• Why volunteer?
• What is volunteering?
• What can I do?
• How do I get started?
• Does it cost?
• Will it affect my benefits?

Why Volunteer?

Volunteering is a highly rewarding way of spending your time.  As well as making a difference in your local community, you will also learn and develop skills, gain life experience and meet lots of new people.  Volunteering enhances your CV and can help to make you more employable.

What is volunteering?

Volunteering is giving your time to a not for profit organisation for no financial gain.

What can I do?

Here are some of the areas of voluntary work available in and around Chester:

• Environmental
• Retail shop work
• Mentoring and befriending
• Community work
• Fundraising and campaigning
• Catering
• IT support
• Youth work
• Trusteeship
• Advice and guidance

How do I get started?

To help you decide what kind of voluntary work might suit you, it might help to think about:

• Why do you want to volunteer?
• What skills would you like to use or develop?
• What activities do you enjoy doing and what would you NOT like to do?
• Is there a specific cause or group that you want to help?
• Would you like to do something that's familiar or completely new to you?
• Are you happier working with lots of people, or just a few?
• When could you volunteer and for how long?

There are two ways to find out about opportunities that may suit you:

• Make an appointment to come in and speak to a member of staff.

At Volunteer Centre Chester we provide information, advice and guidance on a wide range of local opportunities.

We can provide confidential one-to-one interviews to help you make informed decisions about the kind of voluntary work you would like to do.

Call 01244 316 587 to make an appointment. Or email us an expression of interest at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we will call you to make an appointment.

We also post all of our opportunities on the national volunteering database at 
www.do-it.org.uk

Do-it allows you to search for local voluntary work that matches your interests and fits around your schedule.

Does it cost?

Money may be an important issue for you.  While voluntary work is not paid, many organisations will repay travel expenses.  Job Centre Plus encourages people to volunteer as this is a way of getting back into work.

Will it affect my benefits?

Find information about volunteering while on benefits here.