Reach Volunteering leads the UK’s skills-based volunteering sector by connecting skilled professionals with worthy causes nationwide. The platform adds 180 new volunteer and trustee opportunities each week and has built a community of over 45,000 followers. This makes it Britain’s largest source of trustees for the voluntary sector.

These connections create ripple effects throughout communities. Take YSS for example – an organization supported by Reach Volunteering that helps around 2,000 people yearly through criminal justice and health care services. The platform also reshapes the scene of board recruitment through its innovative workshops on power, privilege, and race, showing its steadfast dedication to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

This piece shares how Reach Volunteering helps build meaningful careers and creates lasting social change, based on firsthand experience with the platform.

Why I Turned to Reach Volunteering

The daily grind of long commutes and endless meetings was wearing me down, like many professionals in demanding corporate roles. A Deloitte survey shows that 81% of HR executives value volunteer experience when making hiring decisions, so I started looking into meaningful alternatives.

Feeling stuck in my corporate role

My once-promising corporate path had turned into an exhausting routine. Full-time work and long commutes left no room to grow personally or make a real difference. Research shows that mid-career professionals often feel trapped by their current positions’ perceived safety and familiarity. Each day brought stronger feelings of frustration about my unexplored potential and unfulfilled dreams.

Finding Reach Volunteering online

My search for purpose led me to find Reach Volunteering, the UK’s leading skills-based volunteering platform. Their online platform launched in 2015 made meaningful opportunities much more accessible. The platform works well because it matches skilled professionals with organizations that need their expertise.

Skills-based volunteering offers several key benefits:

• Leadership and management skills development
• Professional network expansion
• Corporate expertise application in new settings
• Better career prospects through meaningful experience

My first login experience

Reach Volunteering’s platform impressed me with its intuitive design that focused on user needs. Their research highlighted how language and tone are vital in setting expectations for volunteer relationships. The platform’s 32% increase in placements during their first full year online proves its success.

The volunteer-opportunity matching system works exceptionally well. Reach Volunteering processed over 27,000 applications for trustee and volunteer roles in 2023 alone. This generated an estimated £55 million worth of skills-based volunteering annually.

My First Volunteer Role

Reach Volunteering’s platform led me to many meaningful roles. The platform has over 180 new volunteer and trustee positions each week. It gives professionals many ways to use their skills.

Browsing opportunities

The platform was easy to use at first because of its well-laid-out opportunities. Each listing showed clear details about time commitments. These ranged from one hour per week to more structured commitments for trustee positions. Roles covered many areas, from helping refugees to environmental projects. This made it simple to find roles that matched personal interests.

Application process

The application process was simple yet detailed. Reach Volunteering keeps things straightforward with steps that include:

• Completing an application form
• Writing a role-specific cover letter
• Providing relevant experience details
• Discussing availability and commitment expectations

After that, organizations hold interviews to understand motivations and match skills to needs. These conversations look at how volunteers’ corporate expertise could help the organization. They also make sure the role fits their schedule and interests.

Original challenges

New volunteers face specific hurdles at the start. A major challenge is getting used to the different pace and structure compared to corporate settings. Some volunteers also don’t feel fully used, especially during busy times when there are multiple helpers.

Standing idle while waiting for tasks can be tough for professionals who are used to constant work. This adjustment period needs patience. You have to understand that results aren’t always visible right away. Organizations try to fix these issues by creating clear role definitions and thorough orientation processes.

The platform’s support system helps people deal with common obstacles. Matching skills carefully means volunteers can use their expertise well while learning from new experiences. This method works well, as Reach Volunteering connects thousands of professionals with charitable organizations each year.

Skills That Made The Difference

Business professionals bring valuable expertise to the social sector. Nonprofits believe they could do more good through skilled volunteers – 72% agree with this assessment. This shows how much business experience matters.

Transferable corporate skills

Business acumen is the life-blood of success in nonprofit roles. Professionals know strategic planning, financial management, and how to optimize resources. These skills become powerful tools that drive social change.

The most valuable transferable skills include:

• Project management and strategic planning abilities
• Resource optimization and budget management expertise
• Leadership and stakeholder relationship management
• Data analysis and performance measurement capabilities

Of course, adapting corporate skills needs flexibility. LinkedIn data shows four million people want to volunteer their skills. They understand how their expertise can make real changes. These professionals excel at managing multiple stakeholders, which helps them cooperate with board members, donors, and community partners.

Learning from the social sector

The social sector provides unique lessons that improve professional growth. Half of all companies now direct employee talents to deepen their commitment to social sector organizations through formal pro bono programs.

Nonprofit work needs adaptability and resourcefulness. Business professionals learn to do more with less – a skill that works in any sector. Working with diverse stakeholders and volunteers builds emotional intelligence and communication skills.

Moving between sectors builds both technical and people skills. Professionals often find that leading cross-functional teams helps them coordinate volunteer groups. Experience in both sectors lets them bridge the gap between business and nonprofit worlds. This leads to better understanding and cooperation between sectors.

Growing Through Trustee Positions

Trustee positions create pathways to leadership roles in the charitable sector. A 2017 study revealed that 92% of UK trustees were white. This statistic shows why charity governance needs more diverse views.

Taking on board responsibilities

Board members need to stay involved and provide strategic guidance. Trustees usually meet four to eight times each year. They also work on specific projects between these meetings. The role comes with vital responsibilities:

• Financial oversight and sustainability planning
• Strategic decision-making and policy development
• Supervision of executive leadership
• Risk assessment and compliance monitoring
• Stakeholder relationship management

Trustees protect organizational trust and act for their community’s benefit, whatever their personal interests. Board members must focus on daily operations and future stability. They guide organizations toward sustainable futures through ethical governance and sound financial management.

Understanding charity governance

Charity governance is different from corporate structures. Trustees must learn their three main legal duties: care, loyalty, and obedience. These duties help them manage organizational resources properly and stick to charitable purposes.

Board members should know how charities work. They must understand their organization’s articles of incorporation, constitution, bylaws, and other governing documents. They also need knowledge about state and federal laws for nonprofit entities, fundraising, and tax matters.

Good governance relies on smart decision-making. Trustees must keep detailed meeting minutes to ensure all organizational decisions are transparent. They create annual budgets, set up internal accounting systems, and invest assets wisely.

Trusteeship benefits extend beyond the organization itself. Board service helps people learn about strategic leadership, compliance management, and working with stakeholders. This special type of volunteering creates chances for professional growth. Trustees learn about governance principles, legal responsibilities, and ethical considerations that help in leadership roles of all types.

Impact on My Professional Life

Platforms that help people volunteer create amazing career transformation opportunities. Research shows that candidates with volunteer experience have a 27% better chance of finding employment compared to non-volunteer counterparts.

Career pivot opportunities

Career transformation often starts when you volunteer strategically. A Deloitte survey revealed that 81% of HR executives look at skilled volunteering in their hiring decisions. 76% of these executives also see volunteering as something that makes candidates more attractive.

Strategic volunteering lets you test different career ideas. You can try different roles without committing to a full career change, which helps you:

• Test new industry environments
• Develop sector-specific knowledge
• Build practical experience
• Verify career interests
• Create portfolio of achievements

Network expansion

Networking through volunteering goes beyond regular professional circles. You meet people from a variety of industries and backgrounds, and these connections are quite different from typical job-related ones.

The social sector gives you direct access to decision-makers and industry leaders. Volunteers work directly with organizational leaders, board members, and other influential professionals. This exposure is a great way to get career development opportunities, as 41% of LinkedIn hiring managers value volunteer work as much as paid work experience.

New skill development

Volunteering works like a practical learning laboratory. The Corporation for National and Community Service highlights how volunteering helps build vital professional capabilities. These opportunities help you learn:

Public speaking, presentation skills, technology use, and project management are some of the most valuable skills you can gain through volunteering. The benefits go beyond technical skills and cover vital soft skills like leadership and strategic thinking.

Volunteer roles create a unique learning environment. You can practice new skills in real-life situations while supporting meaningful causes. LinkedIn data shows that job skill requirements have changed by 24% since 2015, and they might change by 60% by 2030.

Skill development through volunteering helps career changers the most. Organizations encourage volunteers to take on challenging responsibilities, which gives them chances to build new skills in a supportive environment. This approach works really well for professionals who want to switch sectors or try new career paths.

Reach Volunteering helps skilled professionals create meaningful social change while advancing their careers. Professional expertise is a great way to get help in many sectors. Corporate skills find new purpose in charitable organizations. The platform’s success comes from knowing how to connect talented people with causes that need their specific skills.

Moving from corporate work to volunteer roles opens up remarkable growth possibilities. Trustee positions help build strategic leadership skills. Direct volunteering roles develop practical abilities and grow professional networks. Of course, the numbers tell the story – 81% of HR executives value volunteer work. Candidates with volunteering backgrounds are 27% more likely to get hired.

Professional volunteers get unique benefits from their service. Their corporate knowledge makes charitable organizations stronger. Social sector work improves their leadership abilities. Working in both sectors creates versatile professionals who can drive positive change in different industries.

This change goes beyond individual careers. Organizations get fresh viewpoints and valuable expertise from skilled volunteers. On top of that, the social sector gets access to professional talent that might stay unused otherwise. This creates a powerful cycle of growth and positive effects.

Reach Volunteering shows how skilled professionals can reshape their careers while helping meaningful causes. The platform keeps connecting corporate expertise with social impact. This creates lasting change for volunteers and their communities.

Here are some FAQs about reach volunteering:

Is Reach Volunteering legit?

Yes, Reach Volunteering is a legitimate and well-respected national charity in the UK. It connects skilled volunteers with charities in need, serving as the leading skills-based volunteering charity and the largest source of trustees for the voluntary sector in the UK. citeturn0search16

Does Reach Volunteering pay?

Reach Volunteering primarily facilitates unpaid volunteer roles; however, it employs staff for its operations. Salaries for these positions vary; for example, the Head of Digital earns approximately £46,369 per year, while a Service Administrator earns between £19,000 and £21,000 pro-rata, depending on experience. citeturn0search3turn0search6

Is Reach Volunteering free?

Yes, Reach Volunteering’s services are free for volunteers. For organizations, most services are free, but certain services, such as recruiting trustees for large charities or social enterprises, may incur a fee. citeturn0search1

How do I reach out about volunteering?

To get involved with Reach Volunteering, visit their website and create a profile highlighting your skills and interests. Once registered, you can browse and apply for various volunteering opportunities that align with your expertise. citeturn0search16

Can you get money if you volunteer?

Volunteering positions facilitated by Reach Volunteering are typically unpaid, focusing on contributing skills to charitable causes. While volunteers do not receive a salary, some organizations may reimburse expenses related to the volunteering activity.

What are the cons of virtual volunteering?

Virtual volunteering offers flexibility but may present challenges such as limited personal interaction, potential communication barriers, and difficulties in team cohesion. Additionally, virtual roles may require reliable technology and internet access, which can be a barrier for some individuals.

Are volunteers paid?

Generally, volunteers are not paid, as volunteering is an altruistic activity aimed at contributing to a cause without financial compensation. However, some organizations may offer reimbursements for expenses incurred during volunteering.

Is raising money for charity volunteering?

Yes, raising money for charity is a form of volunteering. Fundraising involves donating time and effort to gather financial support for charitable organizations, contributing to their mission and operations.

Why do volunteers have to pay?

Typically, volunteers are not required to pay to offer their services. However, some programs, especially those involving travel or specialized training, may charge fees to cover costs such as accommodation, materials, or administrative expenses.

How much do UN volunteers get paid?

UN Volunteers receive a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) intended to cover basic living expenses. The amount varies depending on the country of assignment and the specific role.

Do volunteers get paid in the USA?

In the USA, volunteers typically do not receive payment, as volunteering is considered a philanthropic activity. However, some organizations may provide stipends or reimbursements for expenses related to the volunteer work.