December 5th is International Volunteer Day, celebrating the many people who give up their time for various worthwhile causes for free.
Volunteering can be a great way to get back into work, gain experience or boost your CV but there are other more subtle benefits as well.
Here are some of the more surprising ways in which volunteering can improve much more than just your career prospects:
Improved quality of life
A May 2012 study by the Royal Voluntary Service found that those who volunteer later in life have a better quality of life than those who don’t do any voluntary work. Volunteering was found to reduce depression and social isolation, while boosting quality of life and life satisfaction.
Improved self-esteem and sense of purpose
Volunteering can improve volunteer’s self-esteem, which is vital for those using volunteering as a stepping stone to getting back into employment.
Better social interaction
Volunteering can be a great way to meet new people and widen your social circle. This can be especially important for older people, those who find it difficult to make friends or people who have been out of work for long periods of time.
Increased understanding of issues
If you volunteer for an organisation dealing with issues such as mental health, homelessness or addiction, then you will have the opportunity to better understand the people affected by those issues. You can then help to educate others on the challenges facing certain sectors of society.
If you’re looking to get into volunteering, search for your perfect voluntary role on [site_name].