Did you know giving your time up to volunteer and help others can make you feel better?
Volunteering can help you make friends, learn new skills, advance your career, and even feel happier and healthier. In Middlesbrough there are charities and community groups out there looking for your help right now.
Top five health and wellbeing benefits of volunteering
- Feel happier and boosts confidence
Volunteering makes you feel happier – 96% of volunteers say so! - Reduces stress levels
Volunteering reduces the body’s stress and releases endorphins (the brain’s natural painkillers) as you feel a sense of purpose and satisfaction in helping others. - Stay physically and mentally active
Regular volunteers are reportedly 10 times more likely to be in good health than those who don’t volunteer. - Meet new people and make friends
Volunteering is a great way to meet new people who share the same interests as you. One of the best ways to make new friends is to take part in a shared activity together. - Learn new skills
There’s something for everyone out there to help with, and you can use the chance to learn new skills along the way.
Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency (MVDA) runs our local volunteer centre, which supports and matches people who are interested in volunteering with charities and community groups looking for help.
Suganya Subramaniaraja, Volunteer Centre Co-ordinator, explained why volunteering is good for you:
“As well as helping others, volunteering has been shown to improve volunteers' wellbeing too. It’s human nature to feel good after helping someone out. Volunteering can also help you gain valuable new skills and experiences, and boost your confidence.”
Common myths people have around volunteering include that you need specific skills, or that it will affect your benefits, neither of which is true.
There are all kinds of volunteering roles out there, contributing to many different causes. Whatever your reason for volunteering, there are a wide range of prospects available in the Middlesbrough area.
Not your typical roles
There are opportunities in administration, befriending, support work, driving, working with children, mentoring, membership of local management committees, conservation and much, much more. Many organisations need volunteers in order to provide or extend crucial services. This means there’s something to suit nearly everyone wishing to make a difference to their community.
Here are just examples of vacancies in the Middlesbrough area:
- Delivering training in CPR to the community
- Video blogger
- Health champions promoting healthy lifestyles
- Luncheon club volunteers
- Digital retail volunteer
So how do I volunteer?
Contact Middlesbrough Volunteer Centre - email volunteer.centre@mvdauk.org.uk or call 01642 803613 for a chat about what you’re interested in and what opportunities there may be for you.
Or, you can view the current roles online at www.mvda.info/i-want-volunteer or on the Facebook page www.facebook.com/middlesbroughvolunteercentre/
Need more help?
We understand each person is different and might require a different level of support to start volunteering.
Our staff can speak with you to identify your skills and interests and connect you with suitable opportunities in your local community. They are available to respond to any of your queries with regards to volunteering and are passionate about promoting good practice, ensuring that you have a rewarding volunteering experience.