Working as a volunteer can be extremely satisfying and rewarding.  Whether your chosen career is social work, social care or early education and child care, getting some experience is the best place to start.  

Volunteering gives you the opportunity to work in social services, gives you relevant experience to put down on your CV and gives you a recent reference. 

The great thing about volunteering in social services is that you can decide where you want to do it, how often and how long for.  Volunteering also allows you to explore the idea of a new career without giving up your existing employment, you can fit it in to suit your existing commitments, even just volunteering for a few hours a week will give you valuable experience.  Some positions turn into paid work - volunteering is the perfect opportunity to prove yourself.

Volunteering and unemployment benefit

If you are unemployed you can undertake unpaid voluntary work and continue to claim unemployment benefit or income support provided you are free to attend interviews and take up a job if offered one.