Volunteering for busy mums: How to fit it in and benefit

Date: 27 Jul 2010

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering remains popular and is a wonderful way of giving something back as well as learning new skills. Read on to find out more about the benefits, how to fit it into a hectic schedule and don’t miss our case study on single, working mum-of- two, Lynn Eldred who talks about her work as a bereavement counsellor.

What is volunteering?

Volunteering is usually unpaid and can cover a huge range of activities such as running the local playgroup, being a parent governor at your local school or working for your local Citizens Advice Bureau. In addition, there are a large number of charities who rely upon the great work and spirit that volunteers bring.

The benefits:

Volunteering can come about in many ways. Commonly, there is a natural link with a cause, but for many it’s a way of opening up a new chapter either as a means to develop new skills and meet new people or as a way to build up confidence. But by far the most popular reason is being asked - two-thirds of volunteers are asked to help out in this way.

Ivan Wise, head of volunteering project managers, for Worldwide Volunteering says: "Volunteering is a wonderful way of boosting your skills. It can, like any work experience, give you a great new angle to your CV and get you a referee. Although you don't get paid to volunteer, it may well help you land a paid job down the line. Volunteering can also help your confidence, make you more organised, allow you to meet many new people and give you a huge sense of fulfilment as well."

According to a survey by Workingmums.co.uk lack of confidence is one of the main hurdles for women who want to return to the workplace. So, taking on some voluntary work can be a real confidence booster. It’s also a great way to brush up on existing skills. If you’ve taken time out of your career to bring up your children but now want to return to work you may look at volunteering in an area which showcases your past career experience. For example, you could volunteer to do the promotion or PR for your local village fete or community project.

It’s also a great opportunity to develop new interests. Mike Locke, Volunteering England’s director for public affairs, says: “People find they have interests and talents through volunteering which later they can apply to help develop their career.” Mike adds that sometimes this can lead to a new career altogether. “Sometimes, people re-invent their careers - and themselves - through volunteering,” he says.

It’s also a great way of revamping your CV. Remember to try to link anything that you have achieved to the competency skills required for the post you’re going for. Mike says: “In current economic conditions, people who have become redundant can refresh their skills and stay in touch with the job-market through volunteering. And the experiences from volunteering are very often useful on your CV.”

Why is volunteering becoming more popular?

According to national statistics, the number of people volunteering is staying fairly level but Mike says that at Volunteering England they are increasingly talking about what they are doing. "Also, both the current Government and the previous Government have focused our attention on how volunteering contributes to important social policy areas in helping to deliver health and welfare services, in running sports and cultural events and in helping our communities be more cohesive,” he says. People are increasingly seeing that getting involved can be both fun and beneficial to those on the receiving end and for those contributing. For mums looking to get back to work or for stay-at-home mums it can provide a great opportunity to do something different and at the same time meet new people, make new contacts and open up opportunities.

Combining volunteering and motherhood:

Ivan says that busy mums shouldn’t be put off from volunteering because of time factors. "Volunteering can be fitted around almost any schedule,’ he says. ‘’You can help out just for a day on a charity fun run, help out at a youth club for one evening a week, become a school governor and give up a few hours a month or help out at a residential summer camp for a week in August. Whatever time you have available, there will be a project out there to suit you."

Lynn Eldred, a single mum of two and volunteer bereavement counsellor for Cruse in Cambridge says that whilst she had to undergo a 60 hour training programme she managed to fit this in the evenings and now she only has to commit to one or two hours a week. She says: “I volunteer in the local area so that cuts down any unnecessary travelling time. There is an element of juggling and, for example, last weekend I undertook a training course with Cruse to visit bereaved children so I had to put that time aside - but it’s all worth it.”

Interested mums can go to www.do-it.org. Considering the kinds of causes or services you’d like to be involved in will give you a head start. You can also discuss opportunities with your local Volunteer Centre. For England you can find this on the Volunteering England website: www.volunteering.org.uk/finder

Judy Esmond, a volunteering expert and author of Count Me In! 501 Ideas on Recruiting Volunteers says that because of women’s restraints on time, more and more are demanding more stimulating and satisfying volunteering projects. So be clear from the outset about what time you can give up and what you are prepared to do.

Case study: Lynn Eldred tells all about the challenges and benefits of being a volunteer and how to combine the role with being a mum and full-time worker. Read more.