Volunteers really do make a difference.

In a departure from my usual blog topics, here I make the case for volunteering. As you'll see, I speak from personal experience.

Volunteering has a long and rich history in the UK, deeply rooted in social, religious, and community traditions, stretching from the Middle Ages right through to the modern-day.

Early forms of volunteering were often driven by religious institutions. Monasteries, churches, and guilds provided care for the sick and needy. Wealthy patrons funded almshouses and poor relief, often through religious obligation.

In the 17th and 18th centuries workers formed friendly societies to support members in times of need.

The 19th century heralded an era of Victorian philanthropy, with a surge in structured voluntary action, especially among middle-class women. 

Volunteers played key roles in movements for social reform, for example in education, public health, and housing.

Volunteering and volunteers continue to play a significant role in today's society, where their work has shifted towards supplementing state services.

A volunteer is someone who freely offers their time, skills or services to help others or to support a cause, without expecting payment or financial gain. Volunteering can take place in a variety of settings, such as charities, community projects, schools, or hospitals. Volunteers can come from any number of different backgrounds and from any adult age group.

I have been a volunteer for two organisations: York Archaeology (York Archaeological Trust as was); and, currently, Knaresborough Museum Association (KMA), which manages the Knaresborough Heritage Centre. This short article is therefore partly based on my own experiences.

So why should you consider volunteering?

Volunteering for any organisation offers a wide range of advantages, both personal and professional. Whatever your reason for volunteering, being a volunteer gives you a renewed sense of purpose, a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Contributing to a meaningful cause will boost your self-worth, self-esteem, self-confidence, and give you a great feeling of satisfaction. Helping others often leads to greater emotional well-being. I know it did for me when I had to give up my professional career.

Bringing your life-time of knowledge and experience to a new environment can be satisfying, however, depending on your background, you might also learn new skills, for example, teamwork, leadership, communication, and problem-solving. I know when I first went to York Archaeology, and knowing very little about archaeology, I was infused with a new sense of wanting to learn.

At KMA, volunteers can get involved with event planning or fundraising.

Students also benefit from volunteering because it enhances their CV when applying for further education. Out-of-work adults can show prospective employers that they still want to contribute to society, even if it's unpaid, by volunteering as an interim measure.

Meeting people from diverse backgrounds helps to improve one's understanding of various perspectives and worldviews that people hold. This isn't of course only true for volunteers.

I developed lasting friendships with fellow volunteers and staff when I worked at York Archaeology, and I like to think I am doing the same at KMA. Contining social contact was very important to me, as I suspect it is for others.

There's a great deal of emphasis nowadays on mental health and well-being: being a valued volunteer can help to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. 

Keeping active and mobile helps improve your physical state. Some volunteer organisations might require help with physical activities.

Apart from the myriad of benefits for the individual, there are also benefits for the wider community, where volunteers can make a real impact. 

Supporting national and local causes helps strengthen your connection with the wider and closer communities.

Volunteers are agents of positive change because they dedicate their time, skills, and energy to causes that improve communities and support those in need. Volunteers fill crucial gaps in services by helping in schools, hospitals, shelters, and food banks, often reaching vulnerable groups. They help bring people together across different backgrounds, strengthening trust and unity within communities. Volunteers are often advocates for important issues like mental health, environmental protection, and equality, sparking dialogue and action. Their actions often motivate others to become involved, creating a ripple effect of engagement.

This article has been a quick look at volunteering, its historical context, it's benefits, and a little bit about my own volunteer experience. Volunteering is a win-win situation, a two-way process, but you only get out of it what you put in. 

This article is reproduced here with the kind permission of Accord, a parish magazine in my hometown.

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© Mike Young 2025