Volunteering is a great way to develop and learn new skills while you are looking for a job. It could even increase your chances of finding work.

There are many benefits of volunteering. It is a great way of getting into a working environment which could help you achieve the following:

• develop new skills
• gain experience
• get training in new areas of work
• explore career interests
• increase your contacts, which could provide job leads
• build your confidence
• develop and enhance your CV

Volunteering is also a great way to support your community and can make a big difference locally. It can provide you with many other benefits including:

• the chance to do something you've never tried before
• a sense of satisfaction and achievement
• the opportunity to make new friends and contacts with diverse backgrounds and experiences
• increased job and career prospects and new skills - over 70% of employers would hire a candidate with volunteering experience over someone who has never volunteered


The benefits regulations are clear that you can volunteer and it will not affect your benefit payments, as long as you meet the conditions of your particular benefit and as long as the only money you receive is to cover your volunteering expenses. This could be for things like the cost of travelling from home to the volunteering location.

Some volunteering requires many hours a week, some only a few each month.

If you are getting benefits and are keen to volunteer, you can get help to find opportunities from Jobcentre Plus, through ‘Work Together’.

Work together can help you find out more about volunteering as well as information on where to find opportunities. If you want to know more about Work Together, talk to your Jobcentre Plus adviser at your next appointment.