1. Make new friends

When you volunteer you have an opportunity to spend time with other people who you know you will have at least one thing in common with. 

2. Have fun

Volunteering can vary depending on the organisation you work with, their location and the nature of work they do. You might be helping muck out a City farm, setting up an oral history project or telling stories in an adventure playground. Just because you’re doing something helpful, it doesn’t have to be boring!

3. Get out of the student bubble

It can be tempting to spend all your time with people like you. Even in a diverse university like City, there are certain experiences people outside the university have that are fairly unique. For example, you could talk to an older person who had to take shelter in a tube station during the Second World War.

4. Learn something new

Whether it’s gaining experience of working in a new way, perhaps learning how to make things happen in a specific organisational setting, or understanding new processes and systems there are many things you can learn through volunteering.

 5. Develop new skills

Speaking of which, learning new skills is another great thing you can gain through volunteering. Employers really value skills that you have learned through experience. For example, you could develop your public speaking by delivering assemblies in a school. Read about skills that a former student developed through setting up their own wildlife charity.

6. Improve your mental health

Often when your mood is low, it can be easy to focus on yourself and the things which you are unhappy with in your life. Helping other people can be a great way to shift your perspective and make you feel better about yourself. Recent research from YouGov shows that 77% of 18 – 34 year olds who have recently volunteered feel less isolated.

7. Make a difference

Many people choose to volunteer for a cause that they already feel strongly about. Others just like the sound of the opportunity. Getting involved with an organisation is likely to help you understand more about what they do and you might find that it motivates you to support their cause yourself. Through helping others you can make a difference, but you will also learn about yourself.