Volunteering: An Introduction

I've recently finished my degree in Wildlife Conservation, it was stressful and occasionally infuriating, but I loved it. Every minute. Apart from the minutes where I wanted to go Hulk on certain individuals for making the experience - and my life - an unnecessary nightmare. But this isn't the place for that!

It was volunteering that made me go back to school as a 'mature student'. By school, I mean college and university. Which I never thought I'd ever do.

Regardless of if you're after a career change or just want to try something different, volunteering is an amazing thing to do. 

What's more valuable than time? 

What's more rewarding than knowing you're helping a cause that means so much to you? 

There are so many places that need volunteers, whatever cause is closest to your heart, I guarantee, volunteering will add something to your life and something crucial to your chosen organisation. 

The latest Dementia Friends ad is so lovely. Something as simple as speaking to someone has a profound effect - it helps them socially, allows them to air their worries, stresses and helps develop friendships.

I volunteer with my local RSPB group; I started in 2011, when they opened their new reserve (which is stunning, by the way!) and even though I could never help as much or as often as I wanted (due to uni and working) every time I could volunteer, it was always a warm welcome, carrying on as though I had never left. 

The staff and volunteers have always been amazing; you meet new people, share stories, work as a team - you are valued beyond belief. 

More than any paid employment can be - where you're just a number and are easily replaceable. 

In exchange, I've had some fantastic experiences; helping RSPB and Wirral Country Park rangers with a 'Tea at Hilbre' event (Hilbre is a stunning little island off the coast of the Wirral, with birds, seals and dolphins - dolphins aren't always guaranteed), venturing out with Mersey Ferries for some seabirding (that might be a word) and high tide at Parkgate (which is quite an event!). Sometimes I think I've got more back than what I've given! 

I first volunteered for a local AmDram society, helping on productions of Terry Pratchett's Wryd Sisters and Calamity Jane. It was awesome, at the time I was still interior designing and wanted to move into stage and set design (some long-forgotten pastlife, though occasionally getting the urge to redecorate). 

You don't have to volunteer for a charity, if that doesn't float your boat. You can volunteer for you local council run woodland rangers, at a school or hospital, amateur dramatics or football team. 

My bad?

The volunteering event that got me on the track to exploring nature and wildlife? 

A volunteer trip to Thailand - working with elephants. I did it as an 'experience' trip. I love elephants. Anyone who knows me, knows that. Always have. I blame Babar. 

It was incredible. Actually getting up close to an elephant was a life changer...I probably should have seen that coming.

But I'll waffle on about this and my other volunteer experiences another time; I will  also discuss voluntourism (volunteer-tourism) projects and the good and bad ones too - what you should look out for, really. 

This was just an introduction to volunteering; whether you volunteer abroad once, to help out a family or an organisation or you'd rather volunteer on a more regular basis locally, I promise you, you won't regret it! 

Volunteering has taken me to Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. 

My next volunteer project is with a family in France. I hope to be blogging about my experiences whilst I'm out there.

And, in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make 

(The End, The Beatles)