Why Volunteer?
Becoming a Helpline Volunteer with Get Connected will help young people from all over the UK. You will be making a real difference to so many young people’s lives.
But that’s not all you’ll be doing. In several ways, you’ll also be making a difference to your own life.
Making a difference to young people
Making a difference to your life
Making a difference to young people
Last year, Get Connected helped over 20,000 young people through phone, webchat and email helpline services. With you on board, we can help at least 200 more each year.
Young people know that we are a safe, impartial place where they can get emotional support and that it’s free to contact us.
We could give you lots of facts and figures about how many young people contact us and how we help them, but maybe it’s better if you hear what they think about us straight from them? Young People's Stories
Making a difference to your life
Developing within Get Connected
There are lots of reasons why people volunteer with us. Some say they do it because they have time to spare, or because they want to help young people and this is a great way to do it. Others tell us it’s something they like to do in between work because it’s rewarding – and it is. It makes you feel good about yourself, and that’s good for your health!
You never know who you might meet at Get Connected – our Helpline Volunteers come from all sorts of different backgrounds, and it’s a good way to meet new friends.
At Get Connected, we want to give you back as much as you give us. So we organise regular social events for all our Helpline Volunteers and other staff. You’ll also get a head start on everyone outside Get Connected by finding out about all our fun public events before they do.
There are other more practical benefits that taking on a volunteer role will add to your life too.
Becoming a Helpline Volunteer at Get Connected will help to improve your communications skills as well as your confidence with computers and technology.
Volunteering shows others that you can commit to something and that you have a sense of social responsibility.
If you’re considering working in the voluntary sector, or with young people, as a career, or want to move into either of those areas, adding your volunteer role with us to your CV will help make you stand out. After six months, we’ll be happy to provide you with a reference if you need one.
If you become a Helpline Volunteer, we’ll help you if you want to study for accreditation from The National Open College Network .
Developing within Get Connected
There are lots of other opportunities to take your involvement with Get Connected even further, such as:
• Becoming a Shift-leader, managing and supporting other Helpline Volunteers
• Participating in delivering our training courses for Helpline Volunteers, learning and developing your skills as a training facilitator
• Becoming a member of Get Connected, attending the AGM and voting on constitutional issues
• Becoming a Helpline Volunteer Trustee, getting involved in the strategic direction of the organisation.