Volunteer roles include activities such as befriending, helping at events, driving, fundraising, conservation activities, providing support to children and older people. These are offered in a variety of settings from sport clubs to local community organisations. You can even volunteer from home.

By giving your time you're helping the organisation you volunteer for, and you're also helping the people, communities, animals or environments they represent. What turns that donation into an investment is that you get back far more than you give. And for whatever you want to get out of volunteering, there is an opportunity that can help realise it.

Just want to help out? Looking to learn new skills? Keen to meet other people? Fired up to make a difference? Volunteering can help you do it. For that reason alone volunteering can be one of the most rewarding investments you'll ever make. Whether you have a little or lots of time to give there should be something there for you.

Benefits of volunteering

Volunteering is one of the most rewarding things you can do and thinking about how you want to benefit from volunteering is a good start to finding an opportunity that's right for you.

And thinking about how you want to benefit from volunteering is a good start to finding an opportunity that's right for you.

• Gain confidence. Volunteering can help you gain confidence by giving you the chance to try something new and build a real sense of achievement.
• Make a difference. Volunteering can have a real and valuable positive affect on people, communities and society in general.
• Meet people.Volunteering can help you meet different kinds of people and make new friends.
• Be part of a community. Volunteering can help you feel part of something outside your friends and family.
• Learn new skills. Volunteering can help you learn new skills, gain experience and sometimes even qualifications.
• Take on a challenge. Through volunteering you can challenge yourself to try something different, achieve personal goals, practice using your skills and discover hidden talents.
• Have fun! Most volunteers have a great time, regardless of why they do it. 

Content sourced from Volunteer Scotland (volunteerscotland.net).