Royal Voluntary Service
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Thousands of opportunities. Volunteer your way.

Volunteering means making a difference

Royal Voluntary Service volunteers have supported the NHS throughout the COVID-19 pandemic at a time when every resource was precious and we will continue to provide that help whilst the nation recovers.

We’re proud that we helped more people begin their volunteering journey during the pandemic than any other organisation. That’s hundreds of thousands of new volunteers, all making a difference during our nation’s hour of need.

New ways of volunteering have emerged since the pandemic took hold. Volunteering is changing and with Royal Voluntary Service you can choose the role and style of volunteering that fits in with your life and lifestyle.

For instance, nowadays you can volunteer through an app on your phone and pick up tasks when you want to, giving you total flexibility.

Our volunteers work in a wide variety of roles; from offering companionship to people who are socially isolated, to providing practical help to those recovering from illness, to working on hospital wards or helping at a vaccination site.

Whatever role you choose to play, you will be supporting others while enjoying a rewarding experience for yourself. 

Volunteering means mutual benefit

Our volunteers provide vital support when people need it most, but it’s not only the NHS and the people we help that benefit from the gift of volunteering.
What could volunteering do for you?

Volunteering means something for everyone

There’s no such thing as a typical volunteer. At Royal Voluntary Service people of all ages, genders, cultures and backgrounds volunteer every day, putting their own unique talents, experiences and expertise to good use. 

Whatever stage of life you are at, volunteering can be a part of it.

It’s a great way to gain practical work experience while you study, or to develop skills that might help build or navigate a change in your career. 

If you are raising a family, flexible volunteering can fit around the time you have, giving you a chance to build new connections in your community while helping others.

Meanwhile, many retirees find volunteering is a lynchpin of an active and happy 'third age', and a welcome means of continuing to make a valuable contribution.

Whatever reason you have for thinking about volunteering, you can be sure there’s a role somewhere that will work for you. Our job is to help you find it.

What will volunteering mean to you?

Volunteering means learning

Our student volunteer base has never been bigger, as more and more students discover how rewarding and fun it can be. 

You only give time you can afford, so there’s plenty left over for studying and socialising. And you’ll be doing something that interests you, either because it relates to your studies or because it’s a welcome break from them!

You’ll gain skills you can’t learn in a classroom, and valuable experience to take into the workplace. At Royal Voluntary Service, there are great opportunities to grow direct experience in health, care or retail environments, for example. However, volunteering with us boosts a range of skills which can be applied to any career pathway.

You’ll build a network of friends and contacts that will help you with references, studying and career advice.

Above all, you’ll gain confidence in yourself and your abilities. You’ll discover talents you didn’t know you had, and interests you never knew existed. You’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve made a positive difference to other people, as well as to your own wellbeing. 

Volunteering for students & young adults