By Kieran Hollingsworth
The Benefits of Volunteering
Did you know that Volunteering is an act that not only allows you to do good but also to receive a number of benefits in return? As well as being a great way to give back to your community, volunteering can actually improve both your physical and mental health. The act of volunteering has been shown to be improve everything from heart health to improved confidence and self-esteem. Volunteering can be quite active, connects you with others in your community and many say it has led to positive changes in their own lives. There is even a notable link between volunteering and an increased life expectancy. All of this shows that helping others may just be the tip of the iceberg in terms of the benefits you’ll receive in return.
A lot of these benefits come down to the fact that volunteering is an act of kindness that can make you feel good about yourself, and you should! Volunteering is a selfless act, and whether you have already volunteered or are planning to in the future, you are helping to make a difference.
The Social Impact of Volunteering
Everyone’s reason for volunteering is unique to them. It may be that you feel you have a lot to offer to your community, have spare time, and a willingness to help, or would like the company of others, but would prefer to be helping rather than joining in. The reasons are wide and varied and often it can be difficult to know where to start looking for opportunities to volunteer in your community. This is where aDoddle comes in, it gives you the tools to start on your journey.
There are many organisations that can be found on the community map that regularly do measurable good within their community. Just one example of this can be seen in Pete’s Dragons, a suicide prevention organisation based in Plymouth. They were featured in a Plymouth Live article detailing the great work they have done for suicide prevention. It explains that they worked throughout the pandemic, ensuring people were able to access their services in a time where they needed them the most.
Find Volunteering Opportunities Through aDoddle
Pete’s Dragons are a credit to the community map and do accept volunteer ‘Dragons’, but they are by no means the only organisation on the map that you can volunteer with. Finding opportunities to volunteer in the UK can, unfortunately, be complicated, and aDoddle helps you to find local organisations that may desperately need and benefit from whatever time you can give. During the lockdown, many charitable organisations were hit hard and had to close to the public, but with the nation returning to normality, now is a great time to offer your support.
Finding volunteering opportunities through aDoddle is easy! All you need to do is head over to the aDoddle website, navigate over to ‘Begin Your Search’, and browse the amazing organisations near you. Our handy search function lets you select a search radius for your location, choose categories that are important to you, and even search for keywords. All of this supports you to find local volunteering opportunities that not only are accessible but mean something to you. Volunteering can be ‘aDoddle’, all you need to do is take the first step.
How Much Free Time Do You Need to Volunteer?
Your free time is precious, and potentially very limited. Organisations understand this as many of their team also have commitments outside of their volunteering work. Any time that you offer towards charitable causes is a gift that can really make an impact. The average volunteer spends 2 hours a week volunteering, which may be more or less than you were considering, every minute really does count.
Volunteering is a team effort, and your contribution may not seem like much, but in the big picture, it can be a part of something great. In short, our advice is, never feel as though you aren’t offering enough time towards your volunteering. Any time you’re able to offer is time well spent, and your actions may just change someone’s life, not just today, but for the future as well.
From the team at aDoddle, we’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who volunteers. You make a difference in people’s lives everyday.