Volunteering
There are many benefits to volunteering. Here are just a few:
Volunteering helps to prepare for paid employment. It builds confidence, you will meet new people, learn new skills, get a reference and have experience to add to your CV.
It can help with a career change as you can gain the experience in a new area which you may not be able to get elsewhere.
Volunteering is very rewarding for those who have found the right opportunities. You will have the satisfaction of being part of a group working together to achieve goals in supporting the community.
There are lots of things to choose from: administration, conservation, befriending the elderly or someone with a disability, driving, charity shop work, mentoring ex-offenders & plenty of other opportunities.
You can search for general volunteering opportunities here.
There are two volunteer centres in the Bedfordshire area:
Community Action Bedfordshire
Bossard House
West Street
Leighton Buzzard LU7 1DA
01525 850559 / mail@cabeds.org.uk
Community Voluntary Service
43 Bromham Road
Bedford
MK40 2AA
01234 354366 / info@cvsbeds.org.uk
You can search for Bedfordshire based volunteering roles here.