How do I find out about volunteering?

• Check out TimeBank, a national campaign that is raising awareness of volunteering. Aimed at people who want to volunteer but don’t know where to start, it guides you through the opportunities available, includes stories about the experience from people who have volunteered, and provides directories of areas where you can get involved, whether locally, as part of national campaigns, or overseas. www.timebank.org.uk
• SAGE, the Careers Services’s employer and vacancy database includes a section that explores the ins and outs of volunteering and tells you how to get started. www.careers.ed.ac.uk
• Do-it offers a searchable database that provides details of volunteering opportunities in all kinds of fields in your local area. www.do-it.org.uk
• Similar information, both for the UK and overseas, can be found at www.idealist.org.
• The Charity Commission for England and Wales, the government department responsible for the charity sector, provides a list of all registered charities on its website. www.charity-commission.gov.uk

Alternatively, if there’s a particular organisation whose work interests you, just pick up the phone and give them a call. They’ll be happy to hear from you.