Try it, you might like it

Vaccines, food banks, delivery drivers — volunteers continue to be in demand as we are all called upon to ‘do our bit’. However many volunteers are facing exhaustion with ever increasing demands on their time as the country continues to feel the strain of the pandemic.

Despite an increase in volunteering in lockdown 1, with over 20 million people lending a hand to neighbours or local charities, there were signs by lockdown 2 that the surge in community spirit was starting to flag. Now in lockdown 3, morale appears to have fallen further with the BBC reporting today that 36% of people are spending less time volunteering https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55843666. The results reflect a general decline in people’s satisfaction with life, echoed by surveys showing a deterioration in mental health.

However, the irony is that time and again studies have proven that volunteering is good for you. From finding a new sense of purpose and perspective, to meeting new people and learning new skills — there are huge benefits for the individual in volunteering, as well as to those they are helping.

The Royal Voluntary Service found that among first time volunteers: 34% felt less stress, 42% felt a positive effect on their physical health, 65% felt a positive effect on their happiness levels and 37% felt less lonely. For younger people struggling to find a role in the current environment or those who have lost a job — volunteering can also provide a useful stop gap for the CV and a chance to develop new skills or networks.

Clearly lockdown has NOT been a leveller — for those trying to juggle jobs and homeschooling, time may feel more precious than ever. However, for those who find themselves with more time on their hands, giving an hour or two a week to volunteering may feel even better than you might think.

At Charterpath we feel passionately that you should use your skills where possible — accountants in particular are in hot demand with charities battling funding shortages, increased regulatory requirements, plus more demand for their services. Please get in touch with us at Charterpath if you want help in finding an opportunity or support in volunteering.

If you can’t spare the time right now — please just follow our Linkedin page and tag any accountants you know so we can spread the word. The feel good factor at the click of a button!

If the idea of volunteering your skills with a non-profit has caught your imagination - follow these 3 simple steps:

Follow Charterpath on LinkedIn for all the latest news, inspiration, and roles
Have a look around our website at www.charterpath.org.uk for case studies, helpful resources, and live volunteer opportunities
Sign the Charterpath pledge to show your support for our mission and volunteer your skills for at least 2 days each year

About Charterpath

Alice Clementi and Alex Marsh co-founded Charterpath as a community interest company in 2020, with a mission to increase the proportion of accountants volunteering from 10% to 50% - inspiring more accountants to volunteer their time and expertise, connecting them with non-profit opportunities, and engaging with a wide range of organisations so volunteering is a core part of an accountant’s career. For more information, visit www.charterpath.org.uk.