申请志愿者¶
How to Volunteer in the UK?
Firstly, volunteering in the UK comes in many forms, including online and offline opportunities. For example, organizations like '学在英csinuk' recruit online volunteers. There are various categories of volunteering, such as writing UK travel guides, collecting and sharing articles, translating English news, community management, photography, videography, website editing, and more. You can volunteer from anywhere, even while traveling, and once you meet the requirements, you may receive benefits like volunteer certificates.
However, online volunteering has its limitations as it cannot provide hands-on social experiences in real-life situations or opportunities to interact with foreigners or local people in the UK. It also doesn't allow for firsthand experiences of daily life in the country. The main advantage of offline volunteering is the opportunity to practice English. Regardless of the type of volunteering you choose, it is meaningful and offers a chance for personal growth, learning, friendship, warmth, and broadening of horizons. It allows you to realize your own value, help others, and make new acquaintances. High-level educational institutions and employers abroad attach great importance to students' or graduates' social engagement, especially prestigious universities and companies. Volunteering can significantly enhance your chances of admission or employment.
To volunteer in the UK, you can choose from various options such as schools, businesses, charitable organizations, or government departments. For example, if you wish to volunteer at your university in the UK, you can become a volunteer during open days or new student registration weeks, assist teachers, or work in the student center. Universities recruit many volunteers every year, usually through their official websites (accessible to registered students via portals or student unions). The university also sends out emails to students for recruitment purposes, or you can directly inquire at the student center.
If you want to volunteer at a charity organization or a company in the UK, you can usually find information on their official websites, where they specify the types of volunteers they are looking for. Similarly, if you wish to volunteer at a government agency, as mentioned in a previous guide, you can apply to be a volunteer at 10 Downing Street or other national-level buildings on specific dates, such as September 21-22, 2019.
Now, let's discuss the platforms available for volunteering applications in the UK. Firstly, there are volunteering service platforms similar to recruitment websites. These platforms feature a wide range of volunteer opportunities posted by various organizations and companies. They may match you with volunteer work based on your personal information and interests."
Some Organizations that Provide Volunteer Services:
Imperial College London Volunteer Service Recommendation:
Universities usually recruit volunteers through their official websites or by sending emails to registered students. For example, Imperial College London's volunteer recruitment is done on their official website. On this website, they not only provide information about volunteering opportunities at the college but also recommend some reliable volunteer websites and charitable organizations in the UK. There are approximately 30 recommendations, including websites like Do-it. I will mention a few of them separately later.
Generally, the opportunities listed by universities are trustworthy, especially in the case of Imperial College London. Established in 1907, Imperial College London is located in London, UK. It is a member of the Russell Group of universities, one of the BRICS universities, and a member of the European IDEA League. It is globally renowned as a top-tier higher education institution. The college provides a list of recommended volunteer websites.
The official website link is
：https://www.imperial.ac.uk/alumni/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/
2，UK Han Culture Association 英伦汉风
This is a Chinese Hanfu charity organization based in London. Its main focus is promoting Hanfu in Europe, spreading Chinese culture overseas, and facilitating the exchange of Eastern and Western ideas. The organization holds various events in the UK, including Hanfu Chinese Food Festival, Hanfu Camping activities, Hanfu Spring Festival celebrations, and more. The charity organization in the UK is registered under the number: 1173700.
I started developing an interest in Hanfu in 2014. At that time, I primarily relied on custom-made Hanfu from specialized small shops. The first set I had cost over 1000 [currency]. I brought it with me to the UK, and it received a lot of attention abroad. However, the custom-made Hanfu I owned closely resembled the ancient style but incorporated some modern modifications to enhance its aesthetic appeal. I really liked that set of Hanfu. Later on, I gradually acquired several more sets, with only two of them being custom-made. The rest were purchased from online and offline stores.
The WeChat official account of this charity organization is.
：hanfuinuk
3，Do-it
It is a leading volunteer service platform in the UK that is available in all regions of England. You can choose volunteer work near your location. The website address is
：https://do-it.org/
4，Vinspired
It is a volunteer website that is available in all regions of the UK. This volunteer website was established in 2006 and primarily provides volunteering opportunities for young people aged 14 to 25. Vinspired recognizes that volunteering can help young people grow and make a positive impact on their communities, while also teaching them important skills such as teamwork and problem-solving abilities. Volunteering services can prepare these young people for their future. In the UK, 74% of young people are willing to volunteer, which can have a tremendous impact on communities across the country. The Vinspired website aims to help young people make use of these opportunities to become volunteers.
The website covers virtually all volunteer work in the UK. You can directly search for the volunteering work you are interested in on the website. It also allows you to search for opportunities closest to your location and find volunteers as well. The website address is：https://vinspired.com/
5，NCVO
It is a volunteer service website available throughout the UK and is also a very longstanding one, dating back to 1919. It covers almost every type of volunteer service across various industries. The website address is：https://www.ncvo.org.uk/
6，Reach Volunteering
It is a volunteer service website available throughout the UK and stands out with its distinctive feature of allowing you to apply your skills, be prepared, and make practical use of your learning. For example, if you are studying accounting or human resources, you can find volunteer work on this website that aligns with your skill set. This is beneficial as it allows you to familiarize yourself in advance with the type of work you will be doing in the future, build connections and gain experience. It also helps you integrate theoretical knowledge from your school textbooks with real-world practice. You can analyze the problems you encounter at work, discuss them with mentors, and even consider incorporating them into your graduation thesis. This website can serve as an initial platform for conducting research and gathering information for your thesis. Alternatively, based on your outstanding performance, it could even lead to direct employment after graduation. The website address is：https://reachvolunteering.org.uk/
7，Volunteering Matters
It is an organization that operates over 100 active volunteer projects throughout the UK. Each year, they recruit 20,000 volunteers and benefit around 85,000 individuals. Established in 1962 (renowned as Community Service Volunteers until 2015), this organization has been at the forefront of volunteering policy and practice in the UK for over 50 years. They primarily focus on the needs of four different communities: young people, individuals with disabilities, families, and the elderly.
Website address：https://volunteeringmatters.org.uk/
8，Step-together
It is a website available across the UK that primarily aims to help those who are socially excluded to participate in volunteer activities, thus building a more positive future. For example, it assists individuals on the social margins who may not typically consider volunteering as something they can engage in or that can help them continue their lives. One-fourth of the beneficiaries are young people facing risks such as disengagement from healthcare, homelessness, youth offenders, teenage parents, or individuals who have experienced domestic violence and abuse. The remaining beneficiaries are adults facing significant challenges due to severe injuries and trauma, substance abuse, long-term unemployment, poor mental health, homelessness, isolation, and social disconnection. Through this organization, these groups are supported to integrate into local communities, regain self-confidence, improve their mental and physical well-being, develop positive social networks, and facilitate their transition to education and sustainable employment.
Website address：https://www.step-together.org.uk/
9，
Willshire Volunteer Service Platform
link：https://volunteering-wales.net/vk/volunteers/index.htm
10，
Scotland Volunteer Service Platform
link：https://www.volunteerscotland.net/
11，Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (VAL)
VAL is a charity organization located in Leicester County, with the goal of improving the lives of Leicester and Leicestershire residents. For over half a century, VAL has been a part of the voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in Leicester and Leicestershire. Their work has evolved with the times but has always been centered around local people. With over 50 years of experience in volunteer service, VAL was initially established as the Leicester Social Service Committee in 1965.
Website address:：https://valonline.org.uk/
12，British Heart Foundation慈善机构
You can find physical stores of this charity organization in many areas throughout the UK. You can donate your clothes and other items by bringing them to these stores, where they conduct sales for fundraising purposes. When I graduated, I had a lot of clothes, shoes, and other items, so I packed them in a suitcase and took them directly to the physical store to donate to them. While many charity organizations, including this one, offer free home collection services for donations, they can be less flexible and somewhat inconvenient. Therefore, I recommend everyone to personally deliver their donations to the store, as it's like getting some exercise as well.
link：https://www.bhf.org.uk/
Occasionally, you may come across children, students, or even adults wearing cartoon-themed clothing and holding donation buckets on the street. You can put your donation into the bucket, and sometimes, they may give you a sticker with their logo, which is a heart. Every time I encounter them, I always donate a little.
They are also constantly recruiting volunteers, and basically, every slightly larger city in the UK has volunteer opportunities available, especially in the city centers
13，Barnardo 英国慈善机构
This is a children's care charity organization, and Barnardo is the surname of the founder. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1845, and from 1867 onwards, he started helping impoverished children who lacked education, access to healthcare, or had disabilities. The official website also recruits volunteers. You can click on 'Work with us' and at the bottom, there is an option to 'Volunteer with us'.
。
link：https://www.barnardos.org.uk/
14，British Red Cross 英国红十字会
Mainly, it involves volunteer services in healthcare, education, and other areas, as well as fundraising to assist vulnerable groups such as the elderly. They also provide aid to people from other European countries and more. Website address
：https://www.redcross.org.uk/
15，Save the Children
Mainly, it focuses on assisting children in need, specifically in areas such as education, healthcare, equal rights, and more. It is one of the world's largest charitable organizations dedicated to helping children. Website address
：https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/
16，伦敦 Battersea
This is a charitable organization specifically dedicated to helping cats and dogs. Since the moment they welcomed their first stray dog in 1860, this organization has been committed to assisting kittens and puppies. Even after helping over three million animals, they continue to strive towards their vision, which is to ensure that every dog and cat lives in a home filled with love, care, and respect.
link：https://www.battersea.org.uk/
17，Cancer Research UK
link：https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/
18，Oxfam 乐施会
This is a global charitable organization primarily focused on helping people escape poverty, advocating for issues like inequality and climate change, and striving for a more equitable and sustainable world. When disasters strike, their primary mission is to save lives and then help people become more resilient. They work to ensure that individuals have access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation facilities. They assist people in obtaining essential food and supplies for their survival and ensure that the most vulnerable are protected from harm. They support individuals in better preparing for shocks and uncertainties, aid in community rebuilding, and help them recover stronger from disasters.
link：https://www.oxfam.org.uk/what-we-do
19，Shelter英格兰庇护所
Shelter in England helps millions of people every year in their struggle against poor housing or homelessness by providing advice, support, and legal services. Their vision is: We strive to ensure that one day, no one will have to turn to us for help.
link：https://england.shelter.org.uk/
20，Green Peace
This is the world's largest global environmental organization, encompassing areas such as environmental conservation, combating climate change, protecting oceans, preserving wildlife, safeguarding forests, and more. Website
：https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/
Important reminders from Tenliters of Meow:
If you volunteer, typically it won't be a paid position, but some organizations may provide allowances such as transportation or meals, or give small gifts. The volunteer certificate, which is proof of your volunteer work, has certain requirements for eligibility. It's preferable to look for volunteer opportunities close to your location or in nearby areas. You can also consider volunteering in larger cities, for example, dedicating one day each weekend. However, during winter, it's advisable to choose daytime activities since in the UK, it gets dark around 4 pm, similar to 9 pm in China. Additionally, it's recommended to seek out well-established volunteer service organizations, which you can find by conducting online searches or asking your teachers. In the UK, there are charitable organizations in almost every region. While sharing your love and kindness, ensure your personal safety and privacy.
When applying to be a volunteer, pay attention to the requirements set by the organization. Some institutions may have age restrictions, specific skill requirements, or conditions like a minimum age of 14 or a maximum age of 80, or a visa validity period of at least 6 months.
Do you need a National Insurance Number (NIN) to volunteer in the UK? Yes, it is necessary. It provides protection for both you and the employer. Even as a volunteer, your work is considered employment. Although some volunteer organizations and positions may not require or enforce the need for a NIN, it is still recommended to apply for one as it serves as personal protection.