With so much negativity going on in the world, it's easy to turn on the news and feel small and useless. You feel you should be doing your bit to help make the world a better place, but how to get started?
You can of course donate money to various charities, but if you'd like to do something IRL there are plenty of volunteering opportunities out there. The trouble is, not everyone has the time. After all, many volunteering opportunities take place when most of us are at work.
When one of the members of our Facebook Money Diaries group asked for suggestions of where to volunteer in London, the group came back with a range of different opportunities which suit a whole bunch of different commitment levels. We decided to share the responses with you, in case you're struggling to find an opportunity that fits your schedule.
If you're outside London and looking for volunteering opportunities in your area, head to the group and pose your question – we've no doubt that the members will be happy to help you out.
You can also look for volunteer opportunities through your local council’s website or, if you're in London and nothing below takes your fancy, visit the Mayor of London's Team London for more. If you have other suggestions, add them in the comments below.
Food Banks
"There are lots of food banks in London to volunteer with."
-Ruth
Most food banks are headed up by The Trussell Trust, which has a number of different ways to get involved, from working in the warehouse sorting donations to working in the food banks themselves, working in the office, making tea and meals for visitors and giving out info about other local services.
Register your interest here.
Girl Guides
"I’m a Brownie leader and it’s honestly my favourite thing in the world – I haven’t found it hugely time-consuming, mostly just the meetings each week which are 6-7.15 (but each unit varies and if you wanted later there’s Guides). It brings me so much joy, especially seeing girls coming out of their shells and providing a fab girl-only space. It’s changed so much since I was a Brownie and Guide – just couldn’t recommend it enough. Even if you can’t commit to coming weekly you can sign up to be a unit helper and come along when you can."
-Emma
"I’m a Guide leader and I absolutely love it. It’s only 1 and 1/2 [hours] each week for the meeting (7.15 -8.45) plus a bit of planning time but it’s so worth it to see the girls in the unit flourish. Plus the other ladies I volunteer with are great so it’s a really nice way to meet other people. Also loads of opportunities to go on trips (both in the UK and abroad) if you are interested."
-Sophie
Volunteering with the Girlguiding association gives you the potential to run activities, games, projects and events that teach girls useful skills and more about the world around them and give them an opportunity to experience their full potential. You can work with girls in Rainbows, Brownies, Guides or Rangers. For those who want to be a unit leader, you'll need to complete a leadership qualification.
Register your interest here.
The Feminist Library
"I volunteer at the Feminist Library – helping them to catalogue books before their move to Peckham! Lots of nice girls and slots every day after work (6.30-9) and on the weekends. Join 'Feminist Library Volunteers Group' for more info."
-Susan
The Feminist Library is a large collection of women's liberation movement literature based in London. They've been going since 1975. The entire place is volunteer-run so they're always looking for extra help doing everything from developing the Feminist Library online catalogue to doing research into new publications, manning the library while it's open, helping to write the newsletter and much more. To find out what you can offer, email Katie at volunteer@feministlibrary.co.uk
Independent Visitors
"If you are interested in befriending a child/teenager who is in long-term foster care then contact your local authority about becoming an Independent Visitor. It’s the most amazing nationwide scheme that really makes a huge difference to children who have had a really difficult start in life."
-Jo
Independent Visitors are people who are carefully matched with a child in foster care, with the view of developing a long-term friendship with them. Their job is to offer support to the young people, providing them with positive opportunities to help them on their path to a stable and productive future. Because children in foster care experience so much change when it comes to living spaces and support workers, the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS), which is the largest provider of Independent Visitors across England and Wales, asks for a minimum commitment of two years for a few hours a month.
Find out more here.
Plan Zheroes
"I volunteer with Plan Zheroes, food waste charity – found them via the GLA website which has all sorts of opportunities."
-Joy
This food waste sharing scheme looks to share excess food from various locations with vulnerable people by distributing to charities. Most of their opportunities involve collection of surplus food from Borough Market or King's Cross via bike or car. These opportunities are especially good for time-strapped people as they only require about an hour of time just after work or on the weekend.
See their opportunities here.
Spread The Word
"I used to volunteer for Spread the Word, who are a writer development charity and run lots of creative writing workshops and other events. If you volunteer at an event you get to sit in for free so it was a great way to get to go to lots of workshops and readings when I had a low income."
-Julianne
Spread the Word aims to help a more diverse and representative group of writers to live and work in the capital by providing them with a community to assist them in developing their careers in literature, film and theatre in an affordable and achievable manner.
To find out which upcoming events need volunteers, email Francesca.
The Girls' Network
"I've started with The Girls' Network – each month I just need to agree when to meet my teenage mentee and we go from there."
-Casey
Started by two teachers who saw the issues that their teenage girl pupils were struggling with, The Girls' Network pairs girls from disadvantaged communities with a mentor to help provide them with the opportunities and confidence that they may otherwise be missing out on. The network now stretches across London and the south coast. Volunteers need to commit to four hours training and then one hour a month for the year.
Find out more here.
Great Ormond Street Hospital
"Great Ormond Street Hospital is the perfect place for you if you love working with children – we get to volunteer with patients on the wards as well as in the incredible activity centre where their friends and siblings (and parents) are always welcome during opening hours! From reading books to crafts to dance-offs to games – your imagination is the limit."
-Sheloa
Great Ormond Street Hospital Weekend Club needs people to come and give them a hand keeping the children entertained both on the wards and in the activity centre. Weekends can be boring for the children and playing with them and keeping them entertained can help distract them from their illness. There are plenty of weekday opportunities as well.
Find out more here.
Dress For Success
"DFS is a great way to offer encouragement and support to women returning to the workforce, and the advice and time you give is so very much appreciated. From the styling sessions for interviews at their gorgeous clothing boutique, to career and CV guidance – you never know how much you know that can guide other women until you pass it on!"
-Sheloa
Dress For Success gives women trying to get back into work a helping hand. Volunteers will do everything from styling or dressing clients for their interview or new job to providing careers advice, covering basic admin tasks, dealing with donated clothing and holding mock interviews to help prepare clients for the real thing. Volunteering can be as much as once a quarter to once a week.
Find out more here.
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