CDU Careers Centre’s Post

This National Student Volunteer Week, we're highlighting the impact of youth volunteering. 🌈🌟 Young people are stepping up in their communities, whether at local events, supporting causes, or driving positive change. According to recent research by Monash University, 73% of Australians aged 18-24 volunteered at least once in the past 12 months! 🙌 This report explores how young people view and engage in volunteering - and it's not necessarily in traditional roles. 👀 With #NSVW24 in full swing, let’s celebrate their unique contributions and explore new ways to meaningfully engage #GenerationImpact into the future. 🔗 Read the full report: https://bit.ly/3yCzFST

Ontario high school students are required to provide 40 hours of volunteer service. I remember a friend of mine who worked for a community agency telling me that parents would ask him to sign a form indicating their kid had done so.... when they hadn't done so. Other parents would do their kids work of finding them a placement to do their time... as if it was a jail sentence. And people wonder why their kid is selfish, self-absorbed, or even on their way to being narcissistic. Those volunteer hours can serve several powerful functions. They are of value. Sure. Support you child in finding a placement. Do so by pointing them in a reasonable direction. Beyond that, let them take on the task of securing their position. Suggest to your child that they find something aligned with their interest to use as an opportunity to explore and even develop future job prospects. Volunteering, while giving to one's community, can still be fun, engaging and serve one's interests and personal development. Firstly, it can help a student see beyond themselves to tune into the needs of others. Secondly, when the obligation is seen as an opportunity, the time and placement may allow the child to develop their interest. Thus their choosing a placement that matches their interest can develop their appreciation for a future vocation. Thirdly, by their doing the work of finding a placement, they may be more invested in the activity and can develop a better sense of responsibility.

62% of nonprofits state that recruiting volunteers is a “big problem.” One major contributor? Work commitments. In fact, 49% of individuals cite work commitments as their biggest obstacle to volunteering. That’s why VTO programs are so impactful — they are designed to eliminate that barrier for employees. My team is focused on making it easier for nonprofits to leverage these VTO programs. Here are a few things we are doing: ✅We put together a complete, expert guide on standout strategies for leveraging corporate volunteer incentives. If you send me a connection request and comment below, for a limited time, I will be sending that free resource over to you so that you can get ahead of the curve and implement these strategies today. ✅Over the past few weeks, we have added over 100 VTO programs to our workplace giving database, with more being added daily. Our goal is to ensure you can easily and quickly identify which of your supporters can leverage this benefit and spend the day volunteering with you. Excited to see how VTO programs enhance your volunteer efforts. Remember to comment below for your guide, and feel free to tag any other industry friends you think might be interested in this resource. #VTO #Volunteering

Volunteerism, a cornerstone of American society, is rapidly becoming a threatened institution. This is both disheartening and alarming. Volunteering is fundamental to our nation and our democracy. Countless events and organizations depend on volunteers for a myriad of essential roles. Yet, we recently have failed to instill the tangible and intangible values that volunteering offers to individuals and society alike. As a society, we have not invested in enhancing the volunteer experience. Too often, volunteers encounter untrained managers who lack the skills to effectively guide and direct them. Moreover, there is a glaring absence of recognition for the service, time, and skills that volunteers generously contribute. This must change. Without volunteers, many cherished events and organizations will cease to operate, creating a significant void. The loss of these cultural events and the opportunity to contribute time and expertise is detrimental to everyone. We can address this by setting clear expectations for volunteering and articulating the benefits to volunteers. Providing specific guidance and quality standards, along with genuine and personal recognition of efforts and time, can significantly improve the volunteer experience. It's time to revitalize volunteerism and ensure it remains a vibrant and integral part of our society. #volunteer

This week is National Volunteer Week 2024. Reading comments about other people's experiences of volunteering,  what is common throughout is the genuine joy and sense of purpose it brings. Last year I re-evaluated my life and decided that I wanted to create more space to invest in volunteering. I wanted to find a way to connect my interests and passions with causes that could benefit from my skillset. 🌳I put time towards conservation volunteering for the Countryside Regeneration Trust where I have learnt new skills (👇 see photo of a morning of dry stone walling!) 🛠 Our village recently acquired our pub and I have loved being part of the Saturday working parties. 👧And this year I have been introduced to the wonderful GFS. Through these opportunities, I have gained so much: 🌟I have met some inspiring and interesting people from so many different backgrounds who have a common purpose. 🌟I have found myself smiling much more as I have found a balance I was lacking before. 🌟I am making a difference in fields that whilst I am not an expert in, I can be useful. 📣📣Call to Action! If you are looking for volunteering opportunities, please do consider GFS who work with girls in the most deprived areas of England and Wales, providing early intervention to build confidence and pride in who they are. There are lots of ways to get involved and I have learnt that whilst it's not always easy to balance everything, a little help can go a long way. Please check out their website  - details in comments. #volunteer

"Another element of current organizational practice at odds with both inclusiveness to volunteers and volunteer supply for non-profits is the extensive screening often required for volunteering eligibility. The requirement to submit personal information for police background checks presumes a relatively privileged level of comfort with law enforcement, which newcomers and racialized applicants may find unwelcome. As well, recent newcomers may lack enough in-Canada history for such checks. For organizations, such screening requirements become an obstacle to recruitment – and may be unnecessary for low-risk volunteer roles."

A quick one guys! So, I opted to volunteer for this particular event... And guess what guys, I received the shock of my life. I am grateful for every opportunity to volunteer and contribute to events. For me, volunteering is a privilege, not an entitlement, and I’ve always believed in giving my best effort to support meaningful occasions. However, I recently encountered differing views on the value of volunteering on social media. A supposed public figure, posted on his wall, suggesting that volunteers should pay to participate because he feels they use it as an avenue to gain from the event. This perspective has left me reflecting deeply on the essence of volunteering. While I could have simply attended as a participant or opted for a VIP ticket for that event, I chose to serve. My consistent volunteering across various events has always been driven by a desire to contribute, not to gain. A simple 'thank you' is often all I expect in return. However, seeing that post has made me realize that volunteering for someone who views it through such a lens isn't the right fit for me. I shared my honest thoughts on the matter, and I stand by them. Authenticity and integrity are core values I hold dear, and I cannot engage in flattery or stay silent on issues that matter to me. Guys, I had to withdraw from volunteering... Volunteering should be seen as a privilege to both the server and the served, not as an entitlement or a pay-to-play scenario. I strongly believe in staying true to myself and fostering genuine, respectful exchanges. What's your take on this, guys? Should volunteers be paying for events that they will be volunteering in? Doesn't that change the fact that they're no longer volunteers? Does it sound right that volunteers should pay for events and shouldn't get paid for their services? #Volunteering #Authenticity #Integrity #Humility #Leadership #Community

RTPI volunteers are the lifeblood of the Institute, and the results from our recent volunteer survey showcase just how meaningful their contributions are – both to the profession, wider public and to themselves. An overwhelming 98% of our volunteers would recommend the experience to others, highlighting the value of giving back to the planning community. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e5iaTcD7 Why do Planners volunteer? The drive to make a difference is clear: 77% of our volunteers joined to play a more active role in giving back to the profession. Many also saw it as an opportunity to expand their professional network (45%) – and they weren't disappointed. 65% report that volunteering has indeed broadened their professional connections. But the benefits don't stop there. Volunteers report that their experience has: 👉Broadened their knowledge of wider planning issues (56%) 👉Positively impacted their professional development (53%) 👉Introduced them to new people, places, and areas (70%) 👉Boosted their personal development, including confidence (66%) 👉Given them a sense of personal achievement (53%) Are you inspired to make a difference? Discover the wide range of volunteering roles available: https://lnkd.in/e488ypbK #Volunteering #PlanningCommunity #ProfessionalDevelopment

Volunteer Now is concerned by the proposed National Service scheme set out by the Conservative party and the potential it has to damage the perception and long-term uptake of crucial community volunteering. Volunteering is something you choose to do, freely, simply because you want to. Volunteer Now’s membership principles state that volunteering is about freedom to choose. The National Service scheme proposed by the Conservative party is by definition not volunteering. This scheme will require significant investment in infrastructure to make it work effectively. It is coming into a sector where funding has been reduced and capacity to involve large numbers of people is curtailed. There is a real danger that by removing their all-important freedom to choose, young people will be deterred from participating in real volunteering. Statistically, people aged 16 – 25 years old make up 22% of the volunteering population in Northern Ireland, which is on a par with most other age groups. We do not sense that young people will not freely volunteer. However, there is a continual need to promote the benefits of volunteering consistently to all young people in order to secure a generation of volunteers now and in the future. Investment to do that would be incredibly valuable. Surely there is a better way to inspire a lifelong love of volunteering than forcing young people to get involved in community service?

Veterans and Volunteerism: Giving Back to the Community Service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off. For many veterans, their transition to civilian life is marked by a continuing commitment to serving others, but in a different capacity—through volunteering. Volunteering not only enhances their personal and professional growth but also strengthens community bonds and encourages others to volunteer. We’ll dive into the value of volunteering, some of the opportunities and organizations that prioritize veteran volunteers, and how vets can get involved in their communities to continue serving once they’re home. 1. The Value of Volunteerism for Veterans Personal Growth and Well-being Engaging in community service offers veterans numerous benefits, from enhancing personal well-being to fostering professional skills. Volunteering helps combat the isolation some veterans may feel after leaving the structured military environment, providing them with a sense of purpose and community. According to a study by the Corporation for National and Community Service ( https://lnkd.in/e4pK45u ), volunteers report better physical and mental health than those who do not volunteer, which is particularly beneficial for veterans transitioning to civilian life. Skill Development and Professional Opportunities Volunteering allows veterans to apply their skills in new contexts while developing new capabilities. These opportunities can be especially beneficial for integrating into the civilian workforce, as many organizations value the unique skills and discipline veterans bring to their volunteer roles. Read Full Blog Post Here: https://lnkd.in/e_38N7Et