What do I do next?

Think about what skills and experience you have to offer an organisation. Remember you do not necessarily have to have worked in that job before. Identify your ‘transferable skills’. These can be skills you have acquired in your personal life as well as in the work arena.

Think about how much time you have to offer an organisation, be realistic, it will help both you and the organisation make the best use of your time. You will need to consider how many hours a week , any particular days you can work and for what period of time.

When you are ready, the next step is to identify possible volunteer opportunities in your area. The following organisations will be able to help.

• ncvo - part of the The National Council for Voluntary Organisations.
• Do it - A national website that allows for online searching of voluntary opportunities.
• The Volunteer Centre, Birmingham assists volunteers within the Birmingham area.

You may also try looking at the websites of charities and organisations, such as the National Trust, Woodland Trust or Oxfam who regularly take on volunteers.