What is volunteering? Positive Impact and Benefits of Volunteering

What is volunteeringVolunteering

  • Volunteering is defined as the commitment of time and energy, for the benefit of the society and the community, the environment, or individuals outside one's immediate family. It is undertaken freely and by choice, without concern for financial gain.


  • A volunteer is someone from the community who contributes to the development of the community. They are valued as individuals who bring a unique contribution to the group with whom they work. Volunteers work for no reward other than the development of themselves and the community. They accompany others towards a common goal.

  • Volunteering covers many varied and different activities, from visiting an elderly or sick neighbor; getting involved in a youth club, scouting or guiding club; assisting a charity with its finances or administration; helping someone to read and write; the list is endless.

  • Anyone can volunteer. It doesn\'t matter whether they are young or old, male or female, able-bodied or disabled, in paid work or not, there is something they can do. Some people volunteer a few times a year when they have spare time, others give a regular commitment of several hours per week, and some even volunteer on a full-time basis.

  • At Meath Volunteer Centre, we aim to enable a person to do voluntary work if they so wish. In doing so we aim to give priority to the needs of the volunteer, to help them to work within their own area of interest and to aid their self-development. We also promote best practices in regard to all voluntary activities.

 

Positive Impact and Benefits of Volunteering

According to the findings of some primary research carried out in 2017 by Volunteer Ireland and the network of Volunteer Centres and Volunteering Information Services around the country (full version of the report can be accessed here: The impact of volunteering on the health and well-being of the volunteer)[1], there have been identified the following positive impacts of volunteering in relation to the volunteers’ Well-being and Mental Health:

·Feeling useful, purposeful and valued and good about doing something practical, making a worthwhile and meaningful difference

· Feeling friendship, social interaction, meeting new people, and getting to know people

· Feelings of enjoyment, happiness, fulfillment and contentment, positive energy, and a buzz 

· Feeling a sense of personal growth and development, an opportunity to learn and practice (new) skills, professional development, e.g. English language, building CV, enhanced employment opportunities, etc.

· Feeling connected to the community and a sense of belonging, socially included and being part of a team

·Feeling an increased sense of self-confidence, which can come from any number of sources including positive social interaction, enhanced skills, e.g. English language.

·Feeling better mentally, feeling good about myself, a sense of purpose and structure, uplift in mood, and a zest for life

·Feeling fortunate, a sense of meaning and perspective on life, gratitude, and appreciation for life's blessings

·Feeling more tolerant and open to people and their diversity.

 [1] Source: “The Impact of Volunteering on Health and Well-being of the Volunteer”, compiled by Amy Woods, Volunteer Ireland, published May 2017