Our Volunteering Development Officer, Dave Thomas, takes a close look at 'volunteering' and asks what is it – and what it isn’t.
Volunteering has long been at the heart of community life, a way for individuals to contribute time, energy, and expertise to causes that matter. But at its core, volunteering isn’t just about the act of giving; it’s about creating connections, sharing skills, and making a difference—often in small but meaningful ways. So, what exactly is volunteering, and why does it hold such a special place in society?
At its simplest, volunteering is the act of freely offering to do something, typically for the benefit of others, without expecting financial reward. While it may involve a variety of activities, from helping at local charity shops to mentoring young people, the common thread is the willingness to contribute time and effort to something larger than oneself.
Formal Definitions of Volunteering
To better understand volunteering’s importance, let’s turn to a few widely recognised definitions.
The Compact’s definition
The Compact, which is an agreement setting out guidelines for partnerships between the UK Government and the voluntary sector, defines volunteering as:
'An activity that involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that aims to benefit the environment or someone (individuals or groups) other than, or in addition to, close relatives.'
This definition underlines that volunteering is unpaid work with a purposeful focus on benefiting society or the environment rather than for personal or financial gain.
The United Nations’ definition
The United Nations adds an international perspective, defining volunteering as:
'A wide range of activities, including traditional forms of mutual aid and self-help, formal service delivery, and other forms of civic participation, undertaken of free will, for the general public good, and where monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.'
The UN’s definition emphasises that volunteering is a diverse practice, spanning various cultures and forms, yet bound by a common commitment to the public good and the absence of financial motivation.
Ivan Scheier’s perspective on volunteering
To grasp the essence of volunteering, we can look to Ivan Scheier, a pioneer in volunteer management. He describes it beautifully: 'Volunteering is doing more than you have to because you want to, in a cause you consider good.' This statement encapsulates the spirit of volunteering: a choice driven by passion, personal values, and a sense of responsibility to something beyond personal gain.
Why people volunteer
Volunteers are motivated by various factors—a desire to make a difference, the wish to connect with others, or the satisfaction of knowing their efforts contribute to a broader purpose. Many volunteers feel strongly about a particular cause, whether it’s supporting the environment, advocating for animal welfare, or assisting the elderly.
For others, volunteering offers a chance to gain new skills, which can enhance their career prospects or personal growth. There’s also the simple joy in knowing they’ve contributed something positive to their community, often feeling a greater sense of purpose and satisfaction.
The impact of volunteering
The positive impact of volunteering extends well beyond the immediate task. Volunteers bring diverse skills and experiences, which can enrich an organisation’s mission and the people it serves. In turn, communities are strengthened, projects are supported, and individuals who might otherwise be isolated or unsupported find companionship and assistance.
Different types of volunteering
Volunteering opportunities are vast and varied. Here are a few common types:
Community volunteering: This includes local projects, like helping in food banks, organising community events, or litter-picking to keep neighbourhoods clean.
Skill-based volunteering: Skilled volunteers offer expertise in areas like marketing, law, or accounting to organisations that couldn’t otherwise afford these services.
Micro-volunteering: For those with limited time, micro-volunteering involves small tasks that can be done in minutes, like writing cards for charity appeals or helping with online surveys.
Environmental volunteering: Many people choose to work with conservation groups to protect wildlife, clean up rivers, or plant trees to support sustainability.
International volunteering: Often more time-intensive, this might involve travelling to other countries to assist with community development projects, health initiatives, or education programmes.
What volunteering isn’t
There are many activities that might seem similar to volunteering, such as work experience, course placements, and internships, but these are generally not considered volunteering. Here’s why these activities don’t fall under the category of volunteering:
Work experience: Work experience is typically structured to provide individuals, especially students, with insight into a specific profession or industry. Although it may be unpaid, the primary purpose is for the individual to gain personal benefit, whether in the form of skills, knowledge, or connections. Unlike volunteering, work experience is usually designed with the person’s career development in mind, and the end goal is often to make the person more employable. Therefore, it is not classified as volunteering because the focus is on personal growth rather than giving back to the community.
Course placements and internships: Course placements and internships are usually a requirement for certain academic programmes or vocational training and are structured to provide hands-on experience for a student. In many cases, these roles are unpaid, but they are still part of the student’s formal education. They often come with assessments, and completing them is necessary to progress in the course or to qualify for a degree. While students may contribute value to an organisation during their placement, the primary purpose of these activities is educational rather than altruistic, distinguishing them from volunteering.
Pro bono work: Pro bono work is often completed by professionals who offer their skills for free to support VCSE organisations. While it resembles volunteering in that it is unpaid and done for the benefit of others, it’s generally driven by a professional obligation to give back rather than a volunteer’s personal decision to offer time freely. It also typically requires specific qualifications or expertise, and while it’s a generous contribution, pro bono work is often aligned with business or professional standards rather than purely voluntary effort.
Mandatory community service: Mandatory community service, such as court-ordered service or service hours for Duke of Edinburgh Awards, is not considered volunteering because it is not undertaken out of free choice. Although these activities can be valuable for communities, they lack the freely given aspect that defines true volunteering.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities: CSR activities are often organised by companies to support their communities, improve their public image, and encourage team-building among employees. While employees may volunteer their time, CSR initiatives are typically driven by company goals, and employees may be motivated by incentives or professional obligations rather than pure altruism. The activities may benefit the community, but they are still part of a business strategy, distinguishing them from traditional volunteering, which is voluntary in nature and not tied to organisational objectives.
Personal Choice
The common factor separating these activities from volunteering is the element of 'personal choice' and 'selfless contribution'. Volunteering, as defined by organisations like the United Nations and the UK’s Compact, involves an individual freely offering time to benefit others without expecting anything in return and purely out of a desire to make a difference.
Benefits to the Volunteer
Volunteering is not only about helping others; it also benefits the volunteer. Studies show that it can improve mental health, reduce stress, and even boost self-confidence. Volunteers are often happier and report a greater sense of purpose in their lives. On a practical level, volunteering can provide valuable experience, enhance CVs, and open doors to new careers.
In many ways, volunteering by any name is the backbone of society. Whether it’s helping at a local youth club, planting trees in a nearby park, or offering support to vulnerable people, volunteers play a vital role.
To quote Ivan Scheier again, 'Volunteering is doing more than you have to because you want to, in a cause you consider good.' It’s a powerful statement, capturing the spirit of giving freely and the joy of making a difference.
