Volunteer with us
By volunteering with us, you will be improving your community, but also the environment and the health and happiness of countless people. You are also likely to meet some lovely people, have a lot of fun, and enjoy some of the most rewarding experiences of your life. It’s human nature to feel good after helping someone out so why not consider doing just that in your own neighbourhood?
The benefits of volunteering
For You
- Doing something you care about
- Being a great community role model sharing your skills and making a difference
- Opportunity to meet like-minded people and build new friendships
- Gain different knowledge and skills, good for you or your career prospects
- Getting that “feelgood factor”
- It’s good for your mental wellness
For the Community
- Improves lives
- Connects people to others in the community
- Contributes to positive changes in a community and builds resilience
- Highlights kindness and could inspire others by your work to volunteer themselves
- Strengthens relationships
We are dedicated to supporting people live their best lives, promoting independence, kindness and encouraging good old fashioned community spirit. Along the way, we’re empowering people to discover their own ways to improve their health and wellbeing, and routes to wellness.
Without volunteers like you, we just couldn’t do it. You influence everything we do, you are the center of what we do, because you are the ones who make it all happen.
Tips for getting started
First, ask yourself if there is something specific you want to do.
For example, do I want…
…to improve the neighbourhood where I live
…to meet people who are different than me
…to try something new
…to do something with my spare time
…to see a different way of life and new places
…to have a go at the type of work I might want as a full-time job
…to do more with my interests and hobbies
…to share something I’m good at
Getting the most out of volunteering
You’re donating your valuable time, so it’s important that you enjoy and benefit from your volunteering. To make sure that your volunteer position is a good fit:
Ask questions. You want to make sure that the experience is right for your skills, your goals, and the time you want to spend. Sample questions for your volunteer coordinator might address your time commitment, if there’s any training involved, who you will be working with, and what to do if you have questions during your experience.
Make sure you know what’s expected. You should be comfortable with the organization and understand the time commitment. Consider starting small so that you don’t over commit yourself at first. Give yourself some flexibility to change your focus if needed.
Don’t be afraid to make a change. Don’t force yourself into a bad fit or feel compelled to stick with a volunteer role you dislike. Talk to the organization about changing your focus or look for a different organization that’s a better fit.
Enjoy yourself. The best volunteer experiences benefit both the volunteer and the organization. If you’re not enjoying yourself, ask yourself why. Is it the tasks you’re performing? The people you’re working with? Or are you uncomfortable simply because the situation is new and unfamiliar? Pinpointing what’s bothering you can help you decide how to proceed.
