Thursday 13-05-2021 - 11:33

Article written by Jess, Volunteering Coordinator

 

There are so many great reasons to volunteer. This Mental Health Awareness Week, we wanted to highlight the ways in which volunteering can help with your mental health. In the 2019 NCVO report over three-quarters of volunteers reported that volunteering improved their mental health and wellbeing. Let’s delve into why:

 

1. Feels good to do good: Let’s face it, doing kind things for other people makes us feel good about ourselves. Whether you become a Club Volunteer at Space 4 Autism, helping develop the confidence of young people living with ASC, or a Befriender with Widows Empowerment Trust, supporting women through their bereavement, volunteering can give you a real boost.

2. Fresh air: We know this past year has been tough for everyone. Volunteering can offer a great excuse to get outside and moving. Get your hands dirty as a Gardener with One Manchester or a Community Food Grower with OMG and reap the benefits of being out in the fresh air.

3. Time away from your degree: Getting your degree is tough and doing it virtually can makes things even harder. Taking a step away from your assignments and readings can really help change perspective and give you a well-earned break. Why not volunteer with Wigan and Leigh Archives on their latest exhibition The Fire Within, or create Covid-19 Creative Post Packs with Noah’s A.R.T.

4. You meet new, likeminded people: Not only does volunteering allow you a chance to give back to your community, but you can also meet new and likeminded people. In fact, according to NCVO 77% of volunteers aged 18-24 claimed volunteering helped them feel less isolated. Take Andrew, a volunteer with ReachOut for example, who met one of their best friends when volunteering as a mentor in 2019-20.

5. Do something you feel passionate about: Spending time doing something you’re passionate about can have a real positive impact on your wellbeing. If you’re passionate about homelessness issues, for example, Lifeshare have some great roles for you that aim to tackle the modern-day issue of digital exclusion. With roles such as Video Editing, Animation, Image Editing and many more up for grabs, there are always opportunities out there for you to get involved with.

 

If you want to get in touch about your volunteering experience, or have any questions drop us an email volunteering@mmu.ac.uk.