At some time during the course of a lifetime, you may feel it’s time to pay back a little of the good fortune that you have had by volunteering to help someone else. This may be in one of many areas, though if you have no idea where to start, the ideas below are very viable ones and ones that are available worldwide, making them worthy of consideration. A little of your time spent as a volunteer where you live helps your community and that’s really what true community is all about. 

Helping the aged and infirm

This is an obvious route for many. The elderly within your neighborhood may not have the means to go shopping, to clean up their homes or to do the tasks they used to do because age or infirmity got in the way. This is something which is relatively easy to volunteer help with, since you will know the people who live in your community and if you don’t, there is nothing to stop you asking at the town hall if they know of elderly people who need help. They may even have schemes going which you can assist with, such as meals-on-wheels or something that helps the elderly to retain a little of their dignity and remain housed within their own homes. 

Hospice care

In hospices, the staff are always looking for volunteer visitors. These are people who visit those patients who are dying and who read to them, get them a little bit of shopping for their needs or simply pass time talking to them. Often, elderly people find themselves in a hospice environment with family living far away.

To apply for this kind of work, make yourself familiar with hospices in the area and ask if they have need of helpers or visitors and they will probably welcome you with open arms. This isn’t suitable volunteer work for everyone, since facing death isn’t easy. It takes a very special kind of person who puts the needs of others before their own, in an effort to make the lives of the patients more bearable. 

Helping with Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts

This is the kind of work which is great for those who like working with young people. However, the association who runs this kind of group within your community may ask for character references or past experience in the field where you are volunteering. For example, if you volunteer to help with events or camping, they will want to know that you have the kind of character suited to working with kids. 

Charity shops

Oxfam and many large charities have shops where items are sold to raise money for charity. Often these are looking for staff. Applicants for these jobs may be required to work on the cash register or to advise customers. This kind of job is suited to those who have a background in retail or who enjoy contact with the public. Often charity shops are manned by retired people who simply want a role in society that gives them an outlet for sociability, rather than requiring a salary.

The church

Often the church, as a center of the community will require volunteers to help with church events or even services. Floral arrangement in the churches can be something that someone gifted with flower arrangement can volunteer for. Even better than that, if they have a garden which produces ample flowers, the church may be very happy to accept an offer from a volunteer. Other work may be arranging church functions, passing out prayer books or simply offering to help people within the community that need that help. Talk to the parish priest or officiate and find out if help is required. 

Outings

Old people within an old people’s home may be very glad of an outing, although if you wish to volunteer time to help with this kind of function, you will have to give appropriate references to the home which houses the elderly. Perhaps you can work as a volunteer in conjunction with qualified staff to give the old people time away from that environment to visit places of interest. It’s unlikely that everyone would be accepted for this kind of work, though those with a good reputation, a clean driving license and the kind of character that enjoys entertaining elderly people may just stand a chance of being accepted.

Helping at school

Although schools have staff, classroom assistants are always useful to help with children who are lagging behind or to help classes where children need more supervision. Talk to the headmaster and find out if there are volunteer openings. Helping young people can be rewarding. It can also be very taxing, so would be more suited to people who have infinite patience and who are willing to work under the supervision of qualified teaching staff. 

Helping animals in distress

This is a very honorable way to help out as a volunteer. Start to look within your district for animal rescue homes that need assistance. These are places that take on pets that no one seems to want. The work is very hard. The rescue homes are often run on tight budgets so they will welcome volunteers who are willing to do all they can to help provide for animals other people have rejected or those animals that no longer have homes. 

For work with animals International Animal Rescue work worldwide and may just have the need for volunteers in your area. It’s worthwhile looking as the work is very rewarding. If you need to know where there are centers within your area for animal rescue, ask at the local veterinary surgery as they are sure to know. 

In conclusion

Helping another person or other people is what volunteering is all about. There are many outlets for the philanthropic people who wish to give something back to the community, though don’t volunteer for the glory of volunteering. The motive should be giving, rather than receiving.

Once you approach this kind of position from this stance, the payback to you is happy, smiling faces that light up your life because you volunteered, rather than self-indulgence. It’s hard work sometimes, though those who do volunteer with a good heart and honest intentions often find that the reward is a two way thing and beneficial both to those receiving that help and those giving it.