Working as a volunteer can be extremely satisfying and rewarding. It is also a great way of finding out more about different kinds of social work and social care and helping you to think about your future career. Voluntary experience will be an advantage when applying for courses and jobs in social services as it demonstrates an insight into the work involved and a level of commitment to the sector.

For people whose full time jobs and/or financial commitments prevent them from spending long periods in unpaid employment, the most effective way of gaining relevant experience may be to undertake voluntary work in the evenings and/or weekends. After several months, it is possible to gain paid employment in social care using the experience and reference from that period of voluntary work.

Volunteering and unemployment benefit