Why volunteer?

Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. Less recognised are the benefits volunteering gives to those who are doing it – and those can be enormous. In fact, research shows that being a volunteer can positively benefit your mental health. volunteering more frequently (at least once a month) was related to better mental health than those who volunteered less frequently.

One study published in 2020 by the Journal of Happiness Studies examined data from nearly 70,000 people regarding their volunteering habits and their mental health. People who volunteered in the past year, as opposed to those who didn’t, reported greater life satisfaction and better overall health. On top of that, people who started to volunteer became happier over time – it really does seem to be volunteering that boosts mental health! 

Volunteering has a number of benefits including increased social skills and connections, provides a sense of purpose, improves physical health and may help to advance a career