Formal volunteering involves committing your time and skills to support organised groups or causes, creating a structured way to give back.
A beginner's guide to: Formal volunteering
organised volunteering, structured volunteer work
Want to get into formal volunteering?
- • Open our free app for step-by-step support. You’ll get guides that help you start and stick with it. You don’t need to be a pro, just jump in and give it a go.
- • You’ll also find other activities, with suggestions that match what’s most useful to you right now. Less thinking, more doing.
- • Track what you do, make gains, and adjust as you go.
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Check the safety tips
A few must-knows to ensure you’re covered.
See what’s needed
Space, setup, and time. Check the practical stuff so you're good to go.
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What is formal volunteering?
Formal volunteering is a powerful way to connect with your community while making a meaningful difference. Whether you're helping out at a local charity, supporting a cause you care deeply about or lending your expertise to an organisation in need, volunteering offers a structured environment to contribute your time and skills. It's an opportunity to meet new people, learn new things and feel a sense of accomplishment. As you dive into the world of formal volunteering, you’ll experience what it is to give back and the satisfaction of contributing your efforts. Let’s explore how you can get involved and make a positive impact.
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Why formal volunteering is good for you
Volunteering deepens social bonds and boosts sense of purpose. Regular giving enhances self-worth, increases generosity and reduces feelings of isolation.
Reinforces giving behaviour
Focus area: Generosity (Impact rating: High)
Expands social network
Focus area: Social connection (Impact rating: High)
Stronger sense of meaning
Focus area: Purpose (Impact rating: High)
Boosts self-esteem
Focus area: Identity & worth (Impact rating: High)
Supports coping capacity
Focus area: Resilience (Impact rating: Medium)
People who love formal volunteering
Jimmy Carter
Person
Angelina Jolie
Actor
Roger Federer
Sports
Parks and Recreation
TV Show
Want a closer look at formal volunteering?
Ways to try it, what to expect, and how to stay safe. Read on!
Volunteering comes in various forms, allowing you to choose what best fits your interests and schedule.
Common styles
Hands-on volunteering
Virtual volunteering
Event-based volunteering
Skills-based volunteering
Safety
⚠️
Understand what skills and responsibilities will be asked for and ensure it’s a good match.
What you might experience
🤔
"What am I walking into here?"
😊
"Okay, this is happening"
😬
"I hope I'm actually being helpful!"
😌
"This is kind of cool!"
😊
"Yeah I'll come back, I'm in!"
Start today
- • Open our free app for step-by-step support. You’ll get guides that help you start and stick with it. You don’t need to be a pro, just jump in and give it a go.
- • You’ll also find other activities, with suggestions that match what’s most useful to you right now. Less thinking, more doing.
- • Track what you do, make gains, and adjust as you go.
Explore your options
Whether you go it alone, join a group, or work 1:1 with a teacher, we’ve laid out what each path can look like.
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Recommendation for first-timer
Availability
Average cost per session
Special equipment required
Potential for socialisation & community
Safety & skill building
Space or privacy required
Ease of scheduling
Setup time
Active practice time
Unexpected advantages
Ancestry, history, facts and other trivia
Formal volunteering dates back to the American Civil War when women volunteered as nurses.
Harry Potter fans volunteer at events to promote literacy and community engagement.
2020 saw an uptick in virtual volunteering due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Popular memes
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Academic research we rate
Volunteering in the care of people with severe mental illness: a systematic review
Hallett, C., Klug, G., Lauber, C., & Priebe, S. (2012). Volunteering in the care of people with severe mental illness: a systematic review. BMC Psychiatry, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244x-12-226
Impact of Crisis Line Volunteering on Mental Wellbeing and the Associated Factors: A Systematic Review
Willems, R., Drossaert, C., Vuijk, P., & Bohlmeijer, E. (2020). Impact of Crisis Line Volunteering on Mental Wellbeing and the Associated Factors: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(5), 1641. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051641
What are the emotional experiences of being a volunteer in palliative and end-of-life care settings? A systematic review and thematic synthesis.
Coleman, H., & Walshe, C. (2021). What are the Emotional Experiences of Being a Volunteer in Palliative and End-of-Life Care Settings? A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 62(3), e232–e247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.02.025
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7 research pieces
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