Volunteering: doing good, and practising your English
Volunteering means working for good causes without being paid. It has lots of benefits: you meet new people and help make your community a better place. Some volunteering also lets you practise your English and build work skills, which can help you find a job or improve your CV (the document that lists your work history and skills). Many people volunteer simply because they want to help others.
Some examples of volunteering:
- Animals: helping at a local animal shelter
- Youth work: volunteering with a youth group
- The environment: joining a community litter pick
- Homeless people: helping at a homeless shelter
- Mentoring: for example, supporting someone just released from prison
- Health and hospitals: for example, helping on a hospital information desk
- Older people: for example, helping in a care home
Some well-known charities
The UK has thousands of active charities and voluntary groups, from the British branches of international organisations to small groups that work only in one area. They improve life for people, animals and the environment in all sorts of ways. Here are some examples:
- British branch of an international organisation: the British Red Cross
- Older people: Age UK
- Children: the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)
- Homeless people: two charities, Crisis and Shelter
- Medical research: Cancer Research UK
- The environment: the National Trust and Friends of the Earth
- Animals: the PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals)
These organisations need volunteers to help with their activities and to raise money. They often advertise in local newspapers, and most have websites describing their volunteering opportunities. There are also websites that collect volunteering opportunities from many organisations.
Some of these charities have long histories. The PDSA was founded by Maria Dickin in 1917 to treat, free of charge, the pets of families who couldn't afford a vet. Since 1943 it has awarded the Dickin Medal to animals that showed great courage in war, such as messenger pigeons and search dogs, and the medal is often called "the animals' Victoria Cross".
Volunteering for young people
Young people also have plenty of chances to volunteer, gain qualifications and build skills. One example is the National Citizen Service, which gives 16- and 17-year-olds outdoor activities, skills training and the chance to take part in a community project. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each have their own websites for finding volunteering opportunities.
Quiz
Which of the following statements is correct?
The National Citizen Service is one of the volunteering opportunities for young people: 16- and 17-year-olds can choose to take part in outdoor activities, build their skills and join a community project. Nobody has to do it.
Quiz
Which of these charities works to protect children?
The NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) looks after children. Age UK works with older people, the PDSA helps animals, and Friends of the Earth campaigns on the environment.