When we think of volunteering, we often think of it as an act of pure generosity, which of course, it is. But that’s not all it is. Your time and energy given through volunteering doesn’t only benefit the people and communities you work with. There’s so much about volunteering that helps us in our own individual journeys too.
Volunteering has a direct impact on our health and wellbeing, our relationships and even our career prospects. Here’s a closer look at the three biggest benefits and why they matter for anyone considering getting involved in volunteer work.
1. Boosts Your Mental and Physical Health
Volunteering is as good for your body as it is for your mind.
One of the most immediate effects is stress reduction. Helping others triggers those feel-good brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. These are the same ones linked to exercise and social bonding and leave you more regulated and ready to face everyday pressures.
Volunteering also helps combat isolation and depression. Regularly showing up for a community, whether through weekly attendance or a monthly event, keeps us all connected in a low-pressure way.
Then there’s a physical payoff too. Research shows volunteers tend to have better physical mobility than non-volunteers, likely thanks to a mix of increased activity, stronger social support, and psychological benefits.
Finally, volunteering provides us with a genuine sense of purpose. Giving back to something bigger than ourselves builds identity and accomplishment, something easy to lose in the routine of daily life.
2. Strengthens Your Social Connections
When it comes to building our circle, working together toward a shared goal makes it so much easier.
Volunteering naturally introduces us to a diverse mix of people we may never otherwise meet, let alone bond with. And just by being there, you already know that you share interests and values, which makes it that much easier! These connections often extend well beyond the volunteering itself, into wider personal and professional circles.
Sharing meaningful experiences can also create lasting friendships, and showing up week after week for the same cause creates a solid foundation in a relationship within a situation that can be quite hard to replicate on your own.
Talking to people is a skill, and one that we can find challenging, nerve-wracking or down right awkward to learn. But meeting people in a volunteer setting can help. Regularly chatting with new people and getting to know them within a familiar setting helps us confidently build on our communication and listening skills, while exercising our curiosity and empathy.Â
On on a broader, community-wide level, working together on something meaningful strengthens support networks within the community, and collectively deepens our sense of belonging and pride. This one doesn’t just affect us as volunteers, but for the wider community we’re serving. By volunteering you are creating better communities.
3. Supports your personal and professional goals
Volunteering isn’t just something that makes us feel good, it can open doors too.
Many volunteer roles offer hands-on experience in leadership, problem-solving, and time management, which can be especially helpful when other routes feel out of reach. Taking responsibility on a project, exercising problem solving and working well in a team are exactly the kind of transferable skills employers look for.
In addition to soft skills, many opportunities open us up to valuable employment networks, accredited training and work experience necessary for some professions. Whether it’s towards your dream job, or a low risk way to take a complete career change, volunteering is a genuine route.
Volunteering also shows that we care beyond ourselves. By demonstrating a proactive commitment to the community we’re showing our initiative, reliability, and genuine character beyond what’s listed on a job description.
Lastly, and probably most importantly, volunteering builds our confidence. Navigating unfamiliar environments, taking on new responsibilities, and working with people outside our usual circle all build self-esteem that transfers into our personal live and into workplace settings.
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How can you get involved?
There’s so much more to volunteering than we first think, and by joining a project you have the chance to do all this, all while helping your community. Fancy giving it a go? Fill in the enquiry form at the bottom of this page!
Not 100%? Check out some of our past volunteer stories and find out from their experience how life changing volunteering can be.
