Volunteer Membership

Volunteering is spending time willingly to help someone else without being paid. It can be formal or informal. Informal volunteering includes helping friends and family with things like babysitting, home repairs or caring. Formal volunteering usually takes place through a charity or other not-for-profit or community organisation.

Volunteering can be very meaningful and enjoyable, and in turn may be good for your mental health and wellbeing.

Volunteering can:

• give you a sense of achievement and purpose

• help you feel part of a community

• help you feel better about yourself by improving your self-esteem and confidence

• help you share your talents, learn new skills and create a better work-life balance

• help combat stress, loneliness, social isolation and depression

• help you meet new people, which can help you feel more connected and valued

Being a volunteer has lots of benefits. It can bring meaning and purpose to your life, while increasing your self-esteem and wellbeing. Volunteering can also relieve stress, and alleviate symptoms of depression. As well as having a positive impact on your community, volunteering can improve your relationships.

Because volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others, it can also help you develop a solid support base. As well as helping to protect you against stress and depression, volunteering can help with mental health recovery.