What are your aims? Perhaps you want to work with a particular group of people or organisation. Maybe you want to offer a specific set of skills or gain a certain type of experience for your CV. You need to think about this carefully as it is important that your own reasons for volunteering are balanced with an identified need in an organisation or with a group of people. It is no good just deciding you want to “help people” and blundering into a community without having established that your services are actually required.
You also need to think about how much time you would like to give up. It’s your choice, but the longer you can devote to it, the more likely you will find something you really want to do, where you can make a difference.
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There are lots of organisations that collate volunteering opportunities online, so it is relatively easy to look through and see what is available in your area. These are listed at the bottom of this page. Check out Volunteering England, Do It, Timebank, Junction 49 and VInspired – all of which list lots of great opportunities and projects for students.
Once you have found something you like the sound of, make sure you do some research and check it is a good match for your skills and ideas. Check out the organisation’s website in the first instance. If you need more information, call them up and ask to speak to the person who co-ordinates volunteers. In larger organisations (such as well-known charities) there may be a designated volunteer co-ordinator. Smaller organisations (like community groups) may not have anyone specifically responsible for volunteers, so explain why you are calling and ask to speak to someone about volunteering opportunities.
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As a creative practitioner, it is important to ask yourself how art and design can engage and facilitate social change. Self-initiated voluntary projects can be a fantastic chance to collaborate outside your own discipline. You may have ideas for a self-initiated creative voluntary project that you would like to set up and run. Such projects need to be very carefully designed and managed.
When setting up your own project it is important that you use your own skills and ideas, but you must also consider the needs of the organisation and individuals you will be working with. Think about your objectives and your target group. What are you going to do? What is the desired result? How much will it cost and where will you get the funding from? What will happen when the project ends and how will you know if it has been successful?
You will need to consult with any participants in your proposed activity – what would they like to do and what are they interested in? You must consider their needs, interests and skills; as well as adhering to any policies and procedures around health and safety and protecting vulnerable people. Communicate clearly, concisely and professionally at all times, and agree shared aims, roles and responsibilities from the start.
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Volunteering England
Timebank
Junction 49
Arts Jobs
Vinspired
ECCA
