20 reasons volunteering can be genuinely life-changing

Despite experiencing something of a boom in recent years, volunteering still doesn’t get the attention it deserves.

The government’s Community Life Survey 2023/24 found that 16% of adults in England, around 7.5 million people, had formally volunteered at least once a month over the previous year.

And yet, millions more could benefit.

Money Wellness spoke to Royal Voluntary Service and Volunteer Centre Manchester to learn more about the role of volunteering, not just for communities, but for confidence, wellbeing and employment prospects too.

Here are 20 reasons volunteering can be genuinely life-changing.

1. It connects communities when public services are strained and trust is low

Volunteering quite literally brings people back together.

As Royal Voluntary Service director of volunteering Dave Stott explains:

“The UK is at an all-time low of trust and connectedness. At the same time, public services are under sustained pressure and communities are feeling the strain of rising demand, isolation and complexity of need. Bringing people together in local communities is a key route to tackling these challenges, when we connect people through volunteering, we build connection and trust.”

2. It supports people when they need it most

The Royal Voluntary Service mobilises volunteers to support people in need and the NHS. Their volunteers work with healthcare teams and in communities providing practical help and emotional support when people are struggling to cope.

That help can be small, or life-changing.

3. It can transform lives

“We’ve seen countless lives transformed through volunteering,” says Dave Stott.

“For some, it’s been life-changing - we’ve seen it in everything from helping overcome a cycle of alcohol addiction or dealing with the grief of losing a loved one. But even in less extreme circumstances, volunteering can be transformational, offering purpose, connection, and the opportunity to grow in ways that ripple across everyday life.”

4. It gives you purpose

Volunteering gives you a sense of purpose. As Jack Puller, volunteering and active communities manager at Volunteer Centre Manchester told us:

“Volunteering provides structure, routine and meaningful social contact. It offers a sense of purpose - knowing that your time and contribution matter to someone else.”

5. It boosts your job prospects

Among 16 - 19-year-olds, volunteering helped one in three get their first job, according to Royal Voluntary Service data.

For young people trying to stand out in the jobs’ market, that’s incredibly effective.

6. It helps tackle the NEET challenge

Recent National Office of Statistics (ONS) figures show high numbers of 16 - 24-year-olds are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Volunteering offers:

• structure without overwhelming pressure
• a low-risk way to explore career interests
• access to networks and mentors

As Dave Stott puts it, volunteering can be “a route into the world of work.”

7. It builds the skills employers actually want

Volunteers consistently develop:

• teamwork
• communication
• problem-solving
• reliability
• empathy
• resilience

And perhaps most importantly, initiative.

8. It gives you real experience for your CV

For those out of work, volunteering provides recent experience, references and interview examples.

Many people have moved directly from volunteering into paid roles because they could clearly explain, as Dave Stott describes, “the responsibilities they’ve held, and the impact they’ve made.”

9. It builds confidence

Volunteer Centre Manchester regularly sees people arrive feeling isolated or unsure, and leave more self-assured.

“We consistently see improvements in confidence, motivation and overall wellbeing,” says Jack Puller. “…it’s about rediscovering strengths they didn’t realise they had. For others, it’s about expanding their world - meeting new people, learning new skills, or simply feeling part of something positive.”

10. It reduces loneliness

Volunteering creates regular, meaningful human contact, something many people lack.

11. It improves mental wellbeing

Studies have shown that volunteering is beneficial at combatting stress, depression and anxiety, from reducing isolation to increasing a sense of belonging.

As Dave Stott says:

“The benefits of volunteering extend well beyond employment. Amongst many others, it reduces social isolation, improves mental wellbeing, and strengthens community connections. Volunteers can benefit from improved mental and physical wellbeing, reduced loneliness, and increased levels of trust, while communities become more cohesive and benefit from their time, skills, and energy.

“Volunteering creates a ripple effect, supporting both people and the wider society.”

12. It creates routine when life feels stuck

For people facing long-term unemployment or difficult life circumstances, volunteering offers a safe re-entry point into participation, socially and economically.

13. It helps people facing barriers

Royal Voluntary Service and its digital platform, GoVo, which connects charities and volunteering roles to people’s specific needs, provides opportunities for people facing:

• low confidence
• limited experience
• long-term unemployment

It “creates a space where people can rebuild momentum in their lives, expand their networks and reconnect with their community,” says Dave Stott.

“In some cases, the sense of inclusion can sometimes be as important as the practical experience itself.”

14. It’s flexible

There’s growing demand for short-term and flexible roles, ideal for people juggling work, caring responsibilities or study.

You don’t have to commit every day to make a difference.

15. It opens doors you didn’t know existed

Volunteer Centre Manchester shared an example of doors being opened.

Someone who simply wanted to “do something useful” discovered a passion for community work, gained training and networks, and eventually secured paid employment in the voluntary sector.

That journey “isn’t unusual”, says Jack Puller.

16. It strengthens public services

Royal Voluntary Service volunteers support healthcare teams and community services, easing pressure where it’s most intense.

At a time when public services are stretched, volunteers matter more than ever.

17. It strengthens communities

Volunteers are, in Dave Stott’s words:

“… the lifeforce of Britain’s communities.”

That’s not just sentiment, it’s infrastructure.

18. It works best when it’s supported properly

Volunteer centres don’t just list roles, they guide people through them.

They:

• explore interests and motivations
• help navigate barriers
• liaise with organisations
• ensure good role matches

As Jack Puller says:

“Volunteering isn’t just about giving time - it’s about building confidence, connection and opportunity. But for it to be inclusive and sustainable, the infrastructure behind it matters just as much as the individual act itself.”

19. It builds trust across society

When neighbours help neighbours, relationships improve, between communities and services, and between people themselves.

That kind of trust is priceless.

20. It reminds you that you matter

At its heart, volunteering is about contribution.

It’s about showing up.

It’s about being part of something bigger than yourself.

And sometimes, that changes everything.

Volunteering isn’t just good for the community, it’s good for you.

Whether you’re 18 and trying to enter the job market, rebuilding after a setback, or simply looking for more connection, volunteering offers something uniquely human - purpose, belonging and growth.

And in uncertain times, that might be one of the most valuable things of all.