7 Benefits of Voluntary Work
1) Follow Your Passions
We understand that teaching is a hugely demanding career, but many individuals go into the profession because they have an innate desire to make a positive contribution to society. Finding time to commit to other professional projects or activities outside of the classroom may seem unfeasible for some, however, immersing ourselves in such experiences can allow us to pursue our passions and cultivate a more unique career profile.
2) Develop Networks
As teachers, we may feel time-poor but investing in volunteering roles can be hugely rewarding and beneficial to you, both on a professional and personal level. It is an opportunity to develop networks with like-minded people and forge connections with key stakeholders in other sectors that could help to facilitate a successful career shift in the future. This helps to build your brand opening yourself up to experiences outside of your teaching career and in turn may well lead to unexpected roles or development opportunities.
3) Learn About Other Sectors
As our lives get longer and our careers less linear there is going to be an increasing need for individuals to have multiple careers and volunteering can open pathways or nodes to other sectors. It will also allow you to work on your strengths in a different context and help you understand more about the type of working environments most suited to you as an individual. All whilst also imbuing you with a renewed sense of purpose.
4) Gain New Credentials
There may also be scope to gain credentials or official certification whilst committing yourself to voluntary roles. Some voluntary roles come with considerable status and can significantly enhance your appeal to future employers. Membership or affiliation with certain organisations can send very strong reputational signals allowing you to expand your horizons in the future.
5) Stand Out From Other Job Applicants
Volunteering can also be crucial to us as educators in the job application process as it will allow us to define ourselves in a multi-faceted way. If we have been teaching for a while, then we may just define ourselves as a ‘teacher’ or ‘educator’ but many workers today no longer have singular titles and this more plural approach facilitates easier transitions into different industries. You will be able to harvest your volunteering experience to make your CV, cover letter or supporting statement more relevant to the requirements of a job specification.
6) Cultivate New Skills
You also develop technical and soft skills and through perfecting these you will gain a sense of fulfilment. Working outside of the school system will also expose you to new tools and ways of working that can then be used in your day-to-day teaching. This is in turn has a positive impact on your students as you are engaged with the best tools that the world of work can offer.
7) Supporting Career Development
It also goes without saying that volunteering may well present you as a stronger candidate for promotional opportunities within the teaching sector. So, all in all despite the time pressures we face, volunteering can make a significant difference in our career development. Sometimes using our recreation time as an opportunity for re-creation is worth the extra effort it requires.
How Volunteering Has Helped These People
Sammy -Spent time teaching abroad in Kenya with Projects Abroad a UK volunteer organisation. This commitment showed the positive contribution she has made in working towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of quality education and gender equality. This helped her secure an educational role within the Fair Trade Company. “ I was able to leverage my experience in Africa to demonstrate my commitment to Fairtrade’s values”
Rachel – Volunteers as a Cub Leader. This gives her a sense of fulfilment as she is able to work with young people in a different way free from the constraints of the more academic approach demanded by teaching. Rachel now works for a non-profit organisation in a community involvement role helping to raise the aspirations of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Kevin – School Sustrans Link. Kevin is a keen cyclist and wanted to expose more students to the mental and physical benefits of sustainable transport. Showing initiative, he formed a link with Sustrans the Sustainable Transport Charity. Kevin is still a teacher but has developed project management and leadership skills whilst also gaining an insight into bid processes for infrastructure projects. “Numbers of students walking and cycling to school have increased by 10% which gives me immense satisfaction. I have also created connections with a range of people in external agencies that work in areas of sustainability something I am passionate about”
Nageeba – A physics teacher who volunteered for a London-based local Scientific Society helping her to learn event organisation and some aspects of website development. “I have learnt new skills and met some interesting people whilst also being able to attend lectures delivered by leading academics that have enhanced my subject knowledge, helping me to further inspire my students.”
This blog on How Using Other Career Pathways Can Enrich Your Teaching might be useful, as we discuss how the ‘future of work’ with increasingly non-linear careers, upskilling and reinvention will become necessities.
Some relevant links for volunteering roles;
Royal Biology Society Volunteering Opportunities
Volunteer with Oxfam | Find the right role for you | Oxfam GB
Become a volunteer tutor – The Access Project
Volunteer with the Science Council – The Science Council ~ : The Science Council ~
