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Voluntary Work
Volunteering is an excellent way of building skills and confidence. It gives you a great opportunity to meet new people and deal with new situations. You could learn essential work skills like team working, dealing with customers, coping with awkward situations, handling cash and using a computer. These skills help your career and look great on your CV.
You could be a volunteer in this country or abroad. You might work with disadvantaged children, do your bit for the environment or help in your local charity shop. Often money won't be involved but, sometimes, you may be paid an allowance (or expenses).
You can volunteer for a few hours a week or for several weeks or months at a time. You can do voluntary work alongside your main job or if you are unemployed or studying.
Whatever your career plans you'll benefit from becoming a volunteer. Remember that for many caring and health jobs - teacher, social worker, nurse, doctor, etc - it's an almost essential step towards your chosen career.
Useful contacts
If you want to find out more about volunteering you may wish to contact the following organisations:
Somerset Youth Volunteering Network www.somersetyouth.org.uk - 01458 836130
Somerset Rural Youth Project www.sryp.org.uk - 01278 722100
Somerset County Youth Service www.somersetyouth.co.uk - 01823 447120 (for local centres see Your Town/Area)
Somerset Gateway http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somersetgateway - database of Somerset organisations, clubs, societies and self-help groups
Somerset Inclusion Project www.barnardos.org.uk - working with young people with disabilities - 01823 257917
Vinspired www.vinspired.com - volunteering opportunities for 16-25 year olds
DO-IT www.do-it.org.uk - national database of volunteering opportunities
Volunteering England www.volunteering.org.uk - 0845 305 6979
Community Service Volunteers www.csv.org.uk - 0800 374 991
Inter Cultural Youth Exchange www.icye.co.uk - 0870 774 3486
National Association for Voluntary and Community Action www.navca.org.uk - 0114 278 6636
ViSTAjobs www.vistajobs.org.uk – opportunities with Somerset voluntary organisations - 08453 580372
Connect Youth www.connectyouthinternational.com – includes European Voluntary Service - 0207 389 4030
Worldwide Volunteering For Young People www.wwv.org.uk - worldwide database of 1400 volunteering organisations
Connexions Somerset has a range of books on volunteering for you to consult at our area centres.
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