The value of volunteering
Charity work was a big boost for Jared
JARED Shearing had no idea when he started volunteering for the British Heart Foundation at 16 that it would make such an impact on his life.
“Not only did it boost my confidence but it helped me shape my future to the point where it helped me decide to become a teacher,” says Jared, 22, from Long Eaton, Derbyshire.
He has just started work as a science teacher at a secondary school and he is gently nudging his pupils to consider volunteering.
“I was in sixth form when a teacher told us about why we should consider volunteering,” says Jared. “I followed it up instantly and before I knew it I was working at the local furniture and electrical store. I was very young but it helped me to gain belief in my abilities.”
Jared worked in the warehouse lifting and shifting, on the shop floor sorting items, manning the tills and helping customers.
He says: “My time volunteering has equipped me with practical skills, and it looks good on my university and job applications.
“It gave me something to talk about at early interviews too. I even managed to keep most of that going while I was at university in Birmingham studying nuclear science and materials.”
After a couple of years Jared realised that he wasn’t really enjoying his degree. He stuck it out to the end of the course then out of the blue he decided he wanted to be a teacher, spending a further year at university, which was mostly made up of work placements in schools.
He says without a shadow of a doubt the years of volunteering helped shape his future career.
“I knew how to be a part of a team and when it came time to stand in front of a classroom full of teenagers I didn’t seem too worried about it,” says Jared.
He loves the job and is now determined to do his part to encourage younger people to volunteer.
“I’ve only been teaching at school for half a term but I’ve already been pushing the sixth form to get out there and give it a go, possibly during free periods,” he explains.
Linda Fenn, head of volunteering at the British Heart Foundation, is delighted Jared is trying to encourage youngsters to give volunteering a try. “Our research shows that young people in particular have so much to gain from getting involved,” she says. “It helps them learn new things, improve their health and wellbeing, and make lifelong friends.”
WHY VOLUNTEER?
■ It gives the perfect opportunity to gain experience and provides invaluable life skills, boosting your CV.
■ You will also feel good about yourself, no matter what your age, which reflects in your attitude and your confidence. At interviews it will give you something to talk about and show you have experience in the workplace.
■ If you have time out of work or between studying and work it will give you some purpose and keep boredom at bay.
■ Often volunteers will go on to get full-time jobs with charities or companies they have been helping. At the British Heart Foundation, volunteers are encouraged to apply for any paid position that becomes available within the shop. There are also opportunities to train for NVQ qualifications if relevant to the role.
CONTACTS
BHF relies on 20,000 volunteers nationwide, particularly before Christmas, many of whom are eligible to work towards NVQs in customer service and retail. A quarter of paid vacancies within BHF are filled by former volunteers. Go to bhf.org.uk/volunteering.
■ Citizens Advice relies on 23,000 volunteers – citizensadvice.org.uk. ■ Volunteering Matters, for 18 to 35s – volunteeringmatters.org.uk. ■ vinspired – vinspired.com.
■ Know your rights – gov.uk/ volunteering.
■ The Royal Voluntary Service – royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk.
■ Do-it – do-it.org.uk.
It looks very good on my CV and it helps me at interviews