Want to help your community but not sure how or where to start?
There are hundreds of ways for you to get involved, helping all sorts of fantastic charities and community groups to make a difference to people in Southampton. You might want to do something one-off, ad hoc, or regularly and long term. You might want to use your skills or lived experience, or you might want to try something new. If require more information or help please email: volunteer@southamptonvs.org.uk
Volunteering in Southampton
At Southampton Voluntary Services (SVS), promoting voluntary action is at the heart of what we do. Not sure where to start? There are so many ways you can make a difference in your community. From one-off activities to long-term commitments, there’s a volunteering opportunity to suit everyone. You could share your skills and life experience, or try something completely new.
As the city’s Volunteer Centre, we:
- Connect people with volunteering opportunities across Southampton
- Support charities, community groups, and volunteer managers with best practice
- Champion volunteering through celebration events, volunteer fairs, and city-wide campaigns
Why Volunteer?
People volunteer for many reasons, whether it’s to give back, meet new people or build confidence. Volunteering can help you:
- Make a real difference in your community
- Gain new skills and experiences
- Improve your CV and work prospects
- Boost confidence and wellbeing
- Build friendships and networks
- Try something new and rewarding
- Contribute to a better environment
- Provide valuable experience and references for employment
- Help build routines and confidence
- Offer training opportunities
- Support those with health, learning, childcare, or confidence challenges
Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) and CSR Days
Many companies now encourage staff to volunteer, either through formal programmes or by allowing time off to support community projects. This benefits not just local charities, but also the employees and their organisations.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Days are a great way for teams to spend a day working on a community project. But volunteering doesn’t always have to mean a full day out of the office. Why not consider:
- Providing admin support remotely for an hour a week
- Allowing staff to make befriending phone calls
- Offering specialist skills (marketing, finance, strategy, etc.) to support local groups
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) also provides resources, case studies, and best practice guides for employers and community groups – www.ncvo.org.uk