Volunteer to help your community

The Lambeth Volunteer Centre is currently running a project to get more people involved in volunteering in the community. Volunteering is a fantastic way to enhance your personal and professional development by gaining more skills, knowledge and experience.

Situated in the heart of Lambeth on Brixton Station Road, the Lambeth Volunteer Centre offers two distinct services: to provide support and guidance to organisations needing volunteers and match volunteers to exactly the right roles for them. With many of our graduates having living and working in Lambeth and its surrounding boroughs, the LSBU Alumni Association is encouraging its members to take advantage of the scheme. 

Below are just a few misconceptions about volunteers and volunteering:

• Volunteers are not just middle-aged or middle-class; they come from all walks of life, all parts of the community and all ages.
• Volunteers don’t need particular skills and qualifications. For most roles, reliability and enthusiasm are all that is required.
• Volunteers are not just a free workforce. Most organisations make sure that you get the right training and support for your role and also provide expenses such as travel and lunch. 
• Most importantly, volunteers gain relevant experience, develop more skills and command more knowledge as a result of their volunteering.

The Lambeth Volunteer Centre works with more than 600 volunteering organisations and since 2009, the Centre has offered more than 2000 opportunities and registered over 24,000 volunteers. Opportunities are as diverse as gardening, giving demonstrations in a chocolate museum, working as a child mentor, administration roles, treasurer roles, research roles, events assistants or helping run the social media outreach of a charity.

Many people choose to volunteer to gain essential skills that may be helpful in their professional life or to support a cause dear to their heart. As well as developing contacts and gaining references within a particular industry, it is also a way to give something back to your community.

To get started, simply register your details at www.do-it.org.uk or drop in and talk to one of the Volunteer Advisers at 35 Brixton Station Road, London SW9 8PB. Sessions are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10am – 12noon and 2pm – 4pm.