Looking for inspiration? Here are some examples…
Volunteer for a local charity
Lots of local charities are always on the look out for volunteers, perhaps to work in a shop, serve tea, visit service users or even to do a little admin work or work on special projects. It’s a great way of supporting the local community.
- Step 1: Research charities, visit the shops or offices of a few charities, and make a decision
- Step 1 deadline: [give yourself a few weeks at least – you want to get it right]
- Step 2: Contact charity and ask about volunteering
- Step 2 deadline: [soon after choosing your charity!]
- Step 3: Start volunteering!
Start giving blood
As the NHS Blood and Transplant Service says, “Blood is something we all expect to be there for us when we need it, yet only 4% of us give blood. Many people would not be alive today if it wasn’t for the generosity of our donors. Do something amazing… Give blood.”
- Step 1: Check whether I can give blood and find out where I can go to donate.
- Step 1 deadline: [TODAY]
- Step 2: Attend the first available session
If you already give blood you could think about giving platelets or even bone marrow.
Hold a neighbourhood or street party
Amazingly, a recent survey found that over half of us in the UK say we don’t have much in common with our neighbours and nearly half say that our neighbours probably don’t share “our values”. It’s the kind of thing people say but just can’t possibly be true for all those people! Help build a sense of community in your area with a house party or street party.
- Step 1: Get a few friends and neighbours onboard first, to help out
- Step 1 deadline: [Give yourself a week or two]
- Step 2: Set a date and find a venue (or clean the house!)
- Step 3: Send out invites. Maybe ask people to bring a dish.
Lend money with micro-finance
We’ve focused our examples on things you can do, rather than things which cost money. But micro-finance loans are a bit different, as the money remains yours. Making a loan to entrepreneurs and community groups can help the recipients to lift themselves out of poverty for a really sustainable future.
- Step 1: Choose a lending organisation like kiva.org.
- Step 1 deadline: [you can do this pretty quickly!]
- Step 2: Find a team to support, e.g. the humanist lending team
- Step 3: Lend your funds
Other ideas
Use a profile tool to match your skills and interests to different charities and organisations.
Amnesty International run a volunteer programme in London, Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff. Volunteers are involved in campaigning, marketing, media and general support: http://www.amnesty.org.uk/
The Citizens Advice service has over 20,000 volunteers helping people resolve legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice, and by influencing policymakers: http://www.citizensadvice.org.
Set up your own guerrilla gardening operation and adopt a neglected patch of land: www.guerrillagardening.org
Greenpeace offers two ways in which you can support them help deliver campaigns; by becoming an active supporter, or by volunteering at their office in Islington, London. http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/
Search through over 1,000,000 opportunities to volunteer and apply online. Browse by interest and location: http://www.do-it.org/
Criminal Records Bureau: http://www.crb.homeoffice.gov.
Friends of the Earth Volunteers carry out a variety of administrative support work – from helping with mailouts and press cuttings to assisting with research and information gathering. http://www.foe.co.uk/get_
Organ and blood donations – 96% of us don’t give blood! You can register online for the organ donor scheme. http://www.uktransplant.org.
National Trust – conserving the UK’s environment and heritage: http://www.nationaltrust.org.
Childline 1000+ volunteers enable them to comfort, advise and protect thousands of children every day: http://www.nspcc.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-your-time/volunteer-your-time-hub_wdh72793.html
Liberty are looking for help with administrative support in operations, membership, campaigns and/or media teams and legally qualified volunteers to respond to written queries from the public about their rights. http://www.liberty-human-
The RSPCA Help prevent cruelty, promote kindness to and alleviate suffering of animals: http://www.rspca.org.uk/
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds have over 14,000 volunteers helping in all areas of the charities work including guarding nest sites, admin and visitor centres: http://www.rspb.org.uk/volunteering/
Home-Start volunteers work directly with families or support those who do: http://www.home-start.org.uk/volunteer/volunteer