Volunteering: A Gift for You

As we move through the festive season and start thinking about a new year, it’s natural to reflect on the year that’s been and consider what we might want to give ourselves and our communities in the year ahead. If you’re anything like me, this time of year brings a mix of celebration and contemplation… a moment to pause and ask: what matters most?

My volunteering journey began with a newspaper ad: “Training for community radio presenters.” I knew nothing about radio. But I showed up.

Soon I was hosting a weekly program, helping plan events, managing marketing and juggling budget. Not because I had to, but because someone needed to. That, I’ve come to realise, is the thing about volunteering. You say yes to one small task, and it becomes something bigger than you ever imagined. That single decision to show up at community radio at the start of my career profoundly shaped my life. It led me into charity marketing, and eventually, to writing a book to support not-for-profits of all shapes and sizes (Heart & Soul of Marketing).

But here’s what I’ve learned about volunteering: it’s not what you might think it is.

Volunteering isn’t about being in the spotlight. It’s about believing that what you do counts, even when it’s not counted. It’s about showing up simply because it matters.

They coach the under-13s. They fold newsletters at kitchen tables. They turn on the hall lights at dawn and sweep floors long after everyone has gone home. They check the tyre pressure on the community bus. They sit on committees no one else has time for. Volunteers are, in every sense, the heartbeat of our community. Steady, constant, often out of the spotlight.

I often think about Glenda, who I volunteered with in a local tourism group. She was not loud, and she didn’t seek recognition. But her steady hand and quiet purpose guided countless community projects. The town would not have been the same without her. There are Glendas in every community.

These quiet foundations matter because volunteering thrives when we stop measuring impact by visibility. And once we understand that, once we truly embrace what volunteering is, we’re ready to ask ourselves a deeper question: where does our purpose fit within it all?

The real magic happens where your passions, your skills, and the causes you care about meet. That’s the sweet spot… where giving your time becomes energising rather than draining.

When you find that intersection, something shifts. You’re no longer just giving hours; you’re awakening a part of yourself that might otherwise stay quiet. That’s why volunteering feels, at its best, like a gift you give both ways.

And here’s the thing worth knowing: when you volunteer in alignment with who you are and what you care about, the experience transforms. It’s no longer just an act of generosity. It becomes personal. Which brings us to what many people don’t expect to discover.

What surprised me most about volunteering were the returns over time. Not financial, but personal. Volunteering helped me feel that I belonged. It helped me build a career. It expanded my world in ways I never expected.

It’s a cycle of generosity where everyone grows. But knowing these benefits is one thing; knowing how to find that right opportunity for yourself is another.

So if you’re feeling like volunteering might be for you, but you’re not quite sure where to begin, the next step is simpler than you think.

If you’re feeling uncertain about where to start, here are a few thoughts to guide you:

These aren’t rigid rules. They’re signposts to help you find your path. And once you do, once you step toward that decision, you’re stepping into something bigger than a volunteer role. You’re stepping into a renewal.

Volunteering isn’t always easy. It can be tiring, thankless, and messy. But it is also one of the most hopeful things any of us can do.

This is a good time to explore organisations that align with your values. When you believe in the cause, the work feels less like giving something away and more like adding something meaningful to your life.

Because volunteering is more than an act of service; it’s also an act of renewal. Each time you give your time, you gain something in return: connection, purpose, and a deeper sense of belonging. In helping others, we often rediscover what it means to be part of something larger than ourselves.

And perhaps that’s the real gift of volunteering. Something to carry with us, and to think about, as we step into a new year.