If after reading these, you still have further questions, please contact our Volunteer Service team on 020 7403 2936.

Will Volunteering Lead to a Paid Job?

If you volunteer somewhere it won't automatically lead to you being paid for what you do. Even if a paid job comes up within the organisation that you're at, you will have to apply for it the same way that everyone else does, and at the end of the day it will go to the best candidate. If you are a volunteer you can build up good contacts and experience that can give you the edge in a job interview or help you find a better job than you would have got if you hadn't have been volunteering.

Is Volunteering Work Experience?

In a way all volunteering can be counted as work experience, but all work experience is not volunteering. Where the two differ is that work experience tends to be short term and intense e.g. two weeks full-time admin. Volunteering is more long-term e.g. several months to a year.

With work experience it tends to be about a one way transfer of skills from the organisation you're at. Volunteering is about a two way skills transfer.

The shortest period that you can volunteer is usually a couple of months and this is usually for opportunities that don't need much training e.g. admin Things like housing advice, business advice or social care type opportunities usually all need you to volunteer for at least a year

We don't organise work experience placements, only volunteer opportunities. If you need to do a work experience type placement and are unsure if it could be done through us please contact us.

Will Volunteering Affect My Benefits?

Generally - no!

Many people who volunteer are receiving benefits of some description. Volunteers are often given the wrong information about volunteering whilst on benefits. Below is a summary of the regulations regarding the main benefits:

Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
There is no limit to the maximum number of hours a person can volunteer but JSA claimants have to show that they are available for and actively seeking work and that they are available to attend an interview within 48 hours and start work within one week.

Income Support
Again there is no limit to the number of hours a person can volunteer.

Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance
There is no limit to the number of hours a person can volunteer on these benefits, There can be some confusion as there was a 16 hour rule which was scrapped in 2000. Volunteering should not call into question whether or not a person is fit for work but this is an area that can cause problems. Care should be taken when considering the type of volunteering they do, for example, a person who is unable to work due to back problems should avoid volunteering that involves heavy lifting, etc.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Again people on DLA should not be affected by volunteering.

How Long Before I Can Start?

This is generally longer than you think and can range from several weeks for something like an admin role to 2-4 months for something like a youth work role.

Isn't Volunteering Boring?

Volunteering can be boring if you pick the wrong thing to do. Different roles suit different people and what's dull for you may be fascinating for someone else. To avoid being stuck in some dull volunteering, work out exactly what's what at the beginning before you commit to something.

Is Volunteering All About Giving?

Volunteering is a two-way exchange of skills and experiences. By volunteering you are helping an organisation do something that they wouldn't have otherwise been able to do. In return you can gain a whole host of things.

Can I Volunteer Overseas?

Volunteer Centre Southwark has access to information on a wide variety of volunteering projects overseas and can give you advice about the options available. Whatever your skills and experience, there are international organisations that need volunteers to support their work - from health promotion campaigns to stop the spread of Aids in Africa to conservation work in South America, Volunteer Centre Southwark has contact details on organisations across the world offering projects taking everything from a few weeks to a few years to complete.

To book an appointment to discuss your options call us on freephone 0800 018 5692 or e-mail us.

You can also try do-it.org.uk's Volunteering Overseas section.

I Need Experience For My Housing Course - What Can I Do?

We don't tend to have opportunities that are purely about giving housing advice. The best one we offer is with the Citizens Advice Bureau that ask that their volunteers help out for 2 days a week for a period of a year. We have a couple of similar roles giving general advice or with homeless charities. Please check www.do-it.org.uk for our current opportunities.

I Need Experience For My Health and Social Care Course - What Can I Do?

We don't offer opportunities within the Social Work sector of the council however nearly all the opportunities that we offer have some element of social work about them. Please check www.do-it.org.uk to see what we currently have.

I Need Experience For My Counselling Course - What Can I Do?

We have very limited opportunities in this area and people are generally looking for trained volunteers. Opportunities are also ongoing for a period of several months/a year. It is often best to seek a commercial work experience placement.

Still Confused?

If you are still unsure about volunteering and what to do why not give Volunteer Centre Southwark a call? We are here to help you find a volunteering opportunity and we can talk through any issues you have either over the phone or face to face on one of our weekly volunteer advice sessions. These run during the week and you can find out more about them by clicking here.

Contact Us - For more information, to register or to book an individual advice slot e-mail us or phone on 020 7403 2936.