Many of us would like to volunteer at a local charity by donating our time and talents but it can be difficult to know where to start when you’re looking for a worthy cause to assist.

Volunteering should be about giving back, but also doing something you enjoy in your spare time. Even though you may be keen to get started, it’s best to do some thorough research and choose a suitable charity which can fully benefit from your skills, and where you won’t get bored or disillusioned.

Yello has put together these tips to help you decide where and how you can make a positive difference.

Identify the skills / interests you have

Consider the experience and expertise that you have to offer and look for volunteer work that incorporates your hobbies, interests, and special skills.

Choose a charitable role which will keep you motivated to keep making an effort, even on days when you might prefer to stay in bed.

If you have a skill or interest that you’d like to develop, such as counselling or public relations, volunteering could also be a great way to enhance your CV, and some institutions even offer free training courses.

Think about the issues that matter to you

Pinpoint the issues which are important to you, such as animal welfare; domestic violence or child abuse and find relevant charities located nearby.

Take your time to compile a list of varied potential organisations which are carrying out work that appeals to you and find out more about how they operate and are organised, and what projects they’ve undertaken.

Use this time to also research whether these organisations need volunteers and in what capacity.

Do not over commit

Consider carefully how much time you have to give to any volunteer role.

Do not offer to do more hours / days than you can have free, especially if you are also working or studying, as this might leave you feeling unnecessarily pressurised and unhappy.

Volunteering should be enjoyable and something that you look forward to as a chance to meet new people, learn new skills, give back, and break from the usual routine.

Search charitable organisations on Yello to see where your time and talent might be needed.