed my communication and interpersonal skills. I enjoy using the till, working as part of a team, and communicating well with customers. Also my confidence has increased in working with the till which I don’t think I could have done without the experience. In addition to this I also volunteer for Orange Rock Corps which have a variety of volunteering opportunities that you can get involved in your community.
The main volunteering work I currently do is with Voice 21 as it has really benefited me in my career path that I want to pursue in Journalism. The experience of volunteering has been very beneficial as the skills I have developed are creative writing and the ability to analyise and research information. I also receive constructive criticism on the work I have produced for the magazine, which I find really helpful in honing my writing skills but also this helps give me an insight into the role of a journalist. If you are aged 13-19 and from the Sandwell area you can volunteer for Voice 21 and gain new skills in journalism, writing, interviewing, graphic design, photography. Find out more here >
[The Voice 21 team come together to discuss ideas for the magazine]
If you’re thinking about going to further education, for example college or university like myself, you have to write a personal statement. It’s easy to say you want to study but to stand out and sell yourself, specifically at university where there will be a lot of applicants applying for the same course as you, for you to interest the admission tutors you have to offer something positive. They like volunteering as I found out from my experience of a open day I went to. The people at the university said that they like students who are motivated in their course and if you have volunteering in your course related area it shows you’re commitment and aspiration in your chosen field.
So, it’s easy to say you’re going to volunteer. Just go out there and put your skills to the test. You will have good fun, meet new people and show what you can offer. There are many opportunities to get involved in volunteering and below are some websites that you can check out for opportunities for free – so what are you waiting for?!
You can contact the Volunteer Centre based in Oldbury, a local source of a range of volunteering opportunities: www.volunteercentresandwell.co.uk
Phone number 0121 544 8326
email Richard@volunteercentresandwell.co.uk
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