Have you always been interested in volunteering but don't know where to begin? Do you sense that there are a lot of opportunities out there but you don’t know where to start looking? Great news, we’ve come up with a short quiz to help you find out what type of volunteer you are and help you on the road to volunteering....
1. As part of Student Volunteering Fortnight you’re most likely to....
A continue with your regular volunteering commitments.
B sign up to volunteer on a project. You enjoy seeing a project through to the end.
C sign up for a couple of events, you don’t really have time to commit fully but want to volunteer.
D use your time creatively by writing a blog about a charity/cause or participate in e-mentoring.
2. The perfect volunteering job would be one that...
A allows you to commit to an organisation on a regular basis.
B provides you with the opportunity to take part in a project or help for a short period.
C allows you to show up on the day – the less commitment the better.
D does not involve a lot of activity. Something I could do on my computer would be great.
3. After you friend tells you about her experience mentoring young disadvantage children, you are inspired to...
A find out more information from your friend and sign up to the same organisation to offer your skills.
B start you own volunteering project.
C organise for some of your friends to read to some kids in your local community.
D blog about your friend’s experience. You’ll be volunteering through providing people with further information on how they can help.
4. Your ideal Friday night involves...
A spending time at home, you’ve had a long week and would like to relax.
B meeting up with a mixture of friends and their friends.
C meeting new people who have the same interests as you.
D updating your Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites.
5. You have just heard a story on the news about the increase in families relying on support from food pantries this year. You are most likely to...
A become a regular volunteer at your local pantry.
B set up a canned food drive at work/school to help your local pantry.
C you contact your local soup kitchen and sign up for a shift.
D post the story on your Facebook and Twitter accounts with a link to a local pantry.
Look back over your answers and see which letter you have picked the most. If there is no clear winner then read both sets of results.
Results
If you scored mostly A’s you are a Regular volunteer
You’re interested in organisations or charities that provide opportunities to get involved and commit over a defined period of time. You enjoy a mixture of volunteering opportunities from project work through to mentoring or providing assistance to others.
You would suit working with a local charity where you could use and develop your skills. For example,.you could volunteer as a financial assistant.
If you scored mostly B’s you are a Projects based volunteer
Similar to a regular volunteer you are interested in working with organisations and charities but only for a short period of time. You would commit more to volunteering if you had more time. Projects based volunteering allows you to commit a certain number of hours for a specified period. Project volunteering also allows you to try out different things, ensuring that you never get bored.
You would suit starting your own volunteering project or joining current student led projects such as Our Story, a local intergenerational oral history project.
If you scored mostly C’s you are a One-off/event volunteer
One-off volunteering opportunities provide individual volunteering opportunities for you to get involved with a group or charity without having to make a long-term commitment. These opportunities often exist for events or activities that are taking place at a certain date and time where organisations are looking for additional assistance.
You would suit voluntary jobs such as event marshalling or environmental clean-up days.
If you scored mostly D’s you are a Virtual Volunteer
Virtual volunteering is a relatively new yet rapidly growing form of volunteering where you can make an impact on your community via social networking sites, the internet or other digital platforms. This form of volunteering allows you to have the flexibility to complete tasks at a time, date and venue convenient to you.
You would be suited to e-mentoring.
Why not search our website for new and exciting opportunities and start volunteering today? If you require further advice and assistance contact us.